Strategic cybersecurity leadership. Comprehensive protection. Peace of mind for professional services.

Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, Professional Association (LMRPA)

LMRPA is a full-service accounting firm serving clients with approximately 65 employees. As a professional services firm handling sensitive financial data and privileged client information, cybersecurity isn’t just a business requirement; it’s fundamental to maintaining client trust and regulatory compliance.

In an industry where data breaches can destroy decades of reputation-building and result in significant regulatory penalties, LMRPA takes their cybersecurity responsibilities seriously. They understand that protecting client information requires more than basic IT support, it demands strategic cybersecurity leadership and comprehensive risk management.

Building cybersecurity leadership without internal expertise

“Due to the changing threat landscape, it became apparent that working with a company to assist with a cyber risk assessment and to function as our Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) would help us focus on our mission.”

LMRPA faced a critical transition point that many professional services firms encounter: their internal IT administrator was retiring, leaving a significant knowledge gap in cybersecurity oversight.

The challenges were clear:

• Lack of specific cybersecurity direction and expertise
• No structured approach to cyber risk assessment
• Dependence on third-party contractors for network security needs
• Need for strategic cybersecurity leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire
• Requirement to protect privileged client information in an evolving threat landscape
• Desire to implement preventative measures before issues occurred

As Chris McKay, who oversees LMRPA’s tax and IT/cyber strategy, explained: “We wanted to ensure all necessary preventative steps were taken to safeguard our network and privileged client information before issues occurred.”

The firm recognized that in today’s threat environment, reactive cybersecurity isn’t enough. They needed proactive, strategic guidance to build a comprehensive security program.

vCISO expertise with comprehensive security awareness

“Craig and his team were knowledgeable, professional and explained everything in a clear and easy-to-understand manner”

LMRPA discovered CyberHoot through a referral and was immediately impressed by the team’s ability to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into actionable business language.

What set CyberHoot apart was its comprehensive approach, combining strategic vCISO services with practical security awareness training:

vCISO Services:

• Comprehensive cyber risk assessment
• Risk registry creation and management
• Strategic cybersecurity planning and oversight
• Policy development and implementation
• Ongoing threat remediation guidance

Security Awareness Platform:

• Automated security awareness training
• Positive reinforcement HootPhish simulations
• Systematic employee education programs
• Compliance tracking and reporting

The implementation process was designed around LMRPA’s busy professional environment:

“The onboarding process was seamless. They laid out a plan and worked to help keep the implementation team accountable and on deadline.”

CyberHoot provided LMRPA with the strategic leadership they needed without the overhead of hiring a full-time cybersecurity executive, while ensuring every team member received ongoing security awareness education.

Enhanced awareness, strategic direction, and business focus

“Through the risk assessment and ongoing training our team’s knowledge and awareness of cyber risks has improved and worked itself into our daily professional lives.”

The partnership with CyberHoot delivered immediate and lasting improvements across LMRPA’s cybersecurity posture:

Strategic Benefits:

• Clear cybersecurity direction and follow-through on initiatives
• Comprehensive risk assessment and remediation roadmap
• Professional cybersecurity leadership without full-time hiring costs
• Ability to focus on core business while maintaining security excellence

Team Transformation:

• Systematic improvement in cybersecurity knowledge across all staff
• Integration of security awareness into daily professional practices
• Automated training ensuring consistent education without disruption
• Enhanced confidence in handling cybersecurity challenges

Leadership Satisfaction:

• Strong ongoing partnership satisfaction from leadership team
• Peace of mind knowing cybersecurity is being handled professionally
• Confidence in the firm’s ability to protect client information

The value of this strategic partnership extends beyond immediate security improvements.

 “We would be lacking direction and follow-through on cybersecurity initiatives without CyberHoot’s guidance.”

Sustained partnership for continued protection

For LMRPA, the relationship with CyberHoot represents more than a vendor partnership – it’s a strategic alliance that enables business growth.

The firm’s approach to cybersecurity is now built on a foundation of:

• Ongoing strategic guidance from experienced cybersecurity professionals
• Continuous employee education through automated training programs
• Regular risk assessments and threat landscape updates
• Scalable cybersecurity leadership that grows with the business

This partnership model allows LMRPA to maintain enterprise-level cybersecurity capabilities while remaining focused on its core mission of delivering exceptional professional services to its clients.