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M&A Security Due Diligence & Integration

Security issues in acquisition targets create liability, integration complications, and ongoing risk. We help buyers conduct thorough security diligence, plan secure integrations, and remediate inherited vulnerabilities after close.

Pre-Acquisition Security Due Diligence

Pre-Acquisition Security Assessment

Security diligence identifies risks that affect deal terms, integration planning, and combined entity security. We evaluate acquisition targets across critical dimensions:

Technical Security Posture:

  • Cloud infrastructure and network security
  • Application security and development practices
  • Data protection, encryption, and classification
  • Identity and access management
  • Vulnerability history and remediation practices

Compliance & Regulatory:

  • Compliance certification status and gaps
  • Regulatory requirements applicable to combined entity
  • Data privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA, industry-specific)
  • Customer contractual security obligations

Operational Security:

  • Security team capabilities and integration considerations
  • Incident history and response capabilities
  • Security monitoring and threat detection
  • Vendor and third-party security risks

Integration Considerations:

  • Technology stack compatibility and security implications
  • Identity system integration complexity
  • Data migration security requirements
  • Network and infrastructure merge planning

Deliverables include risk-prioritized findings, remediation cost estimates, integration risk assessment, and recommendations for deal terms or holdbacks.

Integration Planning

Secure Integration Design

After diligence, we help plan secure integrations:

Day One Security:

  • Critical security controls for immediate implementation
  • Access provisioning and deprovisioning for combined teams
  • Security monitoring for integration period
  • Incident response coordination

Integration Roadmap:

  • Identity and access management consolidation
  • Network and infrastructure security planning
  • Application and data security integration
  • Compliance program harmonization

Risk Management:

  • Inherited vulnerability remediation prioritization
  • Legacy system security assessment and planning
  • Third-party vendor security rationalization
  • Combined entity risk assessment

Secure integrations protect both organizations during the transition period when security risks are elevated.

Post-Acquisition Security Integration

Remediation & Program Development

After close, we help address inherited security issues and build combined entity security programs:

Immediate Remediation:

  • Address critical vulnerabilities identified in diligence
  • Implement essential controls across acquired entity
  • Establish security governance for combined organization
  • Develop unified incident response capabilities

Program Harmonization:

  • Align security policies and standards
  • Consolidate security tools and platforms
  • Integrate security teams and responsibilities
  • Establish combined entity compliance program

Ongoing Development:

  • Build security programs for combined entity scale
  • Achieve compliance certifications for expanded scope
  • Optimize security operations and spending
  • Develop board-level security reporting

We help you realize acquisition value while managing security risks during and after integration.

Common Questions About M&A Security Services

What security issues should kill a deal?

Few security issues are absolute deal-killers, but some should significantly affect terms: active breaches or ongoing incidents, systemic security failures indicating organizational dysfunction, compliance gaps that threaten business continuity (lost certifications, regulatory enforcement), and security debt that exceeds remediation budget. We help you understand what you're buying and price risks appropriately rather than walking away from otherwise good deals.

How does security diligence differ from IT diligence?

IT diligence focuses on technology assets, infrastructure, and operational capabilities. Security diligence evaluates protection of those assets - vulnerabilities, controls, compliance, and risk. They're complementary but distinct. Security diligence often reveals issues that IT diligence misses: how systems are configured, how access is controlled, what data is exposed, and how incidents would be detected and handled.

What's the most common security issue found in acquisitions?

Access control problems - too many people with too much access, former employees still with credentials, lack of multi-factor authentication, and no visibility into who can access what. These issues are common because they accumulate gradually and aren't visible until someone looks. They're also relatively straightforward to remediate with proper planning.

How long should we budget for post-acquisition security remediation?

Depends on diligence findings and target state. Critical issues (active vulnerabilities, compliance gaps) should be addressed in 30-90 days. Building a mature security program for the combined entity typically takes 6-18 months. Full integration and optimization may take 18-24 months for complex acquisitions. Budget should reflect diligence findings and desired end state.

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