Security & Compliance Consulting • Durham, NC

Security & Compliance in Durham, NC

Durham’s healthcare providers, biotech startups, and SaaS companies face overlapping compliance mandates — HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC, 21 CFR Part 11, and more. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. builds unified compliance programs that satisfy multiple regulatory frameworks with a single control set, reducing audit fatigue and keeping your Durham organization protected and compliant — backed by a CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner and 30+ years of cybersecurity expertise.

BBB Accredited Since 2003 • Founded 2002 • 2,500+ Clients • CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner

Why Durham Organizations Need Compliance Consulting

Navigate Durham’s Complex Regulatory Landscape

Healthcare, biotech, SaaS, and defense companies each face unique compliance mandates — and many face several at once.

HIPAA Is Non-Negotiable

Every Durham healthcare provider, health-tech startup, and business associate that touches protected health information must comply with HIPAA. The HHS Office for Civil Rights actively investigates complaints and conducts audits. Penalties reach $2.1 million per violation category, with criminal prosecution possible for willful neglect. Durham’s concentration of healthcare makes HIPAA compliance a business imperative.

SOC 2 Opens Enterprise Doors

Durham’s SaaS companies and technology startups in the Innovation District cannot close enterprise deals without SOC 2 Type II certification. Enterprise security questionnaires demand evidence of continuous controls. SOC 2 readiness accelerates your sales cycle, removes objections from procurement committees, and differentiates your Durham company in competitive markets.

CMMC Protects Defense Revenue

Durham companies in the defense supply chain must achieve CMMC 2.0 certification to retain DoD contracts. CMMC Level 2 requires implementation of all 110 NIST 800-171 controls and a third-party assessment. Companies that delay preparation risk losing contracts when CMMC requirements appear in solicitations — which is happening now.

Reduce Multi-Framework Complexity

A Durham health-tech startup might need HIPAA for patient data, SOC 2 for enterprise sales, and PCI DSS for payments. A biotech firm handling CUI needs CMMC plus 21 CFR Part 11. We build cross-mapped programs where one set of controls satisfies multiple frameworks — dramatically reducing compliance overhead and audit fatigue.

Local Expertise

Compliance Consulting Designed for Durham’s Regulated Industries

Durham’s innovation economy creates one of the most complex compliance landscapes in North Carolina. Duke Health and its network of hospitals, clinics, and research programs must maintain HIPAA compliance across thousands of endpoints, hundreds of applications, and multiple campuses. Biotech companies along the Highway 54 corridor navigate overlapping requirements from HIPAA, FDA (21 CFR Part 11), NIST 800-171, and sometimes CMMC — depending on their funding sources and customers. SaaS companies in the Innovation District need SOC 2 Type II to compete for enterprise business while maintaining PCI DSS compliance for payment processing.

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. has helped North Carolina organizations navigate security and compliance requirements since 2002. Craig Petronella holds the CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner credential and leads a team with deep expertise across every major compliance framework relevant to Durham’s economy. We do not simply check boxes on audit checklists. We build security programs that genuinely protect your organization while satisfying every applicable compliance requirement.

Our cross-mapped compliance methodology is particularly valuable for Durham organizations facing multiple frameworks. Instead of implementing separate control sets for each regulation, we identify the overlapping requirements across HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC, PCI DSS, and other frameworks, then build a unified program where each security control satisfies requirements from multiple frameworks simultaneously. One policy library, one evidence repository, one set of procedures — covering all your compliance obligations.

This approach reduces the total cost of compliance, eliminates contradictory controls, simplifies employee training, and produces a security program that is maintainable as your Durham organization grows. Whether you are a startup preparing for your first SOC 2 audit, a healthcare practice facing OCR investigation, or a biotech firm pursuing CMMC certification, we deliver compliance programs that protect your business and satisfy regulators.

What We Deliver

Compliance Services for Durham Organizations

Every engagement addresses your specific regulatory requirements with practical, implementable controls.

HIPAA Compliance Programs

We build comprehensive HIPAA compliance programs for Durham healthcare providers, business associates, and health-tech companies. Our programs cover all three safeguard categories: administrative (risk assessments, policies, workforce training, incident response, BAA management), physical (facility access, workstation security, media disposal), and technical (access controls, audit logging, encryption, transmission security).

