FedRAMP Penetration Testing & Red Team Exercises
Testing across the six mandatory attack vectors, plus the CA-8(2) red team exercise required at Moderate and High. Deliverables built to survive 3PAO validation.
Two distinct obligations that are frequently conflated. First, an annual penetration test conducted per the FedRAMP Penetration Test Guidance, which prescribes six mandatory attack vectors rather than leaving scope to the tester. Second, control CA-8(2), added to the FedRAMP Moderate and High baselines with the move to NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5, which requires a red team exercise simulating adversary attempts to compromise organizational systems under agreed rules of engagement. The penetration test measures exposure. The red team exercise measures whether your organization detects and responds. Both are assessed at initial authorization and at each annual assessment, and red team exercises are not required for LI-SaaS.
We reconcile the authorization boundary against the six vectors, identify which apply to your architecture, and produce rules of engagement covering authorized targets, testing windows, prohibited techniques, evidence handling, hosting-provider notification, deconfliction, and the named authorizing official.
The guidance expects the assessment organization to leverage your threat intelligence to establish agreed objectives for the exercise. We run that session with your security team, so the exercise emulates adversaries plausibly interested in your service rather than a generic attacker, and the objectives are documented in the test plan.
Penetration testing produces exploitable findings with CVSS vectors and evidence. The red team exercise runs current real-world tactics, techniques, and procedures and measures detection, defense, and response at each stage. Critical findings are reported on discovery. A deconfliction contact can attribute activity to the exercise within minutes.
You receive a Red Team Test Plan documenting scope, methodology, planned activities, schedule, the resources performing the test, and your authorizations, plus a Red Team Test Report summarizing results, alongside the penetration test report. We package them for your 3PAO to validate and attest, and we take reviewer questions directly.
The exercise may be performed by the 3PAO, a separate third party, or internally, but the 3PAO must validate and attest to the plan and report either way. Keeping execution and attestation in separate hands is a stronger evidence posture and avoids asking one firm to review its own offensive work.
Our RTTP and RTTR are structured against what the guidance actually asks for, so your 3PAO is validating a document that already contains the required elements. We write for someone reading cold with authority to send it back, because that is who reads it.
We run FedRAMP advisory, SOC 2, and ISO programs alongside offensive security, so findings arrive already mapped to the controls they affect and the POA&M entries they create. Your assessor conversation and your remediation plan come from the same team.
Great consulting firms for scaling security, compliance, and appsec.
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Outstanding partner in Technical and Cyber Due Diligence
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Appsec maturity and application hardening.
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BD Emerson helped us simplfiy our compliance management.
BD Emerson did such a phenomenal job. What started as privacy support quickly became a full partnership across compliance, engineering, and even business operations. They’re embedded with our team. They understand our product. They move fast. They’re simply invaluable.
We had a hard time finding the right company to partner with in support of our compliance journey. Some vendors sell the idea that they do the work, but then you end up doing everything. The ambiguity is what killed our last project. BD Emerson’s team has such great technical knowledge and understands the standard so well that they made us comfortable with moving fast. This has led to us closing major enterprise customers that were previously out of reach because of security and compliance.
Lead an enterprise initiative to overhaul the organization's technology stack from ecommerce, corporate tech, and corporate security.
Supported ISO 42001 exercise and served as internal auditor.
Rubrik's privacy and compliance team began with the backbone of BD Emerson. BD Emerson supported building out the privacy program, GRC (ISO 27001, SOC 2, CMMC, FedRAMP), and the appsec function.
We needed a partner who could move quickly, without sacrificing precision. BD Emerson brought the expertise, structure, and speed we were looking for. Their team became an extension of ours, embedding themselves across the organization, guiding us step by step, and giving us confidence in areas we hadn’t tackled before. The internal audit they conducted was so detailed that even the external auditors called it out. Achieving ISO 27001 with zero nonconformities says everything you need to know about the quality of the partnership.
BD Emerson didn’t just help us meet our compliance goals; they integrated security and privacy into the core of our operations. I highly recommend BD Emerson to anyone seeking SOC 2 or GDPR compliance, or simply looking to enhance their security team and boost customer trust in their product and services. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable to our success.
.avif){kind=small}
BD Emerson understood our business requirements and worked side-by-side with us. The policies and controls we developed together not only meet compliance standards but improve how we operate day to day.
.avif){kind=small}
From day one, BD Emerson brought urgency, clarity, and a sharp understanding of what truly matters to our business — earning and keeping customer trust. They went beyond helping us meet compliance requirements; they helped build a foundation for secure, scalable growth. That kind of partnership is rare.
