Elevate Your Cybersecurity Posture
Guidance and Collaborative Support for Enhanced Security
The Merit Community CISO program is designed to provide organizations with the tools, expertise, and collaborative opportunities needed to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Whether you’re part of a large institution or a small nonprofit, navigating the complex landscape of cybersecurity can be challenging. Our program offers tailored support to help you develop robust security strategies and effectively manage cyber risks.
By joining the Merit Community CISO program, you gain access to a network of cybersecurity professionals, comprehensive resources, and expert guidance. Our program is focused on fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, ensuring that you stay informed about the latest threats and best practices in cybersecurity.
Extended Security Professional Services
- Customized to fit your organization’s needs- Weekly/Biweekly/Monthly calls with structured agendas
- Continued Progress Checks and Insights Provided through Email Correspondence
- Risk Management Framework Workshop
- Policy Workshop
- Deep Dive Application Risk Assessment
Premium Security Consulting
- Pre-assessment environmental data gathering
- On-Site Consulting Visit
- Standard host based vulnerability scan
- Standard network based vulnerability scan
- Written report with recommendations based upon NIST Cybersecurity Framework and Center for Internet Security – 20 Critical Security Controls
- Executive summary and presentation
Data & IT Security Consulting Packages
The current and future security posture of every organization requires a custom approach. Merit developed Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) consulting packages tailored to go hand-in-hand with your budget, organization size and unique challenges in mind.
Looking for a formal, top-to-bottom point-in-time assessment of your cybersecurity posture? Our CISO premium engagement provides a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of your security program, including detailed executive and technical reports aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) as well as the CIS Top 20 Security Controls. Network-based and host-based vulnerability scans are performed for additional analysis and validation, and your leadership team is presented with an easy to understand summary of all the areas selected for improvement, as well as the areas which are being addressed exceptionally well by your staff.
- Comprehensive assessment
- Executive summaries
Looking for ongoing on-demand guidance throughout the year to make sure that your cybersecurity efforts stay on the right track? Our CISO Advocate program provides budget-friendly continual expert advice, strategy, and planning specific to your organization. We begin with a half-day discovery session to understand your key systems, processes, technology, culture, and information. All throughout the year, your security efforts are supported by both monthly structured strategy meetings as well as on-demand issue consultations. Take advantage of our experience and execute your security projects successfully with our CISO on your side.
- Half-day onsite
- Budget friendly
Need to know where to start when it comes to security? Our CISO Micro Assessment is perfect for organizations that know they need to begin somewhere with their security program. This inexpensive service focuses on analyzing the Top 6 Basic CIS controls at your organization, providing you and your technical staff actionable advice on how you can springboard your security efforts out of the unknown.
- Focuses on Top 6 attainable steps
- Actionable advice
CIS Security Benchmark Member
Merit is a CIS Security Benchmark Member and utilizes CIS’s Configuration Assessment Tool (CIS-CAT) to report target systems conformance with the recommended settings in the CIS Benchmarks. CIS Benchmarks are used as the basis for security configuration policies and the de facto standard for IT configuration best practices.
The CIS Benchmarks are security configuration guides both developed and accepted by government, business, industry, and academia.
MiDEAL CISO Consulting Discounts
Through MiDeal, Merit can assist members in providing competitively bid pricing on CISO Consulting, giving Merit Members:
- A Best-Value Purchasing Process – The state evaluates a vendors’ experience, qualifications, service and delivery – ensuring a fair price and high-quality contract
- Competitively Bid and Reviewed Solicitations – A sample of reviewers may include: Category Analyst, Specialist, Subject Matter Expert, Joint Evaluation Committee, DTMB Management, State Administrative Board
- Time and Money Savings – Save on the duplication of administrative costs and the time needed to find the right contractor
- An Extensive Choice Portfolio – Members have access to over 400-500 contracts
- A Support Channel for Michigan Businesses – Michigan businesses hold the majority of the state’s contracts
- Direct Vendor Contact – Members work directly with the vendor to secure the goods and services
For more information on MiDeal, visit http://www.Michigan.gov/mideal.