CyberGovernance — Information Security Consultancy

Information security and systems consultancy for businesses and organizations that take their security seriously.

Let's talk

When security becomes a management issue

For mid-sized businesses and organizations that have reached the point where information security is no longer "an IT department matter" but a management matter — driven by regulatory obligations, customer requirements, an incident experience, or simply business maturity.

I also collaborate as a trusted external partner with consultancy firms delivering security and resilience projects.

Four pillars of support

My work is organized around four pillars covering the full security lifecycle of a business — from initial assessment to ongoing governance. I take on either focused projects in a single pillar, or complete programs combining several.

PILLAR 1

Risk Assessment & Management

Before you can protect yourself properly, you need to know what exactly you're protecting against. We start with an honest, practical mapping of where you stand today.

Includes: Risk assessment, gap analysis, risk register, mapping of critical information assets.
PILLAR 2

Protection & Controls

Based on the identified risks, we design proportionate measures — calibrated to the risk, without overburdening your operations.

Includes: Security architecture, controls review, access management, vendor risk, policies & procedures.
PILLAR 3

Incident Response & Resilience

However much you prevent, some incidents will happen. The difference between serious damage and a manageable situation is preparation.

Includes: Incident response plan, tabletop exercises, business continuity plan (BCP), disaster recovery strategy (DRS).
PILLAR 4

Governance & Compliance

Once the above are working, you need governance that maintains and documents them — for management, auditors, and supervisory authorities.

Includes: Governance framework, ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, NIS2, DORA, AI governance (EU AI Act).

Not just protection. A competitive advantage.

When your security is in order, you don't just avoid damage — you gain:

New customers

Who used to ask you for certifications or security questionnaires — and now you can deliver.

Better terms

In cyber insurance, in financing, in partnerships with larger organizations.

Trust that stands out

In tenders and partnerships, where reliable security becomes the differentiating factor.

Peace of mind for management

Less time spent on crises and uncertainty, more on growth.

Experience tested in practice

28 years of practical experience

With over 28 years of experience in IT and Information Security, I have designed, implemented, audited and improved security systems in a regulated financial institution. My approach is not based on theoretical models. It is based on what works in practice: in real environments, with limited resources, strict requirements, audit reviews, and the need for documented decisions.

Certified expertise

My professional experience is supported by certifications and ongoing involvement in governance, security, and risk management, including: CISM (ISACA), COBIT 2019 Foundation, and active participation in European forums on risk management and information security.

Direct collaboration

You work directly with me — no intermediate layers, no junior teams, no loss of information. This means faster understanding of your problem, more direct communication, and solutions tailored to the real size, structure and needs of your business.

Deliverables you can actually use

Every project ends with practical deliverables: policies, procedures, registers, action plans, reports, checklists, and documentation that can be used by management, IT, internal audit, external auditors, or supervisory authorities. The goal isn't to deliver an impressive presentation. The goal is to deliver material that can be applied, approved, and audited.

Combination of technical and regulatory insight

My experience spans both the technical side of security and its administrative, regulatory, and audit dimensions. This means I can translate requirements related to security policies, risk management, access controls, business continuity, DORA, NIS2, COBIT or ISMS into practical procedures, understandable documents, and actionable steps.

Flexible engagement model

The engagement can be adapted to the needs of your organization: fixed fee per project or service package, daily rate for retainer or support, or subcontracted collaboration with consultancy firms that need specialized experience in IT governance, cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance.

When to get in touch

…when you want to know where you really stand on security — and what's worth doing first.
…when you've had an incident (small or large) and you want to make sure it doesn't happen again.
…when a major customer is asking you for a security questionnaire or certification and you don't know where to start.
…when your insurer is asking for specific security measures to renew your cyber insurance.
…when you have a business continuity plan on paper but no reliable evidence that it actually works.
…when as a consultancy firm you need an experienced external specialist for a specific engagement.

Emmanuel Michailidis

Experience28 years in leadership roles in IT and information security within a regulated financial institution.
FrameworksISO/IEC 27001 · NIST CSF · COBIT 2019 · GDPR · NIS2 · DORA · EU AI Act
CertificationsCISM (ISACA) · COBIT 2019 Foundation · MCSE · CCNA
EducationMSc FinTech · MSc Digital Systems (Neural Networks & Machine Learning) · BSc Computer Science

Let's talk

The initial conversation is always free of charge and confidential. Send a message and I will get back to you shortly.

info@cybergovernance.gr
Athens, Greece  ·  linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-michailidis-5438b010