Top NYDFS Cybersecurity Compliance Firms (23 NYCRR Part 500)

If your company holds a license from the New York State Department of Financial Services, the NYDFS cybersecurity regulation is not a framework you can adopt at your own pace. 23 NYCRR Part 500 sets specific controls, deadlines and reporting duties, and the final phase of the amended rule took effect on November 1, 2025. Every covered entity now needs multifactor authentication for all access to its information systems, a maintained asset inventory, notice to the regulator within 72 hours of a qualifying cybersecurity incident, and notice within 24 hours of any extortion payment, followed by a written explanation within 30 days.

The annual filing raises the stakes. By April 15 each year, a covered entity must submit either a certification of compliance or an acknowledgment of noncompliance, signed by its highest-ranking executive and its CISO. Larger Class A companies carry extra duties, including an independent audit of the cybersecurity program, privileged access management, and endpoint detection and response with centralized logging. Attackers using AI to write better phishing and automate credential attacks make those controls harder to treat as paperwork.

The ten firms below help with NYDFS cybersecurity compliance in different ways: some run the gap assessment and build the program, some supply a virtual CISO, and others perform the penetration testing and independent assessment work the rule expects. Each one was checked against its own published NYDFS or Part 500 service description.

NYDFS Cybersecurity Compliance Firms At A Glance

Company	Headquarters	Best For	Core Services
CBIZ Pivot Point Security	Melville, USA	Covered entities that want anything from light guidance to fully managed compliance	NYDFS program support, vCISO, risk assessment, ISO 27001, CMMC
Tevora	Irvine, USA	Firms that want an accredited assessment and attestation report	NYDFS gap assessment, remediation support, accredited assessment, penetration testing
NCC Group	Manchester, UK	Entities that need Part 500 penetration testing and control validation	Part 500 penetration testing, NYCRR 500 assessments, regulatory readiness
Rapid7	Boston, USA	Companies that want consulting, MDR and incident response from one vendor	NYDFS maturity assessment, vCISO, penetration testing, MDR, incident response
CompassMSP	West Hartford, USA	Smaller covered entities that need managed IT and a vCISO together	NYDFS 500 controls, vCISO, gap assessment, managed IT, compliance
Bright Defense	Culver City, USA	Fintechs that want ongoing readiness and testing as a monthly service	Part 500 readiness, penetration testing, vCISO, SOC 2
RSI Security	Southlake, USA	Organizations that want a vCISO-led path from risk assessment to filing	vCISO, risk assessment, program and policy development, certification support
Drummond Group	Durham, USA	Fintech providers that want audits, policy review and testing bundled	NYDFS risk assessment, compliance audit, policy review, penetration testing
CyberSecOp	Stamford, USA	Northeast firms that want compliance consulting plus managed SOC	Regulatory compliance consulting, vCISO, risk assessment, vendor risk, managed SOC
CrossCountry Consulting	McLean, USA	Larger institutions that need governance and culture change, not just controls	Part 500 governance, risk and compliance, cybersecurity, data protection

Best NYDFS Cybersecurity Compliance Firms For 2027

1. CBIZ Pivot Point Security — NYDFS Support From Light Guidance To Full Management

Pivot Point Security is an information security consultancy that now operates as CBIZ Pivot Point Security after its acquisition by CBIZ. Its NYDFS practice explains which organizations licensed under the New York Banking, Insurance or Financial Services Law are covered, then scopes support to match. The firm says it can provide anything from light guidance to full management of a client’s NYDFS compliance, which suits insurers, lenders and agencies that lack a full-time security leader.

What stands out is the firm’s long focus on compliance programs rather than one-off tests. Pivot Point publishes a large library of NYDFS articles and podcast episodes, and it offers a downloadable roadmap that breaks the regulation into next steps. Being part of CBIZ also gives clients access to a broader accounting and advisory group, which can help when cybersecurity findings need to be explained to a board or an audit committee. For a covered entity that wants one firm to own the whole Part 500 program, from risk assessment through the April 15 filing, Pivot Point is a practical first call.

2. Tevora — ISO 17020 Accredited Part 500 Assessment And Attestation

Tevora is a security and compliance consultancy that runs a three-phase NYDFS program. Phase one is a gap assessment that reviews the environment against the regulation and delivers remediation recommendations for each gap. Phase two is remediation support at whatever depth the client wants, which can include writing an incident response plan, running penetration tests, implementing MFA and making configuration changes. Phase three is a formal assessment.

The differentiator is that third phase. Tevora describes itself as an accredited ISO 17020 inspection body and issues an Assessment and Attestation report that maps each control to its supporting evidence. That gives a CISO and a chief executive something concrete to rely on before they sign the annual certification. Tevora says it can generally complete all three phases within three weeks, although the number and size of gaps affect timing. It is a strong fit for mid-sized financial companies that want an outside party to stand behind the evidence, not just a consultant’s opinion.

