Consultancy Services

Technology Governance & CIO Roadmaps

Complete C’S|3 Consulting Service coming soon!

Financial Management Assessment

Financial management is one of the most critical aspects of an organization. Managing your finances, accounting and compliance during tax time with correct organizational filings for your enterprise and the personnel is critical.

C’S|3 financial assessment takes you through a series of questions to evaluate your current requirements, validate your accounting and financial practices, and help you with ideas for optimizing your accounting workflows and possibly even automate some accounting processes based on your business transactions and operational needs.

A financial statement audit is an engagement performed by an independent Certified Public Accountant to provide assurance that your financial statements are reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. C’S|3 certified public accountants, provide audited financial statements to businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Each audit is customized to meet the needs of the organization. However, the overall approach to every audit is the same.

• Engagement Acceptance: The American Institute of CPAs recommends that an auditor evaluate the risks associated with each engagement. Therefore, a C’S|3 consulting auditor inquires about any special circumstances, the integrity of management, and pending lawsuits before performing a basic assessment or a full-fledged audit based on the nature of engagement. During this phase, C’S|3 auditors will also evaluate the staffing needed to complete the engagement and determine that each accounting auditor staff member is able to maintain an independent viewpoint while performing the engagement. Once C’S|3 The auditor decides to accept the engagement, an engagement letter is prepared that details the timing, responsibility, and cost of the audit.
• Planning: C’S|3 Auditing standards require that an auditor prepare adequate planning for an engagement. The amount of audit planning needed is in direct relation to the size and complexity of your organization. C’S|3 Audit planning involves obtaining an understanding of the organization’s business and industry, performing trend and ratio analysis, documenting your entity’s process of internal control, and assessing the risks of misstatements in s financial statements. C’S|3 auditor utilizes the results of the planning process to determine the timing and extent of audit testing.
• Audit Tests: During the fieldwork process, C’S| audit consultants spend time with your organization’s offices and perform tests of financial data. For instance, a CPA selects a random sample of hundred disbursements to ensure checks are payable to the correct vendor and are written for the correct amount. In addition, your engaged C’S|3 auditor reviews the invoices associated with the disbursement to ensure the expenses are classified correctly and that the vendor actually exists. Depending on the results of the planning process, the auditor performs a variety of tests on financial statement accounts.
• Account Analysis: During the account analysis process, the C’S|3 auditor ensures that financial statement account balances are supported by underlying documentation and analysis. A C’S|3 CPA evaluates the results of tests and reviews management’s responses, as well as the accounting team’s responses to inquiries and records the audit-adjusting journal entries. A C’S|3 auditor also documents reasons for large changes in accounts from year to year and performs any necessary research after approvals from your leadership regarding requirements under generally accepted accounting principles.
• Reporting: C’S|3 CPAs will issue an opinion on audited financial statements as to whether the financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. The opinion is issued on the Independent Auditor’s Report. Furthermore, the C’S|3 Auditors may also draft the basic financial statements and the accompanying notes for the organization’s management. The C’S|3 auditor also issues a report on any weaknesses found in the entity’s internal control process. C’S|3 auditors will also connect you with our accounting platform experts to guide you to a low-cost accounting system that will optimize your insights to your business, financial statements, and reporting requirements.
• Summation: C’S|3 auditors are required to retain, secure, accurate proper documentation regarding the audit. The final step is ensured by obtaining signatures from management regarding management’s responsibility for the information reported in the financial statements. The information is retained by the CPA’s shared with your organizational financial and accounting leadership and your seasoned auditing/accounting firm should lawsuits occur regarding reported amounts and for a future account analysis.

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Risk Management Framework (RMF) Overview

If organizations decide to take the FISMA approach, they select and specify various security controls for their systems. This is done as a part of an enterprise-wide information security program. The FISMA approach includes management of risks faced by the organization as a whole and the individuals involved with all operational processes.

The FISMA approach gives an effective framework to select security controls in a system that are necessary to protect operations, individuals, and the assets of an organization.

