Cyber Security Risk Assessment Services: Find Your Real Risks, Then Meet Every Framework Once
A cyber security risk assessment for organizations that need a clear picture of risk and several frameworks to satisfy. We assess your controls against NIST CSF 2.0, test what matters, and map findings to ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIS2, or DORA. You get one risk-ranked roadmap in 6–12 weeks.
What Is a Cyber Security Risk Assessment?
A cyber security risk assessment identifies the systems and data that matter most, the threats they face, and how well your controls protect them. Each risk is rated by likelihood and impact. The result is a ranked list of risks and a plan to reduce them, in the order that matters to your business.
Almost every security framework starts here. ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIS2, and DORA all expect a documented risk assessment. Customers ask for it too, through security questionnaires and vendor reviews. Doing it well once saves you repeating it for every framework.
Accredify Global's cyber security assessment services go beyond a spreadsheet of risks. We interview owners, test controls on real systems, and coordinate technical testing where it adds value. Findings are mapped to the frameworks you need, so one assessment feeds all of them.
Cyber Security Compliance in 2026: The Deadlines That Are Now Live
Several major cyber rules moved from planning to enforcement in the last 18 months. DORA has applied to EU financial entities since 17 January 2025. NIS2 is now in national law across most EU Member States. All PCI DSS v4 requirements became mandatory on 31 March 2025.
In the US, the CMMC program entered Phase 1 in defense contracts on 10 November 2025. From 10 November 2026, third-party Level 2 assessments become the default for many contracts involving controlled unclassified information. Public companies have also had to disclose material cyber incidents on Form 8-K since December 2023. A current cyber security risk assessment is the common starting point for all of them.
Sources: NIST Cybersecurity Framework · PCI SSC: v4 requirements · CMMC phase timeline
Which Cyber Security Framework Do You Need?
Start from who is asking. Most organizations need two or three of these, and one assessment can cover them together.
| If this applies to you | The framework usually asked for | Our service |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise customers want a certificate | ISO 27001 | ISO 27001 certification |
| US customers want an attestation report | SOC 2 (or SOC 1 for financial reporting) | SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports |
| You take or process card payments | PCI DSS v4.0.1 | PCI DSS compliance services |
| You handle US health information | HIPAA, sometimes HITRUST | HIPAA compliance and HITRUST certification |
| You serve US government or defense | NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC | NIST compliance services |
| You are an EU essential or important entity | NIS2 | NIS2 compliance readiness |
| You are an EU financial entity or its ICT supplier | DORA | DORA readiness |
| You process personal data of EU or Brazilian residents | GDPR, LGPD, ISO 27701 | GDPR, LGPD, and ISO 27701 |
| You build or deploy AI systems | ISO 42001, EU AI Act | AI governance and compliance |
What We Assess: The Six NIST CSF 2.0 Functions
NIST CSF 2.0 gives a neutral structure that maps cleanly to every other framework. We test each function against evidence.
| Function | What it covers | What we test |
|---|---|---|
| Govern | Strategy, roles, policy, and supply chain risk | Board oversight, risk appetite, named owners, and supplier security terms |
| Identify | Assets, risks, and improvement | Asset and data inventories, the risk register, and cloud accounts in scope |
| Protect | Access, awareness, data security, and platform security | MFA coverage, privileged access, encryption, patching, and backups |
| Detect | Monitoring and analysis | Log coverage, alert handling, and time to detect in a scenario |
| Respond | Incident management and reporting | Playbooks, escalation, and regulatory reporting deadlines |
| Recover | Restoring normal operations | Restore tests, recovery objectives, and crisis communication |
NIST CSF 2.0 was published in February 2024 and added the Govern function. Our NIST compliance services page covers full CSF and SP 800-53 assessments.
Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing Within the Cyber Security Assessment
Interviews and documents show what should happen. Testing shows what actually happens. We add it where it changes the risk picture.
