Insights
The DARS Blog
Practical cybersecurity, compliance, and governance guidance for organizations with 1–100 employees.
August 2026 · New
The SOC Report You Never Read: How "Checkbox" Vendor Reviews Become Six-Figure Mistakes
A SOC report filed unread isn't due diligence — it's a signature on a document nobody opened. The five traps that separate a report used as protection from one used as paperwork, plus a free tool to check any report you're handed.
Read more →July 2026
SOC 2: What It Actually Costs in 2026 — and Where Small Businesses Overspend
Most startups pay $25,000–$80,000 for their first SOC 2 — and the audit fee is only 40–60% of it. The full cost stack, and the five decisions that determine whether you pay startup or enterprise rates for the same report.
Read more →June 2026
Your Employees Are Already Using AI Without You. Here's What That's Costing You.
Most shadow AI risk isn't rogue tools — it's unreviewed AI features inside software you already pay for. What's actually at stake, and a 5-step governance plan any small business can build this week.
Read more →April 2026
Beyond the Policy: Maryland's New Privacy Enforcement Is a Wake-Up Call for Small Business AI
MODPA enforcement began April 1, 2026. If you're using AI tools and serving Maryland residents, the question is no longer "does this apply to me?" — it's "am I ready for an audit?" Includes a free interactive readiness checklist.
Read more →December 2025
AI Tools Your Team Is Already Using — And Why That's a Governance Problem
Shadow AI is happening in your organization right now. Here's why it matters, what the actual risks are, and what a proportionate governance response looks like.
Read more →October 2025
What CMMC 2.0 Actually Means for Small Contractors
CMMC 2.0 is no longer a future concern. Here's what small defense contractors and subcontractors need to understand right now — without the enterprise jargon.
Read more →August 2025
SOC 2 Without the Enterprise Price Tag
SOC 2 doesn't have to cost six figures or take eighteen months. Here's what the process actually looks like for small organizations doing it right-sized.
Read more →June 2025
AI Governance for Small Teams: A Practical Starting Point
Your team is already using AI tools. Here's how to build a governance framework that fits your size without enterprise-level complexity.
Read more →May 2025
Five Security Controls Every Small Organization Should Implement First
With limited resources, where do you start? These five controls give you the most protection per