Assessments - How We Do It
Our Assessments practice provides comprehensive security validation through systematic evaluationmethodologies that align with global cybersecurity frameworks. Building on 4CORE's foundation ofsecurity-by-design principles and AI-driven analysis capabilities, we deliver objective, evidence-basedassessments that validate security postures, ensure compliance readiness, and identify areas forstrategic improvement across your entire cybersecurity ecosystem.
Security Validation
Multi-Framework Assessment Integration
Our security validation approach integrates multiple industry-leading frameworks to providecomprehensive coverage of your security posture. We leverage the UK's Cyber AssessmentFramework (CAF) for outcome-focused security evaluation, NIST Cybersecurity Framework forstrategic alignment, NIST 800-171 for controlled unclassified information protection, and the FacilityCybersecurity Framework for operational technology environments. This multi-framework approachensures that assessments address both traditional IT security and emerging operational technologyrisks.
CISA CSET® Integration and Enhancement
We utilize CISA's Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET®) as a foundational assessment platform,enhanced with 4CORE's AI-driven analysis capabilities. Our approach includes custom moduledevelopment for industry-specific requirements, automated findings correlation across multipleassessment frameworks, and integration with our continuous threat exposure management (CTEM)methodology. This provides real-time validation of security controls against evolving threatlandscapes.
Architecture and Implementation Validation
Building on our Security Engineering Services' Architecture as Code methodology, we validateimplemented security architectures against designed specifications. This includes verification of ZeroTrust implementation, microservices security boundaries, Infrastructure as Code deployments, andDevSecOps pipeline security controls. Our validation process ensures that security designs translateeffectively into operational security postures.
AI-Enhanced Gap Analysis and Prioritization
Leveraging our vCISO Services' AI-driven platform, we provide intelligent gap analysis that correlates assessment findings with active threat intelligence, business impact analysis, and compliance requirements. This approach moves beyond traditional checkbox assessments to deliver risk-contextualized recommendations that align with organizational priorities and threat exposure.
Key Components:
- Multi-framework assessment integration (CAF, NIST CSF, NIST 800-171, Facility CybersecurityFramework)
- CISA CSET® platform enhancement with AI-driven analysis and custom modules
- Architecture validation against Security Engineering Services design specifications
- Real-time threat intelligence correlation and risk contextualization
- Automated compliance mapping and gap analysis across regulatory requirements
CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)
End-to-End CMMC Readiness and Certification Support
Our CMMC practice provides comprehensive support across all certification levels, from foundationalcybersecurity hygiene to advanced persistent threat protection. We conduct thorough CMMC gapassessments using our AI-driven risk analysis platform, develop tailored remediation roadmaps alignedwith our Engineering, Integration and Deployment Services subscription model, and provide ongoingreadiness validation through our Managed Services continuous monitoring capabilities.
NIST 800-171 Integration and Enhancement
We leverage NIST 800-171 requirements as the foundation for CMMC Level 2 compliance whileextending coverage to address advanced CMMC requirements. Our approach includes automatedSystem Security Plan (SSP) generation using our Architecture as Code methodology, continuouscompliance monitoring through our SIEM and threat exposure management platforms, and Plan ofAction and Milestones (POA&M) management with AI-driven prioritization.
Supply Chain Risk Integration
Building on our Engineering, Integration and Deployment Services' Supply Chain Risk Mitigationcapabilities, we integrate CMMC assessments with comprehensive supply chain security evaluation.This includes SBOM validation for software components, third-party vendor CMMC complianceverification, and continuous supply chain risk monitoring that extends CMMC compliance throughoutthe defense industrial base ecosystem.
FedRAMP Alignment and Cloud Security Validation
Our CMMC practice seamlessly integrates with FedRAMP requirements for organizations operating inhybrid environments. We provide unified assessment approaches that address both CMMC and FedRAMP compliance requirements, cloud security architecture validation, and continuousauthorization (ConMon) integration that maintains compliance across evolving cloud environments.