Every control is documented in audit-ready format with evidence collection procedures defined. Annual risk assessments identify new threats and vulnerabilities as your Durham organization evolves. Workforce training includes simulated phishing exercises and HIPAA awareness education. We manage your entire compliance lifecycle so your practice stays protected between audits.

Deliverables: Complete policy library, risk assessment, remediation roadmap, workforce training, BAA inventory, incident response plan, and audit-ready documentation.

SOC 2 Type II Readiness & Support

SOC 2 Type II is the gold standard for Durham SaaS companies pursuing enterprise clients. We accelerate the path from zero to certified with a structured program: gap assessment against Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy), policy and procedure development, technical control implementation, evidence collection automation, and mock audit preparation.

For Durham Innovation District startups, we integrate compliance into your engineering workflow. Evidence collection happens automatically through your existing tools — GitHub for change management, Jira for access reviews, your cloud provider’s native logging for audit trails. Compliance becomes a byproduct of good engineering practice rather than a separate burden.

We coordinate with your chosen audit firm throughout the examination period, respond to auditor requests, and help close any findings that arise during the audit.

CMMC 2.0 & NIST 800-171 Compliance

Durham companies in the defense supply chain must implement all 110 NIST 800-171 controls and achieve CMMC Level 2 certification through a C3PAO assessment. Craig Petronella holds the CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner credential and guides Durham organizations through every phase of preparation.

Our CMMC program includes gap assessment against all 110 controls, System Security Plan development, Plan of Actions & Milestones for any gaps, technical control implementation, evidence collection, and C3PAO assessment preparation. For Durham biotech companies with CUI from DoD-funded research, we ensure NIST 800-171 controls are implemented alongside existing HIPAA and FDA compliance programs.

Starting CMMC preparation early gives your Durham organization time to close gaps, build evidence history, and enter the C3PAO assessment with confidence.

Multi-Framework Cross-Mapping

Durham organizations frequently face three or more compliance frameworks simultaneously. Our cross-mapping methodology identifies overlapping requirements across HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC, NIST CSF, PCI DSS, 21 CFR Part 11, and other frameworks, then builds unified controls that satisfy all applicable mandates.

For example, HIPAA’s access control requirements overlap significantly with SOC 2’s logical access controls and NIST 800-171’s access control family. Instead of implementing three separate access control programs, we build one program that satisfies all three — with evidence collection mapped to each framework’s specific audit requirements.

This approach typically reduces total compliance effort by 40-60% compared to managing each framework independently, while producing a more coherent and maintainable security program.

Compliance Gap Assessments & Remediation

Not sure where your Durham organization stands against compliance requirements? Our gap assessments evaluate your current security controls, policies, procedures, and documentation against the specific framework or frameworks you need to satisfy. The assessment produces a detailed gap analysis with a prioritized remediation roadmap.

We do not just identify gaps — we help close them. Our team implements technical controls, develops policies, creates procedures, and builds the evidence collection infrastructure your compliance program needs. For Durham organizations preparing for audits or assessments, we provide pre-audit readiness reviews to identify and address any remaining gaps before the auditor arrives.

Ongoing Compliance Management

Compliance is not a one-time project — it requires continuous maintenance as your Durham organization grows, regulations evolve, and new threats emerge. Our ongoing compliance management service includes annual risk assessments, policy updates, control testing, evidence collection, workforce training, vendor risk management, and audit preparation.

We serve as your compliance partner throughout the year, ensuring that new employees are trained, terminated employees have access revoked, new vendors are assessed, new systems are secured, and documentation stays current. When audit time arrives, you are ready — because compliance has been maintained continuously, not scrambled together in the weeks before an auditor arrives.

Our Approach

How We Build Compliance Programs for Durham

A practical, risk-based approach that delivers real security alongside regulatory compliance.

1

Compliance Gap Assessment

We evaluate your Durham organization against every applicable compliance framework, identifying gaps in policies, procedures, technical controls, and documentation. The assessment maps your current state to required controls and produces a prioritized remediation roadmap with effort estimates and timelines.

2

Policy Development & Control Implementation

We develop the complete policy library, procedures, and technical controls your compliance program requires. Policies are written in clear language that your Durham workforce can understand and follow. Technical controls are implemented and configured to satisfy framework requirements while maintaining operational efficiency.

