SQ Risk is a boutique consulting firm founded in 2008 to help small and mid‑sized businesses build practical, right‑sized risk management programs. SMBs are often underserved in this space, especially when it comes to third‑party risk, business continuity and disaster recovery, and cybersecurity governance.
We specialize in supporting organizations that are regulated or work with regulated entities — companies that need strong risk management practices but don’t have the workload, budget, or staffing to build these programs internally. SQ Risk provides the expertise, structure, and guidance to help them meet requirements, reduce risk, and operate with confidence.
Our flagship offering — highly customized, end‑to‑end program management.
SQ Risk takes an ownership role, planning and performing the activities required to build and operate a mature risk or resilience program. This includes ongoing governance, documentation, assessments, reporting, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
Managed Programs are ideal for organizations that need a fully supported function without hiring full‑time staff.
Flexible, tailored engagements that provide targeted expertise where you need it most. Advisory Services range from internal controls assessments and program maturity modeling to temporary SME support for specific projects or regulatory initiatives. These engagements are designed to scale up or down based on your priorities, timelines, and internal capacity.
Focused support for Information Security Program components.
While SQ Risk provides strategic leadership — including Fractional‑CISO services — we partner with trusted specialists for technical functions such as threat intelligence monitoring, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning. This ensures clients receive high‑quality, validated results without the overhead of managing multiple vendors.
Small Business Cyber Hygiene Series: Part 2: Know What You Have (Identify) Introduction Cybersecurity always starts with visibility. You can’t protect what you don’t know you have — and for most small businesses, the real risk isn’t sophisticated attackers. It’s the unknown: forgotten accounts, old devices, unmanaged apps, and data scattered across laptops, inboxes, and […]
Small Business Cyber Hygiene is a practical, non technical guide designed to help small businesses and individuals build strong, everyday security habits. Based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and supported by CIS Controls, FTC Safeguards, and CISA best practices, this series translates complex security concepts into simple, actionable steps.
Why Your CIO Should Not Also Be Your CISO The case for separating technology leadership from security oversight Organizations today face unprecedented pressure to innovate quickly while also protecting their data, systems, and customers from increasingly sophisticated threats. Yet many companies — especially mid‑market and high‑growth firms — still combine the roles of Chief Information […]
As the year draws to a close, it’s crucial for organizations to address outstanding risk management tasks to ensure a smooth transition into the new year. Have you postponed some risk management activities? Here are some key areas that may require attention: How SQ Risk Can Assist SQ Risk is a provider of competitive and […]
Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) is a complex process that presents several challenges for organizations. Creating a comprehensive vendor risk management policy that is both effective and adaptable to the changing landscape of third-party relationships is a challenge that organizations must continuously address to safeguard their operations and data. Another difficulty is effective ecosystem mapping, which […]
SMBs are now the #1 target for cyberattacks — and most don’t even know it. If your cyber‑hygiene is weak, you’re already on their list. https://sqrisk.com/2026/02/18/small-business-cyber-hygiene-a-practical-guide-based-on-nist-csf/
The @SANSAwareness - OUCH! Newsletter for February is out. In this issue, Guest Editor Dr. Litany Lineberry explores different fraud tactics and some simple ways to identify them and protect yourself. #securityawareness
The @SANSAwareness - OUCH! Newsletter for January is out. In this issue, Guest Editor Jennifer Cox explores how tech support scams work and what the bad actors are after. #securityawareness
The @SANSAwareness - OUCH! Newsletter for December is out. In this issue, Guest Editor Jennifer Cook reminds us how to stay safe online, focusing on the "Core Four." #securityawareness