Risk-Based Approach

The FISMA risk management framework is a process for companies that combines risk management activities and security into the system’s lifespan. This approach takes effectiveness into account as well as efficiency and constraints that an organization faces due to laws, orders, policies, regulations, and more.

The following are activities that come with the FISMA risk management approach:

• Prepare Step: This step includes taking care of all essential activities in an organization, the mission of the business and its processes along with all the information system levels of the company.
• Categorize Step: Here the information is processed, stored, and transmitted based on impact analysis.
• Select Step: Here the security controls are selected tailored to the company. They supplement the existing security controls when needed based on the company’s risk assessment.
• Implementation Step: Here security controls are implemented and the process is documented based on how it works within the organization.
• Assess Step: This step involves the assessment of security controls using predefined procedures so that the company can know whether or not the controls have been implemented correctly.
• Authorize Step: This step is based on the risk to the operations and assets resulting from the risk management system to determine which risks are acceptable and which are not.
• Monitor Step: The monitoring step is an ongoing process that assesses the effectiveness of the controls and documents the changes that have been made to the risk management system.

Organizations have come to realize that enterprise risk management is an ongoing and iterative process. Developing and implementing a strategy just once is not enough anymore. The risks to any company continue to evolve based on many changes in technology, the physical and economic climate, and more. This is why companies always need to be prepared to handle any risks that may come.

The three risk management frameworks are the most widely used ones by companies across the world. To implement these strategies, monitor them, and improve upon them regularly requires some amount of expertise.

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Managed IT & Security Services

Constant technology change presents an opportunity for small, medium, and large organizations. However, this also presents challenges for some. Whether it is your network, cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data backups, there are organizations that simply either don’t have the time or resources to successfully manage these areas or hire full-time employees to do so. C’S|3 helps the organization successfully manage some or all of these areas.

Our team partners with you to assess and determine the best approach to manage some or all of the services mentioned, all while considering your budget. Our goal is to provide a process that is based on industry standards while providing experienced guidance and support to ensure your organization is always performing at the highest possible level so that you can focus on maximizing revenue and value

Partially Managed IT Services vs Fully Managed IT Services

C’S|3 offers partially and fully managed IT Services. For some companies, it makes the most sense for the managed IT team to essentially act as the company’s IT department, handling all of the company’s IT needs. These can include collaborating with leadership on the strategic IT business plan to helping install the latest update to an Operating System. In other cases, partially managed IT services might make more sense for an organization. With partially-managed IT services, the C’S|3 team only manages specified sections of the IT matrix. With a partially managed IT engagement, the C’S|3 teams may only focus on supporting the customer’s internal IT team for only the most complex IT issues, or it could include all of the routing, daily maintenance tasks, such a backup administration, and IT cybersecurity.

Managed Network, Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, and Backup Services

C’S|3 offers managed network services for small, medium, and large organizations. Whether you need to upgrade your entire core, distribution, and access-layer network, or simply get support and monitoring, C’S|3 has you covered. From conception through to completion, we will be with you every step of the way, offering assistance with everything from hardware-based infrastructure, applications, backup solutions, and more.

Cybersecurity is a complex world, and C’S|3 is there to help you. We offer services that range from fully managed cybersecurity for your organization to partial cybersecurity services. We can come in and perform a full cybersecurity assessment that will provide a strategic roadmap for your organization. We can assist from installing a brand new network to taking over management, monitoring, and support for end-point protection. For more information, please refer to our cybersecurity services.

There are many organizations out there who are still facing challenges with telecommunications. We have experience helping organizations move away from their legacy PBX telephone system and into a new Voice over IP (VoIP) with Unified Communications (UC). During these difficult times, it is crucial for your organization to communicate with customers even when your teams might not be in the office. C’S|3 is here to help.

C’S|3 also helps organizations with enterprise-level backups that are encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption, and are HIPAA, SOX, and FERPA compliant. Being able to have your data backed up and protected from ransomware is important. C’S|3 can assist protect the data at the server or desktop level.

Networking & Telecommunications

Networking

Today’s commercial IT network relies on a combination of wired and WiFi connectivity. Our team includes experts in physical cabling and wireless solutions, allowing your network to run optimally and fast, while allowing your users to benefit from mobility. From installation and setting up networks to cleaning and organizing your server closets, our experts handle every aspect from initial analysis to maintenance and updates.