3

Evidence Collection & Audit Preparation

We establish evidence collection procedures for every control, automate collection where possible, and organize evidence in audit-ready format. Pre-audit readiness reviews ensure no gaps remain. For SOC 2, we coordinate with your audit firm. For CMMC, we prepare you for the C3PAO assessment. For HIPAA, we ensure OCR-ready documentation.

4

Continuous Compliance Maintenance

We maintain your compliance program on an ongoing basis: annual risk assessments, policy reviews, control testing, workforce training, vendor assessments, and documentation updates. Your Durham organization stays audit-ready year-round, not just during assessment periods.

Why Choose Petronella

Why Durham Organizations Trust Petronella Technology Group, Inc. for Compliance

CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner

Craig Petronella holds the CMMC-CRP credential. Our team has deep expertise in CMMC, NIST 800-171, HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS, 21 CFR Part 11, and every major compliance framework relevant to Durham’s economy.

Security + Compliance Together

We are a cybersecurity company that delivers compliance — not a compliance firm that outsources security. Your Durham organization gets genuine technical security alongside regulatory compliance, not just paperwork that looks good in a binder.

Cross-Framework Efficiency

Our cross-mapped compliance methodology reduces multi-framework compliance effort by 40-60%. Durham organizations facing HIPAA + SOC 2, or CMMC + HIPAA, or three or more frameworks simultaneously benefit from a unified program that eliminates duplicate controls and audit fatigue.

22+ Years Protecting NC Organizations

Since 2002, we have helped Triangle organizations navigate evolving compliance requirements. Our longevity means we have guided companies through regulatory changes, audit cycles, and breach events — bringing practical experience that newer consultancies lack.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Compliance in Durham

Can you help Durham healthcare providers achieve HIPAA compliance?

Yes. HIPAA compliance is a core specialty. We build comprehensive programs covering all safeguard categories, conduct annual risk assessments, deliver workforce training, manage BAAs, and maintain audit-ready documentation for Durham practices ranging from solo providers to multi-location groups.

How long does it take to achieve SOC 2 Type II?

From zero to SOC 2 Type II typically takes 9-15 months. The first 3-6 months are spent on gap assessment, policy development, and control implementation. The Type II observation period requires a minimum of 6 months of evidence. We accelerate readiness by integrating evidence collection into your existing engineering tools.

What is CMMC and does my Durham company need it?

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is required for companies handling Controlled Unclassified Information in the DoD supply chain. If your Durham company holds DoD contracts or subcontracts involving CUI, you need CMMC Level 2 certification. This requires implementing all 110 NIST 800-171 controls and passing a third-party assessment.

Can you handle multiple compliance frameworks simultaneously?

Yes. Multi-framework compliance is one of our primary strengths. We cross-map requirements across HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC, PCI DSS, 21 CFR Part 11, and other frameworks to build unified programs that reduce duplicate effort by 40-60%. One set of policies and controls satisfies all your regulatory obligations.

Do you provide ongoing compliance management or just initial setup?

Both. We offer initial compliance program development and ongoing compliance management. Most Durham organizations choose ongoing management because compliance requires continuous maintenance — annual risk assessments, policy updates, workforce training, vendor reviews, and evidence collection throughout the year.

Can you help Durham biotech companies with 21 CFR Part 11?

Yes. We implement 21 CFR Part 11 controls for electronic records and electronic signatures, including audit trails, system validation, access controls, and data integrity safeguards. For Durham biotech companies, we integrate these controls with existing HIPAA and NIST programs to avoid duplicate effort.

What does a compliance gap assessment cost?

Gap assessment pricing depends on the frameworks covered, the size of your Durham organization, and the complexity of your IT environment. We provide detailed proposals with transparent pricing after an initial discovery conversation. Contact us to discuss your specific compliance requirements and receive a customized quote.

How do we get started?

Call 919-348-4912 or schedule a consultation. We begin with a discovery conversation to understand your Durham organization’s regulatory obligations, current compliance state, and business objectives. From there, we propose an assessment scope and timeline. Most gap assessments are completed within two to four weeks.

Ready to Simplify Compliance for Your Durham Organization?

Schedule a compliance assessment to evaluate your HIPAA, SOC 2, CMMC, or multi-framework requirements. We build unified compliance programs that protect your Durham business, satisfy regulators, and reduce the overhead of managing multiple frameworks.

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. • 919-348-4912 • Raleigh, NC 27606 • BBB Accredited Since 2003 • Founded 2002 • 2,500+ Clients