Who We Are
A boutique cybersecurity advisory firm built for organizations that carry real risk
Coastal Cyber Risk Advisors provides executive-level cyber risk guidance and virtual CISO leadership for small to mid-market organizations in healthcare, financial services, technology, and other regulated industries that need CISO-level expertise without the $250K–$500K full-time salary overhead.
We exist because growing organizations face a critical and largely unaddressed gap — enterprise-level cyber risk and regulatory pressure long before they can afford or justify a full-time security executive. Board members, regulators, and cyber insurers are asking harder questions. Internal IT teams are stretched thin. And the cost of getting it wrong — a breach, a failed audit, a regulatory penalty — continues to rise.
We fill that gap by acting as your virtual CISO — providing the same strategic leadership, compliance alignment, board reporting, and incident readiness you'd expect from a seasoned full-time security executive, delivered as a flexible, cost-effective engagement tailored to your organization's specific needs and risk profile.
Our Mission
To close the cybersecurity leadership gap for mid-market organizations — delivering enterprise-caliber security strategy, compliance alignment, and risk leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
What This Means For You
- ✓ Reduced audit preparation time and faster regulatory compliance achievement
- ✓ Access to C-suite-level security leadership and strategic direction
- ✓ Practical, implementation-focused guidance tailored to your regulatory environment
- ✓ Board-ready reporting that gives your leadership team clear, confident answers
- ✓ A trusted advisor who works alongside your team — not a vendor selling products
How We Work
The principles that guide every engagement
Direct partnership
You work directly with Stephen — every engagement, every conversation. No account managers, no handoffs, no junior staff.
Outcomes over activity
We focus on measurable results — reduced audit findings, stronger compliance posture, clearer board visibility — not hours billed or reports generated.
Honest counsel
We tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. If a different provider is better suited for your needs, we'll tell you that too.
Built to last
Every engagement is designed to build lasting capability — not create dependency. When we leave, your organization is stronger and more resilient than when we arrived.
Your Advisor
Meet Stephen Schofner
Board-certified cybersecurity executive with 25 years of enterprise leadership in healthcare, financial services, and regulated technology organizations.
Stephen Schofner is a transformational Chief Information Officer and board-certified technology executive with 25 years of progressive leadership spanning healthcare, digital health, financial services, and multi-site clinical operations. He builds and scales enterprise technology organizations that drive clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and measurable value creation through strategic IT investments, infrastructure modernization, and data-driven decision-making.
Through Coastal Cyber Risk Advisors, Stephen partners directly with CEOs, CFOs, clinical leadership, and boards to define enterprise-wide technology strategy, strengthen cybersecurity and compliance postures, and position security as a strategic enabler of growth — not a cost center or operational constraint.
25+
Years of enterprise leadership
0
Audit deficiencies across 3 cycles
12+
Industry certifications
109%
M&A cost synergy target achieved
White House Certificate of Honors
Recipient of the White House Certificate of Honors from the administration of President George W. Bush for supporting secure presidential communications — a reflection of a career built on trusted access, high-stakes responsibility, and the ability to translate complex technology and risk considerations into clear, actionable decisions.
Key Career Accomplishments
Zero audit deficiencies across 3 consecutive cycles
Achieved full compliance across HITRUST R2, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001 at Rogers Behavioral Health with zero findings over three consecutive audit cycles.
M&A integration delivered 3 months ahead of schedule
Led post-acquisition technology integration achieving 109% of targeted cost synergies through vendor consolidation, control automation, and infrastructure harmonization — while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
Telehealth platform launch cut from 18 months to 6
Embedded security-by-design principles into digital behavioral health platform architecture, tripling launch velocity while maintaining strict HIPAA compliance and patient trust.
Enterprise security program built at The Ohio State University
Led information security, IT risk, and compliance programs for 110,000+ students and staff including a major academic medical center — coordinating with FBI and federal law enforcement on national-level cyber threats.
Previous Experience
2021–2022
KPMG
Senior Director, Business Information Security Officer
Advisory services to Fortune 500 healthcare, life sciences, and financial services clients on cybersecurity strategy, GRC, and regulatory compliance.
2022–2025
Rogers Behavioral Health
VP Executive Director, Cybersecurity & Compliance (CISO)
Built enterprise security program from inception — achieving zero audit deficiencies across HITRUST R2, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001 over three consecutive cycles.
2019–2020
Gainwell Technologies
Senior Security Manager, IT Strategy & Transformation
Led strategic IT and security transformation for a leading healthcare IT services provider supporting state Medicaid and CHIP programs nationwide.
1999–2019
The Ohio State University
IT Director, Security, Risk & Compliance
20 years leading information security, IT risk, and compliance programs for 110,000+ students, faculty, and staff including a major academic medical center.
Certifications & Credentials
Board & Executive Credentials
Security & Risk Certifications
Education
The Ohio State University
Advanced Computer Science & Cybersecurity Leadership Studies
Professional standing validated by 25+ years of executive-level technology and cybersecurity leadership, enterprise program architecture, and 12+ industry certifications.
Honors
White House Certificate of Honors — Administration of President George W. Bush
Professional Affiliations
Why Coastal Cyber
What sets us apart from other cybersecurity advisors
There are a lot of cybersecurity firms. Here's why organizations in healthcare, financial services, and regulated industries choose Coastal Cyber Risk Advisors.
You work directly with a C-suite executive
Every engagement is led personally by Stephen Schofner — a board-certified CISO with 25 years of enterprise experience. No account managers, no junior staff, no handoffs. The executive you engage is the one doing the work.
Proven zero-deficiency audit track record
Stephen has achieved zero audit deficiencies across HITRUST R2, SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and ISO 27001 over three consecutive audit cycles. That's the standard every engagement is built to.
Deep regulatory expertise across your specific frameworks
We don't offer generic cybersecurity advice. Our work is grounded in the specific frameworks your auditors, examiners, and insurers require — HIPAA, GLBA, NCUA, FFIEC, NIST CSF, HITRUST, SOC 2, and ISO 27001.
Strategic, not just tactical
We focus on security strategy, governance, compliance alignment, board reporting, and long-term roadmaps — not just responding to incidents or managing tools. We act as your executive security leader, not a vendor.
A fraction of full-time CISO cost
A full-time CISO commands $250K–$500K in total compensation. Our engagements start at $6,000/month — delivering the same executive-caliber leadership with no benefits, overhead, or long-term employment commitment.
Flexible engagements that scale with you
Choose the tier that fits your current needs. Add project-based work when you need it. Scale up as your organization grows, your compliance requirements increase, or your risk profile changes. No long-term lock-in.
"Our business is built on trust, not closing the next deal. We will always do right by our clients at every turn — and if there's a better provider for your specific needs, we'll tell you."
— Stephen Schofner, Coastal Cyber Risk Advisors