FAQ's

• How many access points should my wireless network have? The answer is dependent upon the number of devices connected, the type of wireless network and equipment in use, how the wireless network is being used, and environmental factors. Miles can help determine the appropriate configuration using specialized tools meant to plan wireless deployments and identify issues in existing wireless networks.
• What are the benefits of a clean and organized network closet? An organized network or wiring closet allows for easy troubleshooting when an issue occurs. Additionally, changes in office layout and desk configurations can be executed faster. A clean network closet can also be used as a showcase for visitors and potential customers.
• What could be causing issues with my wifi? Wireless issues can be caused by a number of factors. Some of the most common issues among small businesses include network congestion due to a high number of wireless clients, older wireless technology not providing adequate speeds, environmental factors, and Wi-Fi Channel Interference. Fortunately, there’s always a solution.
• Are wired networks more secure than wireless? In the past, wired networks were considered the more secure means of connecting to the Internet. However, as technology changed, properly configured wireless networks have been able to catch up with their wired counterparts. At C’S|3 we specialize in network connectivity as well as Managed IT and Security Services. You can rest assured that your connection is as safe as possible, and regularly updated.
• What if I just want a wireless network? We would be happy to help you with that. Our consultants are here to find the best solutions available at the best cost, and an exclusive wireless system may be the best fit for your company.
• My wireless connection is strong, but I can't connect to the internet. Your WiFi signal is a means to carry Internet connection from a broadband modem to your device. Though your Wi-Fi is strong, your broadband connection may be having an issue. Fortunately, there is a solution and our C’S|3 professionals are here to help.

Telecommunications

Our professionals at C’S|3 understand how integral voice services are to your business. From clear, crisp calls to tools that make conferencing and collaboration effortless, we strive to find the best arrangements for your needs. We do the heavy lifting to leverage the latest telecom technology for your business.

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Information Security Risk Assessment

Our Information Security Assessment enables stakeholders to speak the same language in order to effectively prioritize the mitigation of the most urgent, realistic and expensive of potential information security threats.

Providing a comprehensive information security risk assessment.

C’S|3 offers a comprehensive information security risk assessment designed to discover and quantify information security risk. An industry standard used by security practitioners around the country, our methodology helps inform effective information security programs and allows organizations to prioritize and maximize information security investments. Quantification of risk also provides the common language for security practitioners and executives to speak about risk. This allows organizations to understand their current standing, where they want to be, and how to get there.

We map the requirements to many different standards including HITRUST, ISO 27000-1, NIST CSF, FFIEC, NCUA, GLBA, and FISMA.

Information Security Risk Assessment Includes

This assessment consists of a thorough evaluation of risks within four phases: Administrative Controls, Physical Controls, Internal Technical Controls, and External Technical Controls:

• Administrative Controls Sometimes referred to as the “human” part of information security and are controls used to govern other parts of information security.
• Physical Controls The security controls that can often be touched and provide physical security to protect your information assets.
• Internal Technical Controls The controls that are technical in nature and used within your organization’s technical domain (inside the gateways or firewalls).
• External Technical Controls These are technical in nature and are used to protect outside access to your organization/s technical domain (outside the gateways or firewalls).

Relational Intelligence / Core Strengths Training for Leaders & Teams

Relational Intelligence Assessments

Relationships are the strength of the organization. Conflicts within teams lessen productivity and low-level coordination between leaders and teams also impact performance outputs and forward momentum in programs and projects. To overcome this, we use The Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) in partnership with CoreStrengths.

Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI 2.0)

Our Strength Deployment Inventory, SDI 2.0, is the foundational Relationship Intelligence that your people will use one-on-one, in teams, or across departments to improve their results.

It provides a portrait of whole persons: the strengths they bring to work, their motives when working with others, and much more.

The ROI of RQ

Organizations with high Relationship Quotients (RQ) know how to build indestructible teams. They embrace diversity, navigate conflict, and power through obstacles with smarter, more effective decisions.

Scheduled Check-ins and follow-up