Testing we can include
| External testing | Internet-facing systems, web applications, and APIs |
|---|---|
| Internal testing | Network, Active Directory, and lateral movement paths |
| Cloud review | AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud configuration |
| Segmentation testing | For PCI DSS and other scoped environments |
| Phishing simulation | Staff awareness, measured |
How testing is delivered
- Scoped and authorized in writing before any test starts
- Delivered through our VAPT service, with internal resources or qualified specialist partners
- Findings validated to remove false positives
- Each finding linked to a risk in your register
- Retesting after fixes, where agreed
Test results also support SOC 2, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 evidence requests.
Common Findings From Cyber Security Assessments
The same gaps appear across sectors and company sizes. Most are cheap to fix once they are visible.
| Finding | Why it matters | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| MFA missing on some admin or remote access | Stolen passwords remain a leading way into networks | Enforce MFA everywhere, starting with privileged and cloud console access |
| Backups never restored in a test | Ransomware recovery fails when backups are incomplete or reachable by attackers | Isolated backups and a scheduled restore test with recorded results |
| No complete asset or cloud inventory | You cannot protect systems you do not know about | Automated discovery and an owner for every system |
| Logs collected but not reviewed | Attacks go unnoticed for weeks | Alert rules for key events and a named reviewer |
| Suppliers with broad access | A supplier breach becomes your breach | Access limited by need, security terms in contracts, and yearly reviews |
| Incident plan never rehearsed | Regulatory deadlines of 24 or 72 hours are missed | A tabletop exercise with legal, communications, and leadership |
Each finding in your report links to the framework requirements it affects, so one fix can close gaps in several places.
Cyber Security Risk Assessment Checklist: Ten Questions to Answer First
If you cannot answer one of these with evidence, it belongs on your roadmap.
Governance and visibility
- Does your board or leadership review cyber risk at least yearly?
- Do you have a current inventory of systems, data, and cloud accounts?
- Is there a risk register with owners and review dates?
- Do you know which suppliers could disrupt you if breached?
- Do you know which regulations and customer contracts set your security duties?
Controls and response
- Is multi-factor authentication on for all remote and admin access?
- Have you restored a critical system from backup in the last year?
- Was your last penetration test within 12 months?
- Could you meet a 24- or 72-hour regulatory reporting deadline?
- Are critical patches applied within a set, measured time?
How Our Cyber Security Assessment Services Work
Six stages from scoping call to a roadmap your leadership can approve.
Not sure which frameworks apply, or where to start? A free scoping review answers that first.
Book a free scoping reviewWhat Our Cybersecurity Compliance Services Improve
The outcomes security, risk, and leadership teams care about most.
A single register and roadmap across every framework, instead of separate projects that repeat the same questions.
Risks ranked by likelihood and business impact, so budget goes to what reduces risk most.
Current evidence ready for the security reviews your customers send.
When you are ready, a direct route to ISO 27001, SOC 2, or ISO 22301 business continuity.
Cyber Security Assessment Cost and Timeline
There is no list price. The cost follows your scope, the frameworks to map, and the testing included. A free scoping review gives you a tailored proposal.
What moves the cost
- Systems and sites — on-premises, cloud, and locations in scope
- Frameworks — how many standards and regulations to map
- Testing — external, internal, application, and cloud testing
- Suppliers — critical third parties to review
- Reuse — recent assessments, test reports, or certifications
How long it takes
| Assessment and roadmap | 6–12 weeks, depending on scope and testing |
|---|---|
| Closing gaps | Set by your roadmap and team capacity |
| Ongoing | Yearly reassessment, and after major changes |
How to Choose Cyber Security Assessment Services
The questions worth asking before you sign, and how Accredify Global answers them.
| Question to ask | Accredify Global's answer |
|---|---|
| Do you test controls or only review documents? | We test on evidence and systems, and add VAPT where it matters. |
| Can one assessment cover several frameworks? | Yes. We assess against NIST CSF 2.0 and map to the rest. |
| Are you a QSA or a CMMC C3PAO? | No. We prepare you for those assessments and coordinate them where needed. |
| Can you also certify us? | For ISO standards, yes, as a separate service kept independent of this work. See our impartiality commitments. |
| Do you give legal advice? | No. Where regulatory interpretation is needed, we coordinate it with your counsel. |
| How is it priced? | A tailored proposal after a free scoping review. |
What You Receive From a Cyber Security Risk Assessment
Risks scored by likelihood and impact, with owners.