BD Emerson didn’t just help us pass an audit—they helped us build a sustainable culture of security.
BD Emerson was essential in helping our company navigate the daunting process of leveling up our security infrastructure. BD Emerson’s impressive expertise and confidence throughout the process helped our team exceed HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 1 standards quickly, distilling what can be an overwhelming process into a streamlined, organized effort. From day one they began adding value and getting us on course. With their help we delivered on a massive security overhaul with both extreme efficiency and thorough attention to details. Because of BD Emerson’s support, we’ve increased our clients’ trust in Titan Intake and the life-changing work it accomplishes for those seeking specialist referrals.
BD Emerson gets HubSpot partners. Best firm to work with for startups.
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A HubSpot implementation and change management partner, Origin63 needed to become SOC 2 compliant fast. BD Emerson guided Origin63's team through SOC 2 control implementation so that they could get SOC 2 certified without delay.
Finding an audit firm that understands technical security is difficult. BD Emerson's audit team has some real expertise.
SOC 2 was a project for a few years. Eventually we hired BD Emerson. They made everything simple.
ISO 45001, ISO 27001, and ISO 9001 were infinitely compliacted until the team came in and built a unified management system and operationalized it in Vanta.
.avif){kind=small}
BD Emerson has served as a trusted technology and security partner with us through our scaling journey.
.avif){kind=small}
After working with 2 different Big 4 consulting firms, it was BD Emerson that successfully implemented and completed our projects for DLP, Data Security, and Privacy Operations.
BD Emerson's audit of our regulatory landscape helped us identify issues, remediate them rapidly with BDE's support, and pass diligence for banking customers.
Working with BD Emerson has been a real game-changer for Gardiant. BD Emerson came to us as a trusted service provider and partner of another business we collaborate with in a founders group. Their deep expertise in SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance helped us not just meet but exceed our security and privacy goals. They made the complexities of compliance understandable and manageable, which enabled us to transform our platform's security in record time. Thanks to their thorough approach and unwavering support, our clients now have even more confidence in our platform. BD Emerson didn’t just help us tick boxes; they integrated security and privacy into the core of what we do. I can’t recommend them enough for any company looking to up their game in compliance and security.
.avif){kind=small}
I wholeheartedly recommend BD Emerson CPA. Our collaboration was seamless, highly professional, and productive, effectively showcasing our company’s commitment to security.
Working with BD Emerson was seamless. Their strategy, compliance, and technical experts worked directly with our team to make the ISO 27001 journey efficient and effective.
Engaging with BD Emerson was a pivotal moment for Meridian AI. Their expert team, led by seasoned professionals, swiftly navigated us through the complexities of achieving SOC 2 Type I compliance in an incredibly short timeframe and moving straight into our SOC 2 Type II monitoring period. This wasn't just about ticking a box for compliance; it was about fundamentally enhancing our security posture across the board — from our endpoints and cloud infrastructure to our development lifecycle and beyond. The diligence and technical acumen of BD Emerson allowed us to not only meet but exceed the stringent security expectations of our enterprise clients. Thanks to BD Emerson, we're now not just ready but confident in our security and compliance stature, setting us apart in the AI technology market. Their partnership has been invaluable, providing us the foundation to scale securely and sustainably.
.avif){kind=small}
I have never worked with an outside consultancy that simply felt like they were our people. We have trusted and counted on BD Emerson for a long time. Excellent leadership and excellent staff. We consider them family.
I can't imagine doing SOC2 (Type I and II) or GDPR readiness without Drew and BD Emerson. We moved really fast through the process, but I felt that Drew was there to support at every step of the process. Drew prioritized items that helped make our business look good, in addition to ensuring we met all of our security requirements
Working with BD Emerson feels like having co-founders who just happened to specialize in security and compliance. The care they show, the energy they bring, it’s personal. It’s like they have an ownership stake in our company. They’re not just consultants. They’re in the fight with us, every step of the way.
.svg){kind=small}
The advisory team is simply life saving.
BDE has auditors that get how businesses operate.
.svg){kind=small}
Phenomenal audit firm and consulting firm that has some real experts.
BD Emerson took our complex requirements from our customers and aligned us with ISO 27001. We achieved certification and now are closing more and more business.
It is difficult to find a consulting partner who has expertise in finance and banking that isn't Big 4. BD Emerson came in and helped us achieve our SOC 2 while buidling out our security program.
BD Emerson serves Intellinum, a mobile technologies and Oracle supply chain/logistics consultant, as CISO, working hand-in-hand with their CTO to secure all aspects of its business, staff, and products. BD Emerson's team assists in the upkeep of Intellinum's SOC 1, SOC 2, and GDPR attestations.
