Know your risks. Fix what matters.
Most small businesses don't know where their vulnerabilities are until something goes wrong. FD Consulting finds them first, and gives you a plain-English plan to fix them, prioritized by what matters most to your business.
Current threat landscape
of small businesses were hit by a cyberattack in the past year
of breaches involve a human element: a click, a weak password, a mistake
Small businesses are the #1 target. Most don't know it until it's too late.
Cybercriminals used to focus on large enterprises. That has changed. Automated tools now scan thousands of businesses at once for common vulnerabilities: weak passwords, unpatched software, no multi-factor authentication. Small businesses fit the profile exactly. You have data worth stealing, and you are less likely to have the defenses to stop it.
The real problem is not that small businesses are targeted. It is that most do not know where they are exposed. That is exactly what a cybersecurity assessment fixes. FD Consulting has been helping businesses find and close those gaps for over 20 years. We don't sell software. We don't have a package to push. We look at your specific business and tell you exactly where you stand and what to do about it.
the average cost of a data breach globally in 2024, a 10% increase over the prior year. Even a fraction of that figure can be company-ending for a small business.
You might recognize your business here.
- You have never had a formal security review
- Your insurer is asking security questions you can't answer
- Employees work remotely and you're unsure how secure it is
- You've had a security incident or a near-miss
- A new client is asking about your security practices
- You're preparing to sell or merge with another business
What happens when you work with us.
Five clear steps. No jargon. No commitment required until you've seen what we found and decided it makes sense to move forward.
We learn about your business
A conversation about how you use technology day-to-day, what your biggest concerns are, and what you are trying to protect. No technical jargon required.
We map and analyze your technology
We inventory every device, user, and system, and test for the vulnerabilities attackers actually look for, not just surface-level issues.
We show you exactly what we found
A plain-English report: what's at risk, what's working well, and what needs attention. Not an indecipherable 40-page technical document.
We build a prioritized plan
Not everything needs fixing at once. We prioritize by actual risk to your business and build a roadmap that fits your budget.
We stay in your corner
Whether you implement changes with us or on your own, we're here. Call with a question. Come back in six months. We operate as a partner, not a one-time vendor.
Concrete deliverables, not a vague report.
Network & risk assessment
A full inventory of your network, devices, and accounts mapped against current threat patterns to identify your actual vulnerabilities.
Plain-English risk report
A written report your leadership team can read and act on. Every finding explained in business terms: what it means and why it matters.
Prioritized remediation roadmap
A ranked action list so you can address what matters most first and plan the rest over time, without overwhelming your team or budget.
Insurance-ready documentation
Documentation your cyber insurer will actually want to see, helping you answer their questions and lower your premiums.
Compliance gap summary
If your industry has specific requirements (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, or others), we identify where you stand and what gaps need closing.
Findings walkthrough call
We don't hand you a report and disappear. We walk you through every finding and help you understand the next right move.
We're here to protect, not sell.
A lot of cybersecurity companies lead with fear, then sell you a package built for someone else's risk profile. We reject any one-size-fits-all solution. Every recommendation is specific to your business, your technology, and your actual risk. Fred Denison has been solving technology and security problems for businesses since 2009.
- Vendor-neutral: we don't sell software or hardware, so recommendations are based on what's right for you
- Plain English, always. If something doesn't make sense, we explain it until it does
- Risk-prioritized, not fear-driven, so you make smart, proactive decisions with your budget
What to ask any cybersecurity firm
These questions help you tell a genuine advisor from a fear-based vendor:
- What framework do you use for assessments? (NIST CSF and CIS Controls are the standards.)
- Do you have experience with businesses my size and in my industry?
- Who does the actual work, senior consultants or junior contractors?
- Can you provide references from businesses like mine?
We're happy to answer every one of these before you commit to anything.
Common questions.
How long does a security assessment take?
Most small business assessments take one to two weeks from start to report delivery. The time you spend with us directly is typically a few hours; we do the heavy lifting on our end.
What's the difference between a security assessment and an IT audit?
A security assessment focuses specifically on your cybersecurity posture: where you're vulnerable and how to reduce it. An IT audit is broader, covering your overall technology environment, policy compliance, access management, and documentation. Many clients start with an assessment.
We've never had a breach. Do we still need this?
The absence of a breach doesn't mean an absence of risk; it may only mean a vulnerability hasn't been found yet. It takes an average of 194 days to identify a breach after it occurs. An assessment is most valuable when nothing has gone wrong yet.
Will this disrupt our operations?
No. We design assessments to be non-disruptive. Most analysis happens in the background. We may need a few hours of access to specific systems, scheduled around your business hours.
What if we can't afford to fix everything you find?
That's exactly why we prioritize. Most of the highest-risk issues are also among the least expensive: multi-factor authentication, patching, access controls, and backup verification are all high-impact and often low-cost. We build a roadmap that takes your budget into account.
What framework do you use?
We follow current industry standards, including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and CIS Controls, the two most widely recognized frameworks for security assessments, applied in a way that's practical for small and midsize businesses.
Ready to find out where you stand?
Our initial consultation is free, takes about 30 minutes, and requires no commitment. We'll tell you whether a security assessment makes sense for your business, and what it would look like if it does.