Cybersecurity Services for
North Carolina Businesses
Multi-layered cybersecurity with 24/7 SOC monitoring, incident response, and compliance support. Stop threats before they reach your business. Built and staffed in North Carolina.
Why Do North Carolina Businesses Need Professional Cybersecurity Services?
Professional cybersecurity services protect your business from data breaches, ransomware, and compliance violations with 24/7 monitoring and expert incident response that internal teams alone cannot provide.
North Carolina is home to over 900,000 small and mid-size businesses, and cybercriminals know it. The state ranks in the top 10 nationally for reported cyber incidents, with ransomware, business email compromise, and credential theft leading the charge. If your business stores customer data, processes payments, or handles protected health information, you are a target -- and the threat landscape is growing more sophisticated every quarter.
PCG Shield is the cybersecurity platform from Partners Consulting Group that wraps enterprise-grade protection around NC businesses of every size. We operate a dedicated Security Operations Center staffed by certified analysts who monitor your environment around the clock, correlating signals from your endpoints, network, email, cloud applications, and identity systems into a unified threat picture. When we detect something suspicious, we investigate and respond in real time -- not the next business day.
Our approach starts with defense in depth. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) stops malware and ransomware at the device level. Advanced email security filters phishing attacks, business email compromise attempts, and malicious attachments before they reach your inbox. Vulnerability management continuously scans your infrastructure for weaknesses and prioritizes remediation. And when you layer our 24/7 SOC monitoring on top, you get a security posture that matches what Fortune 500 companies deploy -- at a price point built for growing NC businesses.
Compliance is a core competency at PCG. We maintain deep expertise in HIPAA for healthcare organizations, PCI-DSS for financial services and retail, and CMMC for defense supply chain contractors. Our compliance team conducts gap assessments, develops security policies, implements technical controls, and prepares the documentation auditors need to see. We work alongside your leadership to make compliance a continuous practice rather than a once-a-year scramble.
Every PCG Shield engagement also includes proactive services: penetration testing to validate your defenses, security awareness training to build a human firewall, and incident response planning so your team knows exactly what to do when something goes wrong. Because in cybersecurity, the question is never if you will be targeted. It is whether you are prepared when it happens.
Multi-Layered Security for Every Attack Surface
PCG Shield covers endpoints, email, network, cloud, and identity -- because attackers only need one gap.
24/7 SOC Monitoring
Our Security Operations Center monitors your environment around the clock. Certified analysts investigate alerts, correlate events across systems, and respond to threats in real time -- not next business day.
Vulnerability Management
Continuous scanning of your internal and external infrastructure for known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance gaps. Findings are risk-scored and prioritized with remediation guidance.
Endpoint Detection & Response
Next-generation EDR on every workstation and server. AI-powered behavioral analysis detects and isolates ransomware, fileless malware, and zero-day threats before they spread across your network.
Email Security
Advanced email filtering blocks phishing, business email compromise, spoofing, and malicious attachments. Includes DMARC/DKIM/SPF configuration, URL sandboxing, and impersonation detection.
Incident Response
Dedicated incident response team with a defined four-phase protocol: containment, investigation, eradication, and recovery. We restore operations fast and provide forensic reporting for regulatory and legal needs.
Penetration Testing
Certified ethical hackers test your defenses from the outside in. External network, internal network, web application, wireless, and social engineering assessments with detailed remediation reports.
Security Awareness Training
Phishing simulations, monthly micro-training, compliance modules, and new employee onboarding programs that transform your workforce from your greatest vulnerability into an active human firewall.
Compliance Support (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, CMMC)
End-to-end compliance services including gap assessments, policy development, technical control implementation, continuous monitoring, and audit preparation. We maintain deep expertise in healthcare, financial, and defense industry regulations to keep your business compliant year-round.
From Vulnerable to Defended in 4 Steps
We build your security posture methodically, starting with a clear picture of where you stand today.
Security Risk Assessment
We evaluate your current security posture across all attack surfaces: endpoints, network, email, cloud, identity, and human factors. You get a risk-scored report with prioritized findings.
Security Architecture Design
We design a layered security architecture tailored to your industry, compliance requirements, and risk tolerance. Every control is mapped to specific threats and business objectives.
Deployment & Hardening
We deploy EDR agents, configure email security, roll out SOC monitoring, harden your network, and implement compliance controls. Zero disruption to your daily operations.
Continuous Protection
24/7 monitoring, regular vulnerability scans, threat intelligence updates, penetration testing, and monthly security reporting. Your defenses evolve as threats evolve.
Cybersecurity Built for Your Industry
Different industries face different threats and regulations. PCG Shield is tuned to protect what matters most in yours.
Healthcare
HIPAA Security Rule compliance, ePHI protection, medical device security, EHR access controls, and breach notification preparedness. We protect patient data across every system in your practice.
Financial Services
PCI-DSS compliance for payment processing, SEC and FINRA cybersecurity requirements, encrypted transaction infrastructure, and SOX audit support for financial institutions.