BD Emerson serves as CISO and DPO for Lemba Therapeutics, a genomic research start-up that needed to ensure compliance with GDPR. Partnering with BD Emerson, has enabled Lemba to implement security technology and automated control enforcement for ID security, endpoint security, and cloud security.
BD Emerson supported our SOC 2 compliance journey, helping us build security, privacy, and compliance in every aspect of our business.
BD Emerson helped build a unified strategy for security, technology, and compliance for Savant after acquiring GE Lighting.
BD Emerson has ticked all the boxes we needed in a compliance partner. They’re always accessible and constantly working to create the best solution for us.
.avif){kind=small}
At HiredHelpr, we understood from the outset the critical role that robust security and privacy practices play in the trust our users place in us. Partnering with BD Emerson has been a pivotal step in our journey towards creating a secure, reliable platform. Their comprehensive assessment and tailored security strategies have significantly enhanced our device security, application resilience, and cloud infrastructure. BD Emerson's expertise not only fortified our platform against sophisticated threats but also deepened our understanding of cybersecurity. The result is a stronger HiredHelpr, ready to serve our clients with an even greater level of confidence. We're particularly grateful for BD Emerson's ongoing support as our virtual CISO, ensuring that our security posture remains robust as we grow. Their partnership is invaluable, providing us with the assurance that we can meet the highest standards of security and privacy demanded by our users and the industry.
Throughout my career as a tech investor at a global investment firm, I've worked with a number of world-class consulting firms and service providers. I would put the service quality and attention to detail of BD Emerson up against any of them – and at a fraction of the cost. In the world of startups, you're inundated with "expert" providers claiming they can help but knowing who you can trust is often elusive. BD Emerson helped us win our first enterprise clients due to the speed and subject matter expertise in security, privacy, IT, and compliance. I would highly recommend them for startups and look forward to an expanding our partnership
In a world where the security and privacy of digital educational platforms are of paramount importance, partnering with BD Emerson was a game-changer for LiveSchool. Their expertise and guidance transformed our approach to cybersecurity and compliance, enabling us to achieve SOC 2 readiness in an astonishingly short period. This achievement is not just a milestone for LiveSchool; it's a testament to our commitment to providing a secure and trustworthy platform for schools across the nation. BD Emerson didn't just help us meet a compliance checklist; they helped us weave security and privacy into the very fabric of our service, ensuring that we can continue to innovate in educational technology with confidence. Thanks to BD Emerson, LiveSchool is now poised to expand our impact, bringing positive behavioral reinforcement to more schools with the assurance of industry-leading security practices.
I have worked with consultants in nearly every capacity, and I have never worked with a group so talented and easy to work with. I never had a thought that I would need to step in and change my day-to-day activities while the BD Emerson team made our company more secure and enabled me and the leadership team at Wendt to rapidly mature our security posture. Achieving SOC 2 Type 1 and navigating Stage 1 of ISO 27001 at the same time is an incredible accomplishment. If you are a HubSpot app or Solutions Provider, you need to work with BD Emerson to enhance your security and meet HubSpot's evolving objectives for partners.
.avif){kind=small}
Working with BD Emerson CPA has been instrumental in our journey towards achieving and maintaining compliance with both HIPAA and SOC 2 standards. Their expertise and thorough approach provided us with invaluable insights and a clear path forward, ensuring that our platform meets the highest security and privacy standards. We appreciate how the audit team did more than just check our controls. They provided strategic guidance to build repeatable control activities to make sure we continuously mature our processes to protect data and systems. This partnership has not only reinforced our commitment to data protection but has also significantly enhanced our credibility and trust with our clients.
Great consulting firms for scaling security, compliance, and appsec.
Outstanding partner in Technical and Cyber Due Diligence
Appsec maturity and application hardening.
BD Emerson helped us simplfiy our compliance management.
BD Emerson did such a phenomenal job. What started as privacy support quickly became a full partnership across compliance, engineering, and even business operations. They’re embedded with our team. They understand our product. They move fast. They’re simply invaluable.
We had a hard time finding the right company to partner with in support of our compliance journey. Some vendors sell the idea that they do the work, but then you end up doing everything. The ambiguity is what killed our last project. BD Emerson’s team has such great technical knowledge and understands the standard so well that they made us comfortable with moving fast. This has led to us closing major enterprise customers that were previously out of reach because of security and compliance.
Lead an enterprise initiative to overhaul the organization's technology stack from ecommerce, corporate tech, and corporate security.
Supported ISO 42001 exercise and served as internal auditor.