Key Components:
- Comprehensive CMMC Level 1-5 gap assessment and remediation planning
- NIST 800-171 integration with automated SSP generation and POA&M management
- Supply chain risk assessment and vendor compliance verification
- FedRAMP alignment for hybrid compliance environments
- Continuous compliance monitoring with AI-driven risk prioritization
Cyber Adversarial Assessments including Technical SurveillanceCountermeasures (TSCM)
Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Simulation and Validation
Our adversarial assessment program simulates real-world attack scenarios using threat intelligencefrom our Managed Threat Services practice. We conduct comprehensive red team exercises that testboth IT and OT environments, validate detection and response capabilities across our managed SIEMand threat hunting platforms, and provide detailed attack path analysis that informs both immediateremediation and strategic security architecture improvements.
Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) and Physical Security Integration
We provide comprehensive TSCM services that protect against sophisticated espionage threatstargeting both digital and physical assets. Our TSCM practice includes RF spectrum analysis, acousticsurveillance detection, optical and infrared surveillance countermeasures, and digital forensics forsuspected compromise. This physical security assessment integrates with our IoT/OT security practiceto address convergence risks between cyber and physical security domains.
Operational Technology (OT) and Critical Infrastructure Assessment
Building on our Engineering, Integration and Deployment Services' IoT/OT Security capabilities, weconduct specialized adversarial assessments targeting industrial control systems, SCADA networks,and critical infrastructure. These assessments simulate nation-state and criminal threat actorstargeting operational technology, validate air-gap effectiveness and network segmentation controls,and test incident response procedures for cyber-physical security events.
Intelligence-Driven Assessment Methodology
Our adversarial assessments leverage Dynamic Adversarial Intelligence from our Managed ThreatServices to ensure testing scenarios reflect current threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). We provide predictive threat modeling that anticipates likely attack vectors, attribution analysisfor discovered vulnerabilities, and strategic threat landscape assessment that informs long-termsecurity planning.
Continuous Red Team as a Service
We offer ongoing adversarial assessment through our subscription-based service model, providingquarterly red team exercises, continuous purple team collaboration with internal security teams, andreal-time attack simulation that validates security control effectiveness. This approach ensures thatsecurity defenses evolve with the changing threat landscape and organizational infrastructure.
Key Components:
- APT simulation with real-world threat actor TTPs and intelligence correlation
- Comprehensive TSCM services including RF, acoustic, optical, and digital surveillance detection
- Specialized OT and critical infrastructure adversarial assessment
- Intelligence-driven assessment methodology with predictive threat modeling
- Continuous red team services with quarterly exercises and purple team collaboration
Assessment Integration and Continuous Improvement
Unified Reporting and Risk Correlation
All assessment findings integrate through our AI-drivenplatform to provide unified risk visibility, cross-framework compliance mapping, and prioritizedremediation guidance that aligns with business objectives and threat exposure.
Continuous Validation Model
Our assessments transition seamlessly into continuous monitoringthrough our Managed Services, ensuring that security postures remain validated against evolvingthreats, compliance requirements, and organizational changes.
Strategic Security Architecture Feedback
Assessment findings directly inform our SecurityEngineering Services architecture design and our Technology Advisement Services innovationstrategy, creating a closed-loop security improvement process.
Subscription-Based Assessment Services
Ongoing assessment validation through ourEngineering, Integration and Deployment Services subscription model ensures that security posturesevolve with organizational growth, technology adoption, and threat landscape changes.
Our Assessments practice delivers objective, intelligence-driven security validation that seamlessly integrates with 4CORE's Security Engineering Services for architecture design, TechnologyAdvisement Services for innovation strategy, Engineering, Integration and Deployment Services for implementation support, vCISO Services for governance oversight, and Managed Services for continuous monitoring—ensuring comprehensive security validation across your entire cyber security ecosystem.
