The Study Group
Hans Study is an Ontario-based independent network and security consultancy serving Canadian and US government, defence, public safety, and critical infrastructure clients with vendor-neutral engineering and fractional CISO advisory services across enterprise networks, OT, and physical security.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Study Group does
Hans Study, operating under The Study Group, is a sole-practitioner independent network and security consultancy based in Ontario, Canada, founded in 2010 and serving clients across Canada and the United States. The practice is structured in two service lines: Engineering (hands-on technical delivery including Genetec Security Center consulting, vendor-agnostic CCTV and access control design, physical security design, enterprise network architecture, industrial and OT networks, data centre and structured cabling, ICAT project advisory, and mentorship) and Advisory (Fractional CISO/vCISO, strategic security and technology consulting, CMMC and CPCSC readiness, OT/IT convergence security, and independent assessments against NIST 800-171, NERC CIP, ISO 27001, and CIS Controls).
The underlying technology is the consultant's own expertise in hardening and tuning Microsoft Windows, Cisco, Aruba, and Genetec platforms, supplemented by a set of free browser-based utilities (Subnet Calculator, Switch Config Generator, Conductor Calculator, Study CryptoConfig, Study Windows Config Utility, and Genetec Health Audit), a technical knowledge base, the StudyByt3s podcast, and Amazon-published books. The business model is professional services: project-based and quote-priced consulting engagements, including retained fractional CISO relationships, with no minimum project size or retainer requirement, distributed via direct engagement, content marketing, community channels (GitHub, Reddit, teaching, mentorship), and referral (Clutch). Customers are primarily B2B across public sector, defence, public safety, critical infrastructure, and the defence supply chain, and the firm is explicitly vendor-neutral with no reseller or integrator revenue.
The Study Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Study Group
- Legal name
- Hans Study
- Website
- https://tsglabs.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hans Study is an Ontario-based independent network and security consultancy serving Canadian and US government, defence, public safety, and critical infrastructure clients with vendor-neutral engineering and fractional CISO advisory services across enterprise networks, OT, and physical security.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Study Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity and Network Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory (BPAHAFAO)
Keywords
The Study Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements for engineering and advisory work. Includes architecture design, security assessments, hardening, troubleshooting, and technical reviews. Also includes retained/part-time Fractional CISO and vCISO services for organizations without full-time security leadership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based consulting |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Study Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Study Group, operating as Hans Study, is a boutique independent consulting practice delivering hands-on engineering and senior security advisory across enterprise networks, cybersecurity, and physical security systems. The firm provides architecture design, hardening, troubleshooting, project oversight, security assessments against frameworks such as NIST 800-171, NERC CIP, ISO 27001, and CIS Controls, as well as retained Fractional CISO/vCISO leadership for organizations that lack full-time security executives.
Product overview
The Study Group is a boutique independent consulting practice — not a software product company — offering two complementary service lines: Engineering (hands-on technical delivery) and Advisory (senior security leadership and strategy). Engineering services include Genetec Security Center consulting and health checks, vendor-agnostic CCTV and access control design across Genetec/C-CURE/Milestone/Avigilon/Axis/Bosch, physical security design, enterprise network architecture, industrial/OT networks, data centre structured cabling, ICAT project advisory, and mentorship. Advisory services include Fractional CISO/vCISO, strategic security and technology consulting, CMMC/CPCSC readiness (NIST 800-171), OT/IT convergence security, and security assessments against NIST 800-171, NERC CIP, ISO 27001, and CIS Controls. Supporting the consulting work are browser-based utility tools including a Subnet Calculator, Switch Config Generator, Conductor Calculator, Study CryptoConfig, Study Windows Config Utility, and Genetec Health Audit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- StudyByt3s Podcast: Technical podcast covering enterprise networks, cybersecurity, and physical security topics
- Learning Courses (BETA)
Quantifiable outcome
- Security program ownership and risk oversight for organizations without full-time CISO
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Study Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Study Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Study Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Study Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schellman: Independent compliance and cybersecurity advisory firm offering ISO 27001, SOC, NIST, and attestation services with a multi-discipline partner-track model. Comparable in being an independent, non-reseller advisory practice serving regulated clients.
- Kudelski Security: Switzerland-rooted independent cybersecurity services provider covering advisory, managed detection, and OT/IoT security. Multi-disciplinary independent model similar to Hans's networks-plus-cyber-plus-physical-security positioning.
- Tevora: Boutique security and compliance consultancy offering vCISO, penetration testing, and risk advisory for mid-market and enterprise clients. Comparable fractional CISO and security assessment portfolio.
- Dragos: OT/ICS cybersecurity specialist providing assessments, architecture services, and incident response for industrial operators. Directly comparable to Hans's OT/IT convergence security, NERC CIP, and industrial network segmentation practice.
- Bishop Fox: Boutique offensive security and advisory consultancy delivering security assessments, vCISO services, and architecture reviews for enterprise clients. Comparable to Hans's independent, vendor-neutral security advisory and fractional CISO model.
- Coalfire: US-headquartered cybersecurity advisory and compliance services firm with deep CMMC, FedRAMP, HITRUST, and NIST practice. Closely comparable to Hans's compliance-led fractional advisory and defence supply chain readiness offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Mandiant (Google Cloud): Google Cloud-owned cybersecurity consultancy with industry-leading incident response, threat intelligence, and security assessments. Comparable in security advisory depth but vastly larger in scale and scope than a solo practice.
- Claroty: OT security platform provider with a services and assessments arm focused on critical infrastructure operators. Comparable in serving the same critical-infrastructure OT buyer profile, though with a product-led rather than pure-advisory model.
- Optiv: Large US security solutions integrator delivering advisory, integration, and managed services across enterprise, OT, and compliance. Overlaps with Hans's advisory and OT work but operates at much larger scale as a reseller-adjacent incumbent.
Emerging players
- DirectDefense: Boutique OT/ICS and enterprise security consultancy delivering assessments, managed security, and advisory for industrial operators. Closely comparable in size and OT/networking specialism to Hans's industrial and OT networks work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Study Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Study Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Study Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Study Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Study Group 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 The Study Group
What does The Study Group do?
The Study Group, operating as Hans Study, is a boutique independent consulting practice delivering hands-on engineering and senior security advisory across enterprise networks, cybersecurity, and physical security systems. The firm provides architecture design, hardening, troubleshooting, project oversight, security assessments against frameworks such as NIST 800-171, NERC CIP, ISO 27001, and CIS Controls, as well as retained Fractional CISO/vCISO leadership for organizations that lack full-time security executives.
Is The Study Group a public or private company?
The Study Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Study Group founded?
The Study Group was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does The Study Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: consulting Services.
Who are The Study Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Schellman, Kudelski Security, Tevora, Dragos, Bishop Fox and Coalfire. Broad incumbents are Mandiant (Google Cloud), Claroty and Optiv. DirectDefense is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Study Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Study Group.
What industry is The Study Group in?
The Study Group's product category is Cybersecurity and Network Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAFAO, Compliance Technology, GRC Platforms & Controls Automation Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.