The Cascades Security Model:Build Security That NaturallySatisfies Compliance
The Cascades Security Model is how Konfirmity engineers security from the inside out — controls that solve real risks first, and produce compliance evidence as a side effect, not the goal.
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[01] Architecture
The CASCADES Architecture: Layers, Operations, and Framework Mapping
L1
Cloud Infrastructure Security
Continuous scanning for misconfigurations, exposed resources, and security drift across AWS, GCP, and Azure. Automated remediation playbooks fix common issues before they become audit findings.
L2
Security Operations & Monitoring
24/7 threat detection through SIEM integration, anomaly detection, and incident response orchestration. Full audit trails generated automatically with alert triage and escalation procedures.
L3
Payment & Sensitive Data Protection
Controls specific to cardholder data (PCI-DSS), protected health information (HIPAA), and personal data (GDPR/PDPA). Includes tokenization, encryption, data classification, and quarterly vulnerability scanning.
L4
Access Control & Identity
Least-privilege enforcement across all systems. Automated quarterly access reviews, privileged access management, MFA deployment, and RBAC implementation. Every access change is logged and mapped.
L5
Data Protection & Encryption
Data classification taxonomy, encryption standards for data at rest and in transit, key management lifecycle, and DLP monitoring. Controls mapped to specific encryption requirements of each framework.
L6
Third-Party Risk Management
Automated vendor discovery, continuous risk scoring, and security attestation collection. Monitoring compliance posture of banking partners, payment processors, and critical service providers.
L7
Compliance Automation
Integration layer tying everything together. Automatic evidence collection from all layers, cross-framework control mapping, audit trail generation, regulatory reporting, and real-time dashboards.
[03] Implementation
Konfirmity's Structured Implementation Model for End-to-End Compliance
Weeks 1-4
Phase 1: Discovery & Planning
// Key Activities
Security assessment - Compliance gap analysis - Statement of Applicability - Control framework design to ISO 27001:2022
// Deliverables
Security assessment - Compliance gap analysis - Statement of Applicability - Control framework design to ISO 27001:2022
Weeks 2-6
Phase 2: Infrastructure Setup
// Key Activities
Platform configuration - Security event monitoring - Policy migration - Threat intelligence integration
// Deliverables
Configured GRC platform - Live monitoring dashboards - Migrated policies - Operational threat feeds
Weeks 1-4
Phase 3: Integration Ecosystem
// Key Activities
Vendor management setup - Cloud service integration (AWS/GCP/Azure) - App/API security config - Risk/incident/asset register migration
// Deliverables
Vendor security assessment report - Cloud security report - Vulnerability & pen test report - Operational registers
Phases 4-8: Operational Excellence
Ongoing
// Phase 4: Org Structure
Security/Risk/Audit committee formation - Role-based access review - Framework evidence collection
// Phase 6: Certification
Internal audit execution - External audit coordination
// Phase 5: Employee Engagement
Security awareness training - Device security configuration
// Phases 7-8: Vuln & Vendor Mgmt
Asset/surface mapping - SLA-based remediation - Vendor CIA classification - Black-box pen testing
[04] Service Levels
Managed Service KPIs & SLAs
Service Area
Committed Service Level
Control Design
Completed within 0-4 weeks of engagement
Policy / Procedure Development
Completed within 2-6 weeks
Evidence Collection
Maintain >70% framework compliance on monthly basis
Learning Modules
Custom modules created within 4 weeks from request
Vendor Assurance
Monthly posture review and update; incidents for exceptions
Asset Register
Monthly review: prod/non-prod classification, license mgmt, PII/PHI identification
Threat Landscape
Quarterly review with actionable intelligence
Risk Management
Quarterly risk register review; metrics updated on request
Vulnerability Management
Monthly review, risk score revision, unlimited dev liaison for remediation
Security Control Centre
Whitelisting, ethical hacker engagement, sub-processor changes -- all within 1 week
Security Questionnaires
Completed within 7 business days