Current and target state for each of the six functions.
Findings mapped to ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and more.
Validated VAPT findings, where testing is in scope.
Actions in priority order, with owners and dates.
A summary your board or leadership can approve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cyber Security Risk Assessments
Straight answers on scope, frameworks, testing, 2026 rules, cost, and timeline.
What is a cyber security risk assessment?
A cyber security risk assessment identifies the systems and data that matter most, the threats they face, and how well current controls protect them. It rates each risk by likelihood and impact. The output is a ranked list of risks and a plan to reduce them.
Why do I need a cyber security risk assessment?
Most security frameworks and regulations require one, including ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST CSF, HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIS2, and DORA. Customers also ask for evidence of it in security questionnaires. It is the only reliable way to decide where security money should go first.
How often should a cyber security risk assessment be done?
At least once a year, and after major changes such as a new system, an acquisition, or a serious incident. Many frameworks set a yearly minimum. High-risk environments often review key risks every quarter.
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a penetration test?
A risk assessment looks across people, processes, and technology to rank risks. A penetration test is a technical exercise that tries to exploit specific systems. Penetration test results feed into the risk assessment, but one does not replace the other.
What framework do you use for cyber security risk assessments?
We usually structure the assessment around NIST CSF 2.0 and its six functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. We then map findings to the frameworks you need, such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, NIS2, or DORA.
What is NIST CSF 2.0?
NIST CSF 2.0 is the Cybersecurity Framework published by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology in February 2024. It added a sixth function, Govern, to the original five. It suits organizations of any size and sector.
What are cybersecurity compliance services?
Cybersecurity compliance services help an organization meet security rules set by laws, regulators, customers, or standards. They include scoping, gap assessment, control testing, evidence preparation, and support through certification or audit.
Which cyber security framework do I need?
It depends on who is asking. Enterprise customers usually ask for SOC 2 or ISO 27001. Card payments need PCI DSS. US healthcare needs HIPAA. EU entities may face NIS2 or DORA. A scoping review confirms which apply and how to cover several at once.
Does Accredify Global do penetration testing?
Yes. Our VAPT service covers vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. We deliver it with internal resources or qualified specialist partners, depending on the technical scope.
Can a cyber security assessment help with customer security questionnaires?
Yes. An assessment gives you current, documented evidence for the questions customers ask most. It also shows where a certification such as ISO 27001, or a SOC 2 report, would answer many questionnaires at once.
Are you a CMMC C3PAO?
No. Accredify Global is not a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization. We help defense contractors assess readiness against NIST SP 800-171 before a C3PAO assessment.
What changed in cyber security regulation for 2026?
Several rules now bite. NIS2 is in national law across most of the EU, and DORA has applied to EU financial entities since January 2025. PCI DSS v4.0.1 is fully in force. CMMC Level 2 third-party assessments become the default for many defense contracts from 10 November 2026.
How much does a cyber security risk assessment cost?
The cost depends on the number of systems, sites, and cloud environments in scope, the frameworks to map, and whether testing is included. Accredify Global reviews your scope for free and sends a tailored proposal.
How long does a cyber security risk assessment take?
Most Accredify Global cyber security assessments and roadmaps take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on scope and testing. Closing the gaps then follows your roadmap.
Does Accredify Global also certify ISO 27001?
Yes, ISO 27001 certification is a separate service. To stay impartial, we do not certify a management system that we helped design. If you want both, we plan the work so the assessment and the certification audit stay independent.
What do we receive from a cyber security assessment?
You receive a risk register, a gap assessment against NIST CSF 2.0 and your chosen frameworks, and testing results where in scope. You also get a risk-ranked roadmap and a summary for your leadership or board.
Start With a Cyber Security Risk Assessment That Serves Every Framework You Need
Tell us about your systems, customers, and the rules you face. We'll confirm which frameworks apply, recommend a timeline, and send a tailored proposal.
Book your free scoping review →