Advisory & CISO Services

Security Advice With No Vendor Commission Sitting Behind It.

Most IT security consulting firms run a security assessment, identify your vulnerabilities, and then sell you the products to address them - earning a commission on every tool they place.

That is not security consulting. That is sales with a security report as the pitch deck. Atlant Security does not sell products, earn commissions, or recommend solutions based on vendor relationships. We assess your environment, build your security programme, and implement the controls that actually protect you, then you pay after you approve the work.

  • No products sold, no commissions, no vendor relationship behind a recommendation
  • Assessment, programme build and hands-on implementation by the same senior consultant
  • You pay after you approve the work
Security Advice With No Vendor Commission Sitting Behind It. - Atlant Security

Founded by a former member of Microsoft’s Security Consulting team. The person who scopes the engagement is the person who delivers it.

20+Years IT Security Experience
14Security Domains Covered
4Continents - Active Clients
$0Vendor Commissions - Ever
Alexander Sverdlov - IT security consultant, former Microsoft Security Consulting team

01 / THE DETAIL

Your IT Security Consultant

Built security programmes for banks, nuclear operators, and government institutions - now bringing that standard to every organisation we work with.

Alexander Sverdlov founded Atlant Security after more than 20 years in information security - including time as part of Microsoft's Security Consulting team and as an independent consultant to banks (SCB in Thailand, Akbank in Turkey), government ministries, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.

Former Microsoft Security Consulting team
Banks, nuclear operators, government ministries
US, UK, EU, Middle East, Asia-Pacific
NIST, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS
UN Cybersecurity Panelist, 2021
Author - 2 published security books

02 / THE DETAIL

Why Most IT Security Consulting Firms Leave You No More Secure Than When They Arrived

The dominant business model in IT security consulting is built around product sales. A consulting firm conducts an assessment - then recommends the products they are authorised to resell at a 20-40% commission. Their revenue grows when your gaps persist.

The Typical Security Consulting Firm
Runs a penetration test or vulnerability scan
Produces a report of findings - then stops
Recommends 3-5 security products they are authorised to resell
Earns 20-40% commission on every product placed
Returns next year to run the same assessment
Your security posture: unchanged, plus monthly SaaS fees
How Atlant Security Works
Conducts a deep NIST 800-53 based security assessment across 14 domains
Produces a risk-ranked findings report with a specific fix for every gap
Builds your complete Information Security Programme - not a product list
Implements controls with your team - technical, administrative, and process
Never earns a commission on any product or tool recommendation
Returns because you want us to - not because we left work unfinished

The vendor-independence principle - Atlant Security has never earned a commission, referral fee, or reseller margin from any security product vendor. When we recommend a solution, it is the one we believe is correct for your situation - not the one that generates revenue for us.

03 / THE DETAIL

IT Security Consulting Services - What We Actually Do

Eight specific services. Each one is a complete engagement with defined deliverables - not a billable hour with undefined scope. Most engagements combine several services into a single programme.

Independent security architect mapping enterprise defences across all 14 security domains during a vendor-free IT security assessment

IT Security Assessment

The foundation of every engagement. We assess your environment against NIST 800-53 and industry best practices across 14 security domains: access control, identity management, cloud configuration, network architecture, endpoint security, and more. Every gap identified, risk-ranked, and paired with a specific fix.

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Information Security Programme Build

A security assessment without implementation is just a list of problems. After assessing your environment, we build your complete Information Security Programme - policies, technical controls, monitoring, training, and compliance readiness - implemented with your team, not just documented.

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Virtual CISO (CISO as a Service)

Ongoing security leadership for organisations that need a Chief Information Security Officer but are not ready to hire one full-time. Strategic planning, compliance management, board reporting, vendor evaluation, and incident response - delivered fractionally.

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Compliance Programme - SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA

We build the compliance programme your customers, investors, or regulators require - not a documentation exercise, but a functioning security programme that passes audits because the controls actually work.

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Cloud Security Assessment

AWS, Azure, and GCP security configuration review covering every service in your cloud environment. IAM least privilege validation, network configuration, encryption, logging, and storage security.

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Active Directory and Identity Security

Active Directory is the single most attacked system in any Windows-based organisation. We assess your AD environment across privileged account management, GPO configuration, Kerberos security, trust relationships, and attack path analysis.

