Paragon AdvisoryParagon Advisory
Case Studies

Real problems. Measurable outcomes.

The following engagements are drawn from our advisors' prior work. All identifying details have been anonymized to protect client confidentiality.

vCISO · ComplianceSaaS / Series B·180 employees

From zero security program to SOC 2 Type II in under six months.

01

The Challenge

A Series B SaaS company faced an investor-mandated security review with no formal security program, no dedicated security staff, and a 90-day deadline before a major enterprise deal could close.

Our Approach

Our advisor stepped in as fractional CISO on day one — scoping the SOC 2 boundary, standing up foundational controls, and building the evidence base in parallel with the audit preparation. We coordinated directly with the auditor and managed the entire process so the engineering team could stay focused on product.

"We had no idea where to start. Paragon's advisor walked in, took ownership, and delivered exactly what we needed — on time and without disrupting the team."

— VP of Engineering, Series B SaaS Company

Outcomes

  • SOC 2 Type II report issued within 5 months
  • Enterprise deal closed on schedule
  • Security program handed off to internal team with full documentation
  • Board-level security briefing delivered to satisfy investor requirements
Compliance · HIPAAHealthcare Technology·320 employees

HIPAA compliance program rebuilt ahead of OCR audit.

02

The Challenge

A healthcare technology company received an OCR complaint and needed to demonstrate a mature HIPAA compliance program within 60 days. Their existing documentation was outdated and their risk analysis had never been formally completed.

Our Approach

We conducted an accelerated HIPAA gap assessment, completed the required risk analysis, updated all policies and procedures, and built a corrective action plan that addressed every identified deficiency. Our advisor served as the primary point of contact with OCR throughout the process.

"The situation was stressful. Having an advisor who had been through OCR audits before — and knew exactly what they needed to see — made all the difference."

— Chief Compliance Officer, Healthcare Technology Company

Outcomes

  • Full HIPAA risk analysis completed and documented
  • Policies and procedures updated across all required domains
  • OCR inquiry resolved with no findings
  • Ongoing compliance monitoring program established
Executive Reporting · vCISOManufacturing / PE-Backed·600 employees

Board-ready security program built for a PE-backed portfolio company.

03

The Challenge

A private equity firm required all portfolio companies to implement a formal security governance program and present quarterly security metrics to the board. The target company had no security leadership and no reporting infrastructure.

Our Approach

Our advisor designed a security governance framework aligned to NIST CSF, established a risk register, and built a board reporting package that translated technical posture into business risk language. We presented directly to the board for the first two quarters before transitioning the program to an internal hire.

"The board went from asking basic questions about whether we had antivirus to having substantive conversations about risk tolerance. That shift happened because of how Paragon framed the program."

— CFO, PE-Backed Manufacturing Company

Outcomes

  • NIST CSF-aligned security program implemented in 90 days
  • Quarterly board reporting package designed and delivered
  • Risk register established with 40+ identified risks prioritized by business impact
  • Smooth transition to internal security hire with full program documentation
Compliance · vCISOFintech / Pre-Series A·45 employees

PCI-DSS compliance achieved ahead of payment processor deadline.

04

The Challenge

A fintech startup needed to achieve PCI-DSS compliance before their payment processor would allow them to process card transactions above a certain volume threshold. They had 10 weeks and no compliance expertise in-house.

Our Approach

We scoped the cardholder data environment, identified the applicable PCI-DSS requirements, and built a remediation roadmap prioritized by deadline risk. Our advisor worked directly with the engineering team to implement technical controls and prepared all required documentation for the Qualified Security Assessor.

"We were completely in the dark on PCI. Paragon made it manageable — they knew exactly what the QSA needed and kept us on track the whole way."

— CTO, Fintech Startup

Outcomes

  • PCI-DSS SAQ-D completed and submitted on schedule
  • Cardholder data environment scoped and documented
  • All required technical controls implemented within the 10-week window
  • Payment processor volume cap lifted within 2 weeks of submission

Confidentiality notice: All case studies presented here are drawn from the prior professional experience of Paragon Advisory's advisors and have been anonymized. No client names, identifying details, or proprietary information have been disclosed. These engagements were conducted prior to the formation of Paragon Advisory.

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