The 2023 Best Firms to Work For: Coalfire

Consulting Service Lines: Strategy and IT

Tom McAndrew, CEO, Coalfire

CMAG: How would you say you've managed to stay among the industry's Best Firms to Work For amid these unprecedented times?

We are fortunate to have been on this list again due to the culture we built by making our employees our No. 1 priority. We continue to encourage work-life balance and prioritizing employee well-being. As we continue to work in a remote environment, we keep our employees connected with virtual team-building activities, online social events, and virtual town halls can foster a sense of community and belonging.

Another big contributor to our success is our commitment to innovation. We are constantly expanding as a business and exploring new and innovative solutions to advance the cybersecurity industry. Coalfire has introduced Coalfire Compliance Essentials, a dynamic compliance management and automation solution that simplifies the management of compliance workflows, assessments and risk posture, leading to more predictable, consistent outcomes.

CMAG: Were there any specific programs or initiatives (internal or external) that contributed to you being a Best Firm to Work For?

Communities and Employee Resource Groups (ERG). We want everyone at Coalfire to find a sense of community and feel like they belong. We have seven official employee resource groups (including LGBTQ+, Veterans, Neurodiversity and AAPI) as well as dozens of interest-based groups that all are welcome and encouraged to get involved with. While most of these groups have been centered around Slack since COVID, many do get together in person, and we are excited to facilitate more in person opportunities.

ERGs:

• OASIS – Asians and Indians
• BECOMING – Black
• RISE – Women
• Veterans
• UNIDOS – Hispanic
• Pridefire – LGBTQIA+
• CoalMINDS – Neurodiversity

Communities:

• Skiing
• Gardening
• Coffee-lovers
• Motorcycle club
• Video gamers
• Camping
• Hiking
• Over 70 different groups in total!

CMAG: What's unique about your firm? What sets it apart?

Coalfire brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight. We create customized solutions to meet the specific needs and challenges of individual clients, we create personalized strategies that address clients' unique risks and concerns. With more than 2,000 compliance assessments conducted annually, we are the leading advisory and assessment firm across all major compliance frameworks, including FedRAMP, ISO, SOC, PCI, HITRUST and CMMC.

We are the largest U.S.-based PCI Qualified Security Assessor firms and have the largest ISO team in the country. We are also the number-one HITRUST external assessor.

CMAG: What's the top priority over the next 6 to 12 months?

Continued investment in our employees to provide the best support for our clients. Our focus is on building relationships with our deep technical expertise, innovative technology and comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that enable our clients to reach their future vision. We continue to focus on our tech enabled solutions, and just introduced Hexeon, the first-of-its-kind offensive security SaaS solution that enables organizations to continuously test, identify and remediate vulnerabilities throughout the vulnerability management lifecycle.

CMAG: When you look at the remainder of this year and 2024, what excites you? What opportunities do you see in your markets?

For many organizations around the world, cybersecurity is already a top priority. Others are quickly recognizing its importance as cyber-attacks become more pervasive and as new security frameworks and requirements become commonplace. We believe our potential is truly limitless as we continue to expand our offerings, develop more holistic solutions, and tap into a constantly growing market. We are excited to see how we can continue to support our existing clients, as well as new ones, in solving their toughest cybersecurity challenges

CMAG: What impact do you think being a Best Firm to Work For has on the firm? Employees? Clients?

As we receive the honor of Best Firm to Work for, we continue to have a positive impact with attracting talented individuals, innovation and creativity. Prioritizing work-life balance, helping employees manage their personal and professional responsibilities more effectively. Employees have a stronger sense of belonging and camaraderie when working in an environment that values their contributions and respects their individuality.

And the impact we on our clients is trust and confidence. Clients can recognize that we treat out employees well and we are trustworthy and reliable, contributing to stronger client relationships. This positive cycle enhances our overall success, growth and reputation.