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Security Policy and Documentation

The policy suite that SOC 2 auditors, ISO 27001 certification bodies, and enterprise customers expect: Information Security Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, Incident Response Plan, Business Continuity Plan, and more.

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Security Awareness Training

Security awareness training that changes employee behaviour - not a 30-minute compliance video nobody remembers. Custom phishing simulations, role-specific training, and ongoing reinforcement.

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04 / THE DETAIL

Industries We Secure - and the Specific Risks Each One Faces

IT security is not the same problem in every industry. A law firm's most critical risk is client confidentiality. A bank's most critical risk is transaction fraud. We tailor our approach to your industry's specific threat landscape.

Law Firms and Legal Services

Attorney-client privilege is the most valuable asset a law firm has - and the most targeted. We protect law firms from spear-phishing, email compromise, and data exfiltration targeting sensitive case materials.

Financial Services and Banking

We have built security programmes for banks in Thailand, Turkey, and across the Middle East - and for fintechs across the US, UK, and EU. PCI DSS, SOX, GLBA, and DORA compliance expertise.

Software Development and SaaS

Software companies face security from three directions: customers demanding SOC 2, investors requiring a security programme, and their own platform needing protection. We handle all three.

Critical Infrastructure and Industrial

We have worked with nuclear operators and government ministries - environments where the consequence of a security failure is operational disruption of critical services, not just financial loss.

Healthcare and Life Sciences

HIPAA compliance, PHI protection, and operational resilience for clinical systems. Ransomware targeting healthcare has increased dramatically - prevention is the only viable strategy.

Small and Mid-Size Businesses

SMBs are the most targeted and least protected segment. Attackers know that SMBs have valuable data and limited security resources - making them the path of least resistance.

05 / THE DETAIL

What Changes When You Engage Atlant Security

Six specific outcomes. Each one removes a specific obstacle or risk from your organisation.

You know exactly what your security vulnerabilities are

Not a CVSS-sorted list of technical findings. A risk-ranked finding set tied to your specific business, your specific data, and your specific threat profile.

You have a security programme that actually works

Policies written and enforced. Controls documented and implemented. Training scheduled and completed. A real programme, not a compliance exercise.

You pass the compliance audit and win the enterprise customer

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 certification, HIPAA compliance - the specific business outcome your engagement is tied to.

You get vendor-independent advice

When we recommend a security tool, it is because that tool is the right answer for your situation - not because we earn a margin on it.

Your leadership team understands your security risk

Security information translated into business language your CEO and board can understand and act on.

Your security improves continuously

Monthly vulnerability management, quarterly access reviews, annual audits, and continuous threat monitoring - not a once-a-year assessment.

CISO-level security roadmap of layered milestones and control stages guiding a measurable security programme buildMeasurable risk reduction as threat activity is neutralised by a rising layer of implemented security controls

06 / PROCESS

How an Atlant Security IT Consulting Engagement Works

From first conversation to running security programme. No retainer invoice before work begins. No scope creep. No product upsell. Deliverables you approve before you pay.

Free Strategy Call

45 minutes. You describe your current security posture, your business, and the specific outcome driving the engagement - a compliance requirement, a customer request, an incident. We outline exactly what needs to happen, in what order, and what it will cost.

Security Assessment

We assess your environment across all 14 security domains - through interviews with your IT team, review of existing configurations, and technical examination of your infrastructure. Every gap identified, risk-ranked, and paired with a specific remediation.

Programme Build and Implementation

We build your Information Security Programme - policies, procedures, and technical controls - implemented with your team. For compliance engagements, we manage the audit process end to end.

Ongoing Maintenance and Growth

Security is not a project with an end date. We maintain your programme as your business grows - managing annual audits, handling new compliance requirements, responding to incidents, and keeping your security posture current.

IT security consulting engagement process

No-Risk Guarantee

Every deliverable - assessment report, programme plan, policy document - is reviewed and approved by you before any invoice is issued. If you do not approve the work, you do not pay.

07 / THE DETAIL

The Security Frameworks Atlant Security Assesses Against

Every assessment is structured against established frameworks so your security posture is measured against the standards your customers, regulators, and investors use to evaluate you.