Rubrik's privacy and compliance team began with the backbone of BD Emerson. BD Emerson supported building out the privacy program, GRC (ISO 27001, SOC 2, CMMC, FedRAMP), and the appsec function.
We needed a partner who could move quickly, without sacrificing precision. BD Emerson brought the expertise, structure, and speed we were looking for. Their team became an extension of ours, embedding themselves across the organization, guiding us step by step, and giving us confidence in areas we hadn’t tackled before. The internal audit they conducted was so detailed that even the external auditors called it out. Achieving ISO 27001 with zero nonconformities says everything you need to know about the quality of the partnership.
BD Emerson didn’t just help us meet our compliance goals; they integrated security and privacy into the core of our operations. I highly recommend BD Emerson to anyone seeking SOC 2 or GDPR compliance, or simply looking to enhance their security team and boost customer trust in their product and services. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable to our success.
BD Emerson understood our business requirements and worked side-by-side with us. The policies and controls we developed together not only meet compliance standards but improve how we operate day to day.
From day one, BD Emerson brought urgency, clarity, and a sharp understanding of what truly matters to our business — earning and keeping customer trust. They went beyond helping us meet compliance requirements; they helped build a foundation for secure, scalable growth. That kind of partnership is rare.
BD Emerson didn’t just help us pass an audit—they helped us build a sustainable culture of security.
BD Emerson was essential in helping our company navigate the daunting process of leveling up our security infrastructure. BD Emerson’s impressive expertise and confidence throughout the process helped our team exceed HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 1 standards quickly, distilling what can be an overwhelming process into a streamlined, organized effort. From day one they began adding value and getting us on course. With their help we delivered on a massive security overhaul with both extreme efficiency and thorough attention to details. Because of BD Emerson’s support, we’ve increased our clients’ trust in Titan Intake and the life-changing work it accomplishes for those seeking specialist referrals.
BD Emerson gets HubSpot partners. Best firm to work with for startups.
A HubSpot implementation and change management partner, Origin63 needed to become SOC 2 compliant fast. BD Emerson guided Origin63's team through SOC 2 control implementation so that they could get SOC 2 certified without delay.
Finding an audit firm that understands technical security is difficult. BD Emerson's audit team has some real expertise.
SOC 2 was a project for a few years. Eventually we hired BD Emerson. They made everything simple.
ISO 45001, ISO 27001, and ISO 9001 were infinitely compliacted until the team came in and built a unified management system and operationalized it in Vanta.
BD Emerson has served as a trusted technology and security partner with us through our scaling journey.
After working with 2 different Big 4 consulting firms, it was BD Emerson that successfully implemented and completed our projects for DLP, Data Security, and Privacy Operations.
BD Emerson's audit of our regulatory landscape helped us identify issues, remediate them rapidly with BDE's support, and pass diligence for banking customers.
Working with BD Emerson has been a real game-changer for Gardiant. BD Emerson came to us as a trusted service provider and partner of another business we collaborate with in a founders group. Their deep expertise in SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance helped us not just meet but exceed our security and privacy goals. They made the complexities of compliance understandable and manageable, which enabled us to transform our platform's security in record time. Thanks to their thorough approach and unwavering support, our clients now have even more confidence in our platform. BD Emerson didn’t just help us tick boxes; they integrated security and privacy into the core of what we do. I can’t recommend them enough for any company looking to up their game in compliance and security.
I wholeheartedly recommend BD Emerson CPA. Our collaboration was seamless, highly professional, and productive, effectively showcasing our company’s commitment to security.
Working with BD Emerson was seamless. Their strategy, compliance, and technical experts worked directly with our team to make the ISO 27001 journey efficient and effective.
Engaging with BD Emerson was a pivotal moment for Meridian AI. Their expert team, led by seasoned professionals, swiftly navigated us through the complexities of achieving SOC 2 Type I compliance in an incredibly short timeframe and moving straight into our SOC 2 Type II monitoring period. This wasn't just about ticking a box for compliance; it was about fundamentally enhancing our security posture across the board — from our endpoints and cloud infrastructure to our development lifecycle and beyond. The diligence and technical acumen of BD Emerson allowed us to not only meet but exceed the stringent security expectations of our enterprise clients. Thanks to BD Emerson, we're now not just ready but confident in our security and compliance stature, setting us apart in the AI technology market. Their partnership has been invaluable, providing us the foundation to scale securely and sustainably.
I have never worked with an outside consultancy that simply felt like they were our people. We have trusted and counted on BD Emerson for a long time. Excellent leadership and excellent staff. We consider them family.
