Our AI Security Readiness Assessment is designed to help organizations understand their current level of AI maturity, identify gaps, and build a clear roadmap toward secure, compliant, and responsible AI adoption.
This assessment isn’t just a checklist — it is grounded in globally recognized standards used by cybersecurity and governance professionals worldwide. Below is an overview of the methodology and why it matters.
A Proven, Credible Methodology
Our assessment is based on the principles of the Capability Maturity Model (CMM), one of the most trusted ways to evaluate organizational readiness.
Why we use a maturity model
A maturity model answers three essential questions:
- Where are we today?
- Where should we be?
- What steps get us there?
This creates a clear, objective benchmark that organizations can measure themselves against over time.
Industry foundation
The model draws on the internationally recognized work of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, which developed the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). Our adaptation applies the same principles to modern AI systems and AI-related risk.
Framework Alignment
To ensure credibility and consistency, the assessment is aligned with the leading cybersecurity and AI governance frameworks used globally:
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF)
- ISACA COBIT Governance Framework
- SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Confidentiality)
While SOC 2 itself does not prescribe a maturity model, our assessment maps closely to the themes and control expectations auditors look for during SOC 2 reviews.
How Scoring Works
Each question is rated on a 0–3 scale.
Your total score places your organization within a defined maturity stage:
- 0–12 → Foundation
- 13–24 → Building
- 25–36 → Maturing
- 37–48 → Advanced
This hybrid quantitative–qualitative model ensures clarity for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
The Five Assessment Domains
Our assessment evaluates AI security readiness across five critical domains, each mapped to major security frameworks and SOC 2 criteria.
1. Discovery & Inventory
Understanding what AI systems exist in your organization is the foundation of all security.
Framework alignment:
- NIST CSF: Identify
- NIST AI RMF: Map
- SOC 2: CC3.2, CC4.1
Covers AI models, agents, datasets, integrations, shadow AI, and uncontrolled deployments.
2. Governance & Accountability
This domain evaluates leadership structures, policies, ownership, and risk management processes for AI.
Framework alignment:
- NIST CSF: Govern
- NIST AI RMF: Govern
- SOC 2: CC1.x, CC2.x
Governance sets the tone for how seriously AI risk is managed.
3. Technical Defenses
The classic cybersecurity layer: access controls, identity, permissions, data protection, and safeguard configuration around AI systems.
Framework alignment:
- NIST CSF: Protect
- SOC 2: CC6.x, CC7.2
AI agents often hold higher privileges than human users — securing them is essential.
4. Monitoring & Response
Mature organizations monitor AI systems for drift, anomalies, misuse, and security events — and have defined response plans.
Framework alignment:
- NIST CSF: Detect & Respond
- SOC 2: CC7.x
This includes AI-specific incident response, audit logs, and threat monitoring.
5. Vendor & Supply Chain
Most AI systems rely on third-party models, cloud platforms, tools, and data sources.
Framework alignment:
- NIST CSF: Supply Chain Risk (GV.SC)
- NIST AI RMF: Map/Measure
- SOC 2: CC9.x
We assess whether your third-party AI dependencies are understood and managed correctly.
Gap Analysis & Roadmap
The true value of the assessment lies in the gap analysis.
Your results highlight:
- Your overall maturity stage
- Your lowest-scoring domains
- Your highest-impact next steps
This creates a clear, actionable roadmap for improving your AI security posture — starting where the risks are highest.
Gap analysis is a standard technique used in:
- SOC 2 readiness
- ISO 27001 preparation
- IT governance and risk programs
- Organizational maturity evaluations
Your personalized roadmap helps you advance from your current stage to the next level of maturity with confidence.
Why This Matters Now
AI is rapidly becoming one of the highest-risk operational areas for modern organizations.
Shadow AI, high-privilege agents, third-party dependencies, and rapid experimentation create gaps most businesses cannot see.
A structured, credible assessment helps organizations:
- Prepare for SOC 2 and other compliance initiatives
- Build internal AI governance programs
- Strengthen cybersecurity defenses
- Reduce operational and reputational risk
- Establish trusted AI practices across teams
This assessment delivers clarity, direction, and a practical path forward.
Craig Leppan (Imbila)