For small projects and ad-hoc work outside our pre-agreed packages or retainers, our standard hourly rate is $460.

08 / FAQ

IT Security Consulting - Frequently Asked Questions

Answered by a former Microsoft Security Consulting expert with 20+ years of experience securing banks, nuclear operators, government ministries, and technology companies worldwide.

What is IT security consulting?
IT security consulting is the practice of assessing an organisation's technology environment, identifying security vulnerabilities and control gaps, and helping build and implement the controls that close those gaps. It encompasses security assessments, penetration testing, compliance programme builds (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA), Virtual CISO services, incident response, and security programme management. The best IT security consultants do not just find problems - they fix them.
How is Atlant Security different from other IT security consultants?
Three differences that matter: First, vendor independence. Atlant Security has never accepted a commission or referral fee from a security product vendor. Every recommendation we make is the one we believe is correct for your situation. Second, implementation over assessment. Most security consulting firms deliver a report and leave. We build and implement your security programme. Third, accountability. You pay after approving the deliverable - not before.
What industries do you work with?
Atlant Security works across all industries, with particular depth in financial services (banks, fintechs, payment processors), software and SaaS companies, law firms and legal services, healthcare, critical infrastructure and industrial organisations, and professional services firms. Our sector-specific experience means we understand your compliance requirements and threat landscape before the engagement begins.
What does a security assessment include?
Our security assessment covers all 14 security domains from NIST 800-53: access control, audit and accountability, configuration management, identification and authentication, incident response, maintenance, media protection, personnel security, physical protection, risk assessment, security assessment, system and communications protection, system and information integrity, and programme management. Every gap is identified, risk-ranked, and paired with a specific remediation action.
Do you sell security products?
No. Atlant Security does not sell security products, does not earn commissions or referral fees from product vendors, and does not have commercial relationships with any security software or hardware vendor that would influence our recommendations. When we recommend a tool, it is because that tool is the right answer for your specific situation.
How long does an IT security engagement take?
Timeline depends on the scope. A focused security assessment of a small to mid-size organisation typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. A compliance programme build (SOC 2, ISO 27001) typically takes 6 to 12 months to reach certification. Virtual CISO engagements are ongoing with 30-day cancellation terms. We provide a specific timeline during the free strategy call.
How much do IT security consulting services cost?
Point-in-time assessments (IT security audit, AWS security assessment, Active Directory assessment) are fixed-price engagements. Compliance programme builds are scoped based on your starting point and target framework. Virtual CISO services start at $3,300/month. Every engagement is discussed and scoped during the free strategy call with a proposal delivered within 24 hours.
What is a Virtual CISO and do I need one?
A Virtual CISO is an experienced security leader who works with your organisation on a fractional or ongoing basis - providing strategic security leadership, compliance programme management, and executive-level security expertise without the $200,000-$400,000 annual cost of a full-time hire. If you need ongoing security leadership but are not ready to hire a full-time CISO, a Virtual CISO is the right solution.
Can you help after a security breach?
Yes. If your organisation has experienced or suspects a security breach, contact us immediately. We help with incident containment, forensic evidence preservation, root cause analysis, regulatory notification support, and post-incident security programme remediation. Time is critical in breach response - the first hours determine how much damage is done.
What is the difference between a security assessment and a penetration test?
A security assessment is a structured, comprehensive review of your security controls across all relevant domains - it identifies every gap systematically. A penetration test simulates an actual attack against specific systems to determine what an attacker could achieve. Most organisations need both: the assessment tells you where you are weak, the penetration test proves how those weaknesses can be exploited.
How do you handle confidential information during an assessment?
Every engagement begins with a signed confidentiality agreement. Assessment data is not stored on shared systems, client-specific findings are never referenced in any generic materials, and all deliverables are transmitted through encrypted channels. We have worked with law firms, government ministries, and nuclear operators - confidentiality is not optional.

09 / THE DETAIL

Know Exactly Where Your Security Stands - and What to Do About It

Free 45-minute strategy call. You describe your situation - we tell you exactly what needs to happen, in what order, and what it will cost. No commitment, no vendor pitch, no pressure.

Free call - No vendor commissions - Pay after approval - 20+ years experience - No long-term contracts