3. NCC Group — Risk-Aligned Part 500 Penetration Testing Plus Readiness Assessments

NCC Group is a global technical assurance firm with a dedicated NYDFS Part 500 service line. It designs its penetration testing to match regulatory expectations, scoping tests from the client’s documented risk assessment and covering internet-facing systems, internal networks, remote access, APIs and cloud control planes. Reports translate technical findings into business and compliance impact, with prioritized remediation guidance and optional retesting.

Beyond testing, NCC Group runs NYCRR 500 assessments built on policy review, stakeholder interviews and evidence examination, with findings mapped to specific sections of the regulation and a board-ready summary. Its regulatory readiness work covers preparing for NYDFS examinations and inquiries and supporting the annual certification or acknowledgment of noncompliance. The firm also samples controls to check whether they work in practice, which matters for Class A companies facing an independent audit. Choose NCC Group when you want deep technical testing and a compliance view from the same provider.

4. Rapid7 — NYDFS Maturity Assessment Backed By MDR And Incident Response

Rapid7 is a security operations company that publishes a dedicated NYDFS consulting services brief. Its NYDFS Maturity Assessment evaluates a client’s controls against the regulation and produces a prioritized roadmap ahead of the certification deadline. Related services include a broader cybersecurity maturity assessment, a breach readiness assessment run with its incident response team, policy review and new policy language, and incident response program development.

Rapid7’s advantage is the operational layer behind the consulting. The same vendor offers a virtual CISO, penetration testing, managed detection and response through an outsourced SOC built on its InsightIDR platform, and incident response retainers. For a covered entity that must notify the regulator within 72 hours of a qualifying incident, having the detection and response team already engaged can shorten the path from alert to decision. Rapid7 suits organizations that would rather buy assessment, monitoring and response as one relationship than coordinate three separate firms.

5. CompassMSP — Managed IT Paired With NYDFS vCISO Advisory

CompassMSP is a managed IT and security provider with more than 25 US locations, including West Hartford, New York City and Tarrytown. Its compliance and risk practice covers assessment, remediation planning and audit preparation for NYDFS 500 alongside CMMC, HIPAA, HITRUST, SOC 2 and PCI DSS. The firm describes its NYDFS service as specialized controls combined with vCISO advisory, with MFA enforcement and risk reporting as examples.

CompassMSP fits smaller insurers, mortgage brokers and agencies that do not have an internal IT team, let alone a CISO. Because the same provider runs the help desk, endpoint and patch management, backup testing and the vCISO function, the controls that Part 500 requires are implemented by the people who manage the systems day to day. Its vCISO work uses the Cynomi platform to track risk and report progress to leadership and the board. If your gap is less about policy and more about having someone actually operate MFA, inventory and logging, CompassMSP is worth a close look.

6. Bright Defense — Monthly Part 500 Readiness And Penetration Testing For Fintechs

Bright Defense is a Culver City security and compliance firm that delivers readiness work as an ongoing managed service rather than a one-time project. For NYDFS, it supports Part 500 readiness and testing, and it also runs SOC 2 readiness, fractional CISO services and penetration testing across web applications, APIs, cloud environments and networks.

The firm is a natural match for fintech and payments companies that hold a New York license and also need SOC 2 for enterprise customers. Combining both programs under one provider avoids duplicated evidence collection, and Bright Defense’s fractional CISO covers strategy, risk decisions, audits and incident planning, which maps well to the CISO reporting duties in Part 500. Its penetration testing is sold in defined plans, which makes the testing budget easier to forecast. Bright Defense is a younger firm than most on this list, so larger banks may prefer an older practice, but growth-stage fintechs often value its startup-friendly delivery model.

7. RSI Security — vCISO-Led Program Build Through Board Review And Filing

RSI Security is a compliance and security advisory firm headquartered in Southlake, Texas, with a dedicated 23 NYCRR 500 practice. Its approach walks clients through the stages of compliance: assessing current IT infrastructure, building a compliant cybersecurity program and written policy, preparing for board review, and supporting the annual compliance filing. Ongoing assessments and continuous monitoring keep the program current after the first year.

A distinguishing option is RSI’s virtual CISO service, which lets a covered entity outsource the CISO role instead of hiring a full-time executive. Since Part 500 expects a qualified CISO to report to the board and sign the annual certification, that matters for smaller lenders and insurance agencies. RSI also offers managed services for teams that want help running controls after the program is built. Pick RSI Security when you need a single advisor to stand up the program, fill the CISO seat and stay on through each certification cycle.

