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    Security checklist with shield emblem representing CISO readiness
    PDF · 4 pages

    SMB CISO Readiness Checklist

    A 40-point, NIST-aligned security audit you can run in an afternoon.

    Most small and mid-sized businesses don't fail security audits because of bad technology — they fail because nobody owns the program. This checklist is the same one we walk through in a security program engagement, distilled into 40 questions across 8 domains so you can self-assess in under an hour.

    What's inside

    • Governance & risk management baseline
    • Identity, access control, and MFA standards
    • Data protection and encryption requirements
    • Incident response and business continuity
    • Compliance, awareness, and technical controls

    Who it's for

    Founders, IT leads, and operations heads at SMBs (10–500 employees) who need to prove security maturity to customers, insurers, or auditors — without hiring a full-time CISO.

    What you'll get

    A printable 40-item checklist organized by NIST CSF function (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover) plus a scoring rubric so you can benchmark this quarter and track improvement next quarter.

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