I can't imagine doing SOC2 (Type I and II) or GDPR readiness without Drew and BD Emerson. We moved really fast through the process, but I felt that Drew was there to support at every step of the process. Drew prioritized items that helped make our business look good, in addition to ensuring we met all of our security requirements
Working with BD Emerson feels like having co-founders who just happened to specialize in security and compliance. The care they show, the energy they bring, it’s personal. It’s like they have an ownership stake in our company. They’re not just consultants. They’re in the fight with us, every step of the way.
The advisory team is simply life saving.
BDE has auditors that get how businesses operate.
Phenomenal audit firm and consulting firm that has some real experts.
BD Emerson took our complex requirements from our customers and aligned us with ISO 27001. We achieved certification and now are closing more and more business.
It is difficult to find a consulting partner who has expertise in finance and banking that isn't Big 4. BD Emerson came in and helped us achieve our SOC 2 while buidling out our security program.
BD Emerson serves Intellinum, a mobile technologies and Oracle supply chain/logistics consultant, as CISO, working hand-in-hand with their CTO to secure all aspects of its business, staff, and products. BD Emerson's team assists in the upkeep of Intellinum's SOC 1, SOC 2, and GDPR attestations.
BD Emerson serves as CISO and DPO for Lemba Therapeutics, a genomic research start-up that needed to ensure compliance with GDPR. Partnering with BD Emerson, has enabled Lemba to implement security technology and automated control enforcement for ID security, endpoint security, and cloud security.
BD Emerson supported our SOC 2 compliance journey, helping us build security, privacy, and compliance in every aspect of our business.
BD Emerson helped build a unified strategy for security, technology, and compliance for Savant after acquiring GE Lighting.
BD Emerson has ticked all the boxes we needed in a compliance partner. They’re always accessible and constantly working to create the best solution for us.
At HiredHelpr, we understood from the outset the critical role that robust security and privacy practices play in the trust our users place in us. Partnering with BD Emerson has been a pivotal step in our journey towards creating a secure, reliable platform. Their comprehensive assessment and tailored security strategies have significantly enhanced our device security, application resilience, and cloud infrastructure. BD Emerson's expertise not only fortified our platform against sophisticated threats but also deepened our understanding of cybersecurity. The result is a stronger HiredHelpr, ready to serve our clients with an even greater level of confidence. We're particularly grateful for BD Emerson's ongoing support as our virtual CISO, ensuring that our security posture remains robust as we grow. Their partnership is invaluable, providing us with the assurance that we can meet the highest standards of security and privacy demanded by our users and the industry.
Throughout my career as a tech investor at a global investment firm, I've worked with a number of world-class consulting firms and service providers. I would put the service quality and attention to detail of BD Emerson up against any of them – and at a fraction of the cost. In the world of startups, you're inundated with "expert" providers claiming they can help but knowing who you can trust is often elusive. BD Emerson helped us win our first enterprise clients due to the speed and subject matter expertise in security, privacy, IT, and compliance. I would highly recommend them for startups and look forward to an expanding our partnership
In a world where the security and privacy of digital educational platforms are of paramount importance, partnering with BD Emerson was a game-changer for LiveSchool. Their expertise and guidance transformed our approach to cybersecurity and compliance, enabling us to achieve SOC 2 readiness in an astonishingly short period. This achievement is not just a milestone for LiveSchool; it's a testament to our commitment to providing a secure and trustworthy platform for schools across the nation. BD Emerson didn't just help us meet a compliance checklist; they helped us weave security and privacy into the very fabric of our service, ensuring that we can continue to innovate in educational technology with confidence. Thanks to BD Emerson, LiveSchool is now poised to expand our impact, bringing positive behavioral reinforcement to more schools with the assurance of industry-leading security practices.
I have worked with consultants in nearly every capacity, and I have never worked with a group so talented and easy to work with. I never had a thought that I would need to step in and change my day-to-day activities while the BD Emerson team made our company more secure and enabled me and the leadership team at Wendt to rapidly mature our security posture. Achieving SOC 2 Type 1 and navigating Stage 1 of ISO 27001 at the same time is an incredible accomplishment. If you are a HubSpot app or Solutions Provider, you need to work with BD Emerson to enhance your security and meet HubSpot's evolving objectives for partners.
Working with BD Emerson CPA has been instrumental in our journey towards achieving and maintaining compliance with both HIPAA and SOC 2 standards. Their expertise and thorough approach provided us with invaluable insights and a clear path forward, ensuring that our platform meets the highest security and privacy standards. We appreciate how the audit team did more than just check our controls. They provided strategic guidance to build repeatable control activities to make sure we continuously mature our processes to protect data and systems. This partnership has not only reinforced our commitment to data protection but has also significantly enhanced our credibility and trust with our clients.