Manufacturing
OT network segmentation, SCADA and ICS security, CMMC compliance for defense contractors, intellectual property protection, and industrial control system monitoring.
Law Firms
Client privilege data protection, ethical wall enforcement, encrypted communications, data loss prevention, and cybersecurity insurance compliance for legal practices.
Nonprofits
Donor data protection, grant database security, budget-friendly security controls, and compliance with state data protection laws for mission-driven organizations.
Construction
Mobile endpoint security for field crews, bid document protection, project management platform hardening, and wire transfer fraud prevention for construction companies.
Cybersecurity Services: Your Questions Answered
Clear answers to the cybersecurity questions NC business owners ask most.
Do I need a 24/7 SOC?
If your business handles sensitive data, processes financial transactions, or must comply with regulations like HIPAA or PCI-DSS, a 24/7 Security Operations Center is strongly recommended. Cyberattacks do not follow business hours. Over 76% of ransomware deployments occur outside of the standard workday, typically between 8 PM and 6 AM or on weekends. A 24/7 SOC ensures that threats are detected and contained within minutes, regardless of when they strike. For businesses with lower risk profiles, PCG Shield Essentials provides endpoint protection and scheduled threat hunting as a cost-effective starting point.
What is the best cybersecurity company in NC?
The best cybersecurity company for your North Carolina business depends on your industry, compliance requirements, and budget. Partners Consulting Group is consistently rated among the top cybersecurity providers in the Piedmont Triad and across NC because we combine enterprise-grade security tools with local, hands-on support. We hold SOC 2 Type II attestation, employ certified security analysts (CISSP, CEH, CompTIA Security+), and have deep experience with HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and CMMC compliance. Look for a provider that offers transparent pricing, proven incident response capabilities, and a track record of protecting businesses in your specific industry.
How much does cybersecurity cost for a small business?
Cybersecurity pricing depends on the level of protection, number of users, and compliance requirements. PCG offers flat-rate per-user cybersecurity pricing with no hidden fees or surprise invoices. Your cost depends on the number of users, endpoints, and the level of protection your business requires. The average cost of a data breach for a small business exceeds $150,000, making proactive cybersecurity one of the highest-ROI investments a business can make. Contact us for a custom quote.
What is the difference between endpoint protection and SOC monitoring?
Endpoint protection (EDR) is software installed on each device -- laptop, desktop, server -- that detects and blocks malware, ransomware, and suspicious behavior at the device level. SOC monitoring is a human-staffed security operations center that analyzes alerts from across your entire environment, including endpoints, network traffic, email, cloud services, and identity systems. Think of EDR as the locks on your doors and SOC monitoring as the 24/7 security team watching every camera. PCG Shield combines both for defense in depth.
How does PCG handle a cybersecurity incident?
When a security incident is detected, our response follows a proven four-phase protocol. First, containment: we isolate affected systems within minutes to stop the spread. Second, investigation: our analysts determine the scope, attack vector, and data impact using forensic tools. Third, eradication: we remove the threat, patch the vulnerability, and restore systems from clean backups. Fourth, recovery and reporting: we bring your operations back online, provide a detailed incident report, and implement additional safeguards to prevent recurrence. For PCG Shield SOC clients, this entire process is led by our dedicated incident response team at no additional charge.
What compliance frameworks does PCG support?
Partners Consulting Group provides compliance support for HIPAA (healthcare), PCI-DSS (payment processing), CMMC (defense contractors), SOC 2 (technology companies), NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and NC Identity Theft Protection Act requirements. Our compliance services include gap assessments, policy development, technical control implementation, ongoing monitoring, and audit preparation documentation. We work alongside your compliance officer or legal team to ensure your security posture meets and exceeds regulatory requirements.
Can you test our security with a penetration test?
Yes. PCG Shield includes penetration testing services performed by our certified ethical hackers. We offer external network penetration tests, internal network assessments, web application testing, wireless security assessments, and social engineering campaigns. Each test produces a detailed report with risk-rated findings, evidence of exploitation, and prioritized remediation guidance. We recommend penetration testing at least annually or after significant infrastructure changes. Testing can also be bundled into ongoing PCG Shield plans for continuous validation.
What makes cybersecurity-first IT different from regular IT with security add-ons?
Most IT providers build your infrastructure first and then layer security products on top as optional add-ons. A cybersecurity-first approach designs your entire technology environment with security as the foundation. This means network segmentation, zero-trust access policies, encrypted communications, hardened configurations, and continuous monitoring are built into every system from day one, not sold as extras after a breach. PCG was founded on this principle because retrofitting security is always more expensive and less effective than building it in from the start.
Find Out Where Your Security Gaps Are -- Before Attackers Do
Our free cybersecurity risk assessment identifies your vulnerabilities, evaluates your compliance posture, and delivers a prioritized action plan -- all within 48 hours.
No commitment required. Assessment covers endpoints, network, email, and compliance. Results in 48 hours.