ClearTone Consulting
ClearTone Consulting is a Frederick, Maryland-based cybersecurity and IT advisory firm founded in 2018 that provides fractional CISO and CTO services, compliance consulting, and low-code automation primarily to trade associations, nonprofits, and small-to-medium businesses across the Washington, DC metro area and beyond.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersFrederick, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ClearTone Consulting does
ClearTone Consulting, LLC is a US-based professional services firm founded in 2018 and headquartered in the Washington, DC metropolitan area that delivers fractional CISO and CTO advisory services alongside business process automation consulting. The firm operates a core sub-brand, 501CISO, which packages cybersecurity leadership, risk assessments, PCI DSS and HIPAA compliance support, and strategic roadmap development specifically for trade associations, professional societies, and nonprofit organizations that cannot justify a full-time security executive. Services are delivered on a recurring fractional basis or as discrete projects, with revenue sourced from subscription-style CISO/CTO retainers, project-based automation engagements implemented primarily on the Airtable low-code platform, and fee-based keynote and training engagements at industry events.
Supporting the service-led business is a small productized surface area: a free Ransomware Cost Estimator for risk quantification, a downloadable library of cybersecurity guides and checklists, the CyberRisk365 weekly newsletter, and US patent US 10,311,267 B2 (eventBit) carried over from the founder's prior tenure at Experient. The firm's go-to-market combines thought-leadership content, podcast and conference appearances, and direct consultative sales, distribution leverage via board roles at ASAE, IAEE, and CEIR, and a documented customer base spanning healthcare certification, faith-based, legal, audiovisual, events technology, and government-contractor associations as well as a small number of SMB clients such as Bear Analytics and MovementX. ClearTone is privately held and founder-operated, with the entire leadership bench anchored by Brian Scott, President and CIO, who brings 25+ years of technology leadership experience and active CISSP credentials.
ClearTone Consulting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ClearTone Consulting
- Legal name
- ClearTone Consulting, LLC
- Website
- https://cleartoneconsulting.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ClearTone Consulting is a Frederick, Maryland-based cybersecurity and IT advisory firm founded in 2018 that provides fractional CISO and CTO services, compliance consulting, and low-code automation primarily to trade associations, nonprofits, and small-to-medium businesses across the Washington, DC metro area and beyond.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ClearTone Consulting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cybersecurity & Identity Consulting (BPAHAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Risk, Compliance & Internal Controls Consulting (BPAHACAJ)
Keywords
Where ClearTone Consulting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frederick
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ClearTone Consulting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Fractional CISO Services: Ongoing cybersecurity advisory and leadership services provided on a fractional/part-time basis to organizations that cannot justify a full-time CISO. Services include security strategy development, risk assessments, compliance management, and staff training.
- Fractional CTO Services: Application development leadership and technology strategy services for organizations building or customizing software systems. Includes product envisioning, software architecture guidance, and development process consulting.
- Automation Implementation: Project-based services for implementing automation solutions using low-code platforms. Includes requirements gathering, solution design, implementation, and deployment.
- Speaking and Training: Keynote presentations, session speaking, and educational workshops on cybersecurity topics for associations and industry events.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
ClearTone Consulting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ClearTone Consulting provides fractional CISO and CTO advisory services, delivering cybersecurity strategy, risk assessments, and compliance management (PCI DSS, HIPAA) primarily to associations, nonprofits, and small-to-medium businesses. The firm also implements business process automation using low-code platforms such as Airtable, and offers a free Ransomware Cost Estimator tool along with speaking and training engagements.
Product overview
ClearTone Consulting operates as a strategic consulting firm offering a portfolio of cybersecurity, compliance management, and IT leadership services. The core offering is 501CISO, a fractional CISO service that provides objective cybersecurity advisement and strategic planning to help organizations protect their data, people, customers, and reputation. Supporting services include Automation Solutions leveraging low-code platforms, a free Ransomware Cost Estimator tool, and Fractional CTO services for application development leadership. The company also provides free downloadable cybersecurity resources including guides, checklists, and whitepapers. The portfolio is structured around strategic cybersecurity services supplemented by automation consulting and self-service tools, rather than a unified software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- 501CISO: A nonprofit-centric cybersecurity service brand providing fractional CISO services, cyber risk assessments, and security leadership specifically tailored for associations and nonprofit organizations
- 501CISO Cybersecurity Services
- CyberRisk365 Newsletter
Products and services
- 501CISO Fractional CISO Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Payroll process reduced from 3-4 hours to 15 minutes for MovementX
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ClearTone Consulting
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ClearTone Consulting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ClearTone Consulting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)coreBrian Scott serves as the first technology professional to participate as a director on the Board of Directors for IAEE. IAEE is the leading association for the global exhibition industry, representing over 12,000 individuals in 50 countries.
- Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)coreBrian Scott serves on the board of CEIR, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. CEIR conducts research to advance the exhibitions and events industry.
- American Society for Association Executives (ASAE)coreBrian Scott is an active member of ASAE, providing free technology and cybersecurity education and presentations to ASAE's 47,000 members. 501CISO is the premiere provider of Cybersecurity Leadership Services via ASAE.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ClearTone Consulting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pivot Point Security: Pivot Point Security is a boutique cybersecurity and compliance consulting firm offering virtual CISO, HIPAA, and PCI DSS advisory services. Highly comparable to ClearTone on service mix, vertical focus (SMBs and regulated organizations), and fractional engagement model.
- Tiro Security: Tiro Security provides fractional and virtual CISO services to SMBs and nonprofits, offering cybersecurity leadership on a subscription basis. Directly comparable to ClearTone's 501CISO offering in both customer profile (resource-constrained organizations) and delivery model.
- BAI Security: BAI Security offers fractional CISO, cybersecurity risk assessments, and compliance consulting for SMBs and nonprofits. Comparable to ClearTone on fractional CISO model, SMB/nonprofit focus, and engagement style.
- Cybersheath: Cybersheath delivers fractional CISO and managed security services tailored for SMBs, with strong emphasis on construction, manufacturing, and association-like verticals. Comparable to ClearTone on fractional leadership model and resource-constrained client base.
- Compass IT Compliance: Compass IT Compliance provides virtual CISO, compliance, and cybersecurity consulting services to SMBs and regulated organizations. Directly comparable to ClearTone on fractional CISO model and SMB compliance focus.
- A-LIGN: A-LIGN is a cybersecurity and compliance consulting firm offering assessments, audits, and advisory services including virtual CISO support. Comparable to ClearTone in the compliance and cybersecurity advisory space, though with broader service portfolio and larger scale.
- I.S. Partners: I.S. Partners provides cybersecurity, compliance, and risk advisory services including virtual CISO support to SMBs and mid-market clients. Comparable to ClearTone in service mix and customer profile.
- Lazarus Alliance: Lazarus Alliance provides cybersecurity and compliance consulting including virtual CISO services, risk assessments, and PCI/HIPAA advisory for SMBs. Directly competitive with ClearTone in the fractional CISO and compliance consulting space.
Broad incumbents
- Kudelski Security: Kudelski Security is a global cybersecurity consultancy offering CISO advisory, managed detection and response, and compliance services. Comparable in cybersecurity advisory services but serves larger enterprise clients with broader portfolios.
- Optiv Security: Optiv is a large cybersecurity solutions integrator offering advisory, implementation, and managed services including CISO advisory. Operates at much broader scale and portfolio depth than ClearTone but competes in the same fractional/virtual CISO category for larger mid-market clients.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ClearTone Consulting social profiles
Digital presenceClearTone Consulting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ClearTone Consulting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ClearTone Consulting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ClearTone Consulting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ClearTone Consulting
What does ClearTone Consulting do?
ClearTone Consulting provides fractional CISO and CTO advisory services, delivering cybersecurity strategy, risk assessments, and compliance management (PCI DSS, HIPAA) primarily to associations, nonprofits, and small-to-medium businesses. The firm also implements business process automation using low-code platforms such as Airtable, and offers a free Ransomware Cost Estimator tool along with speaking and training engagements.
Is ClearTone Consulting a public or private company?
ClearTone Consulting is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ClearTone Consulting founded?
ClearTone Consulting was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ClearTone Consulting based?
ClearTone Consulting is headquartered in Frederick, United States, in the North America region.
How does ClearTone Consulting make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fractional CISO Services are the primary driver. The others are fractional CTO Services, automation Implementation and speaking and Training.
Who are ClearTone Consulting's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pivot Point Security, Tiro Security, BAI Security, Cybersheath, Compass IT Compliance, A-LIGN, I.S. Partners and Lazarus Alliance. Broad incumbents are Kudelski Security and Optiv Security.
Does ClearTone Consulting have an API?
No public API is recorded for ClearTone Consulting.
What industry is ClearTone Consulting in?
ClearTone Consulting's product category is Cybersecurity Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAEAG, Cybersecurity & Identity Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHACAJ, Risk, Compliance & Internal Controls Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.