Challenge A major university medical system faced increasing security concerns as it expanded its cloud infrastructure to support critical healthcare and research operations. With a complex mix of cloud platforms and services, leadership needed a clear understanding of potential risks and misconfigurations that could expose sensitive patient and institutional data. Solution Pillar conducted a comprehensive Cloud Security Assessment, analyzing cloud configurations, security controls, and compliance posture across their environments. Our team identified gaps in identity and access management (IAM), data protection, and workload security, benchmarking against industry best practices and regulatory requirements such as HIPAA. Results Pillar delivered: ✔️ A prioritized roadmap for mitigating cloud security risks ✔️ Actionable recommendations to harden configurations and enhance resilience ✔️ A clear, executive-level presentation of findings to align security efforts with leadership goals By addressing these vulnerabilities, the university medical system improved its cloud security posture, strengthened compliance, and reduced the risk of data breaches—enabling them to focus on their mission of advancing healthcare and research with confidence.

Client Challenge: A consortium of academic medical institutions sought to understand the security implications of AI as they explored new technologies for research, patient care, and operations. With AI adoption accelerating, institutions needed insights into risk management, governance, and security best practices. Pillar’s Role: As a participating CISO, Pillar contributes expertise in AI security strategy, helping institutions navigate: AI Risk & Governance – Evaluating security considerations across AI use cases. Technology & Data Security – Discussing best practices for protecting sensitive medical data in AI environments. Collaborative Thought Leadership – Engaging with institutional CISOs to shape responsible AI security policies. Impact: Informed AI Strategy & Risk Awareness – Institutions gain insights into securing AI-driven initiatives. Stronger Security & Compliance Foundations – Governance discussions guide responsible AI implementation. Collective Knowledge Sharing – A shared approach to AI security strengthens the entire consortium. By participating in AI security discussions at the highest level, Pillar works with academic medical institutions to adopt AI responsibly—balancing innovation with security and governance.

Challenge A large urban hospital, managing over 60,000 endpoints across its network, faced increasing cyber threats targeting healthcare institutions. With highly sensitive patient data, critical medical systems, and diverse departmental operations, the hospital’s leadership needed a clear picture of vulnerabilities—both technical and human—that could be exploited by attackers. Solution Pillar conducted a comprehensive penetration test, simulating real-world attacks to uncover hidden security gaps. The engagement included: 🔹 External and internal network assessments to identify exploitable weaknesses in infrastructure 🔹 Social engineering assessments to evaluate employee susceptibility to phishing and other manipulative tactics 🔹 Full-organization testing across all departments to ensure no critical gaps were overlooked Results Pillar provided hospital leadership with: ✔️ Previously unknown high-risk vulnerabilities that could have led to unauthorized access or operational disruption ✔️ Clear, actionable recommendations to remediate security gaps and strengthen defenses ✔️ Insight into human risk factors, enabling targeted security awareness improvements By addressing these risks proactively, the hospital significantly reduced its exposure to cyber threats, improved its overall security posture, and reinforced its commitment to protecting patient data and operational integrity.

A fast-growing national eCommerce platform provider faced increasing security risks and mounting client demands for documented security controls. To stay competitive and demonstrate their commitment to security, they engaged Pillar to lead them through SOC 2 audit readiness and remediation. We conducted a thorough readiness assessment, provided technical testing, and streamlined compliance efforts to ensure they met all SOC 2 requirements—without overburdening internal teams. The result? Stronger security posture, faster audit completion, seamless client responses, and a strengthened market position, giving them a competitive edge while reinforcing trust with their customers.

Client Challenge: As part of a critical acquisition, a nationwide behavioral healthcare organization had to qualify for cyber insurance to secure financing. The insurance underwriter required immediate deployment of MFA prior to underwriting the risk. They had 28 days to select and deploy MFA across 26 different domains and 2000 users in order to secure the deal. Pillar’s Approach: Pillar rapidly designed a bridge security architecture, selected the MFA tool, led the deployment, support and onboarding ensuring underwriter compliance and risk mitigation on an accelerated timeline. Our team: Identified & Addressed Gaps – Conducted a rapid assessment to pinpoint high-risk vulnerabilities. Accelerated Nationwide Implementation – Coordinated all efforts to successfully deploy and onboard all users across all locations within just 28 days. Enabled Business Continuity – Ensured security was no longer a roadblock to the acquisition. Results: Transaction Moved Forward as Planned – No security-related delays in the acquisition. Enterprise-Wide Security Enhancement – Strengthened defenses across all facilities. Rapid Execution with Minimal Disruption – A seamless, expedited rollout tailored to operational needs. By delivering a mission-critical security implementation on a compressed timeline, Pillar ensured the success of a key transaction as part of the organization’s growth strategy.

Client Challenge: An industrial water treatment company faced security gaps identified during an incident response engagement. With minimal in-house security expertise or bandwidth, they needed a solution that would both remediate vulnerabilities and provide ongoing protection. Pillar’s Approach: Pillar implemented a phased managed security solution, prioritizing the highest-risk gaps first. Our approach ensured that each component of the security stack not only reduced immediate risks but was also integrated at a pace that aligned with the client’s operational capacity. Results: 24/7 Expert Monitoring – The client is now continuously protected by a dedicated security team. No Further Incidents – Since implementation, they have experienced no significant security breaches. Business Continuity – With security in expert hands, the client can focus on core business operations with confidence. By transforming their security posture with a structured, strategic approach, Pillar provided the organization with lasting protection and peace of mind.

When a large multi-site residential development company discovered an active cyber incident, they called Pillar to respond—fast. Our forensic experts quickly contained the attack and, in the process, uncovered a critical finding: the breach had been active for years. With the guidance of a Pillar CISO, we worked closely with the company’s leadership to coordinate efforts across legal teams, insurance providers, and law enforcement agencies—ensuring a strategic, compliant, and discreet response to minimize financial and reputational damage. Beyond containment, we provided prioritized remediation recommendations, addressing the most urgent security gaps first to reduce immediate risk. Understanding the realities of budget constraints, we developed a phased implementation plan—allowing the company to strengthen its security posture within manageable budget cycles. The result? A swift, strategic response that not only eradicated the threat but also safeguarded the company’s financial health, protected its reputation, and built long-term resilience against future attacks.

Client Challenge: A medical professional captive insurance group needed comprehensive cybersecurity leadership but lacked an internal CISO. They required strategic direction, operational oversight, and compliance assurance to protect sensitive data across multiple member organizations. Pillar’s Approach: As the named CISO, Pillar delivers a full suite of vCISO services, providing: Strategic Cyber Leadership – Guiding security architecture, operations, and compliance efforts. Incident Response Readiness – Developing response plans and conducting regular tabletop exercises. Executive & Board-Level Reporting – Ensuring cybersecurity is prioritized at the highest levels. Collaborative Security Leadership – Convening CISOs from all member organizations to share best practices, foster thought leadership, and strengthen collective security. Results: Stronger Security Posture Across All Members – Standardized best practices and strategic alignment. Proactive Risk Mitigation – Enhanced incident readiness through planning and testing. Clear & Informed Leadership – Cybersecurity integrated into executive decision-making. By providing expert vCISO leadership, Pillar ensures the entire member network remains secure, compliant, and resilient against evolving threats.