8. Drummond Group — NYDFS Compliance Audits With Policy Review And Pen Testing

Drummond Group is a Durham, North Carolina compliance advisor that offers NYDFS 23 NYCRR 500 advisory services aimed at financial institutions and fintech providers. Its readiness support includes risk assessments, compliance audits, policy reviews, penetration testing and advisory work, with each engagement shaped by the client’s risk profile.

Drummond cites more than 25 years as a compliance advisor, and it frames NYDFS work: as audit preparation with a structured process designed to reduce the compliance burden. That suits fintech platforms and service providers that support regulated New York institutions and need to prove their own controls. The firm also offers a free vulnerability scan with an NYDFS compliance audit engagement, which gives a quick technical baseline before the deeper review. Consider Drummond if you want a compliance audit firm that can also run the penetration test, rather than coordinating separate vendors.

9. CyberSecOp — NYDFS Compliance Consulting With Vendor Risk And Managed SOC

CyberSecOp is a security consulting and managed services firm with headquarters listed in Stamford, Connecticut and New York. Its regulatory compliance consulting covers NYDFS alongside PCI, HIPAA, GLBA, ISO and NIST, and it helps companies build governance, risk and compliance programs. Supporting services include risk assessments, policy and procedure writing, security awareness training and a vCISO program.

Two parts of the CyberSecOp catalog line up well with the amended rule. Its managed vendor risk service assesses third parties, reviews contracts and monitors vendors over time, which supports the third-party service provider policy Part 500 requires. Its managed SOC and MDR service supports detection and the 72-hour notification clock. For a covered entity in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut that wants consulting and day-to-day security operations from a regional firm, CyberSecOp covers most of the ground.

10. CrossCountry Consulting — Part 500 Governance Design From A Risk And Compliance Consultancy

CrossCountry Consulting is an advisory firm founded in Washington, D.C. in 2011, with offices across the US including New York. Its risk, compliance, cybersecurity and data protection teams help clients with 23 NYCRR 500, focusing on the governance structures and internal culture a durable compliance program needs.

CrossCountry is a better fit for larger covered entities, especially Class A companies, than for small agencies. The amended rule puts real weight on senior governance: board oversight, executive sign-off and an independent audit of the program. A firm with risk and compliance roots can help design reporting lines, policies and evidence processes that hold up when the highest-ranking executive and the CISO sign the April 15 filing. Because CrossCountry also works across finance, accounting and regulatory advisory, it can connect cybersecurity obligations to the wider control environment that auditors already test.

How To Choose An NYDFS Cybersecurity Compliance Firm

The right partner depends on your class, your size and how much of the work you want to keep in house. These are the questions buyers should ask before signing an engagement.

Do We Need A Program Builder, A Tester Or Both?

A first-year or newly licensed entity usually needs a NYDFS gap assessment and program build, including written policies, an asset inventory and an incident response plan. A mature program may only need annual Part 500 penetration testing and an independent review. Ask each firm to show sample deliverables from both kinds of work, and see our list of penetration testing companies in New York if testing is your main need.

Who Will Fill The CISO Role?

Part 500 expects a qualified CISO who reports to the board and co-signs the annual filing. If you do not have one, a virtual CISO from your compliance firm can fill the seat. Confirm how many hours per month are included and whether the vCISO will attend board meetings. Our guide to vCISO service providers compares more options.

Are We A Class A Company?

Class A companies face extra requirements, including an independent audit, privileged access management and EDR with centralized logging. If you might be Class A, choose a firm that can deliver or support a genuinely independent audit, and check that the team testing your controls is separate from the team that built them.

How Will The Firm Support The April 15 Filing?

The NYDFS certification of compliance, or acknowledgment of noncompliance, is signed by your highest-ranking executive and your CISO. Ask how the firm documents evidence for each section, how it handles gaps that cannot be closed before the deadline, and whether it helps draft the remediation timeline an acknowledgment requires.

Can They Help Inside The 72-Hour Window?

Incident notice is due within 72 hours, and extortion payment notice within 24 hours. A firm that also offers detection or incident response can help you decide quickly whether an event is reportable. If your compliance firm does not offer response, make sure its incident plan names who does.

Conclusion

NYDFS cybersecurity compliance is now fully in force, with every phase of the amended 23 NYCRR Part 500 effective since November 1, 2025. For small agencies and fintechs, a managed provider or vCISO-led firm such as CompassMSP, RSI Security or Bright Defense keeps controls running between filings. For larger and Class A institutions, assessment-heavy firms such as Tevora, NCC Group and CrossCountry offer the independence and depth that executives want before they sign. Match the firm to your class, your staff and your exposure, and start the work well before April 15.