Control Uplift Projects for SMBs
When “just enough” security isn’t enough anymore.
As your business grows, so do the expectations. Customers, auditors, investors, and partners want to see that your security and compliance controls are not only present, but robust, scalable, and effective. A quick patch or workaround won’t cut it forever.
That’s where I come in.
Whether you're preparing for a certification (like ISO 27001, CMMC, PCI, or SOC 2), responding to an audit finding, or simply maturing your cyber security posture, I lead control uplift projects that help you move beyond checkbox compliance and build controls that actually reduce risk.
Why Control Uplift Becomes Necessary
Many SMBs outgrow their original controls without realizing it. Common signs you may need an uplift:
Controls exist, but lack evidence, automation, or ownership
Policies are outdated or not aligned with current practices
Technical safeguards (like MFA, backups, vulnerability management, event monitoring or logging) are ad hoc or incomplete
You’re preparing for a first-time certification or reassessment
A new partner or investor expects stronger security controls
Audit findings require you to “harden” or enhance existing measures
You don’t need a massive team or enterprise GRC platform to fix this- you just need the right partner and a focused, achievable plan.
How I Help You Execute Control Uplift
With over two decades of hands-on cyber security and compliance experience, I help SMBs uplift their security controls with a business-aligned approach that balances security, usability, and audit-readiness.
Assess Current Controls
I begin by evaluating your current state (what’s in place, what’s working, what’s missing) and map your controls against frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, SOC 2, HIPAA, or your customer expectations.
Define Target State
We define what “better” looks like. Whether that’s stronger enforcement, better documentation, automation, evidence generation, or policy refinement we develop a target state.
Prioritize & Plan
I develop a clear uplift road map based on risk, impact, and effort to ensure you get quick wins without overwhelming your team.
Implement & Integrate
From access controls and encryption to vulnerability management, incident response, remediation validation, audit logging, vendor risk, or change management, I help design, build, and integrate new or updated controls that are practical and sustainable.
Evidence & Documentation
Every uplift project includes audit-ready evidence: policies, process flows, roles and responsibilities, and control testing artifacts that prove effectiveness.
Common Areas for Control Uplift
Identity & Access Management (IAM)
Logging, Monitoring & Alerting
Vulnerability Management
Secure Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Vendor Risk Management
Change Control & Configuration Management
Incident Response Management
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
Asset Management
Risk Assessments & Control Testing
Partnering with the Right Expertise
Whether you need a fractional security leader, a project-based uplift partner, or hands-on help executing technical and policy improvements, I can step in and move your program forward—without adding headcount or complexity.
I bring the experience to know what works, and the hands-on mindset to get it done right the first time.
Ready to Strengthen Your Controls?
If your controls need more than a cosmetic update, let’s work together to design and implement control improvements that make your business more secure and more credible to customers and auditors.
Contact me to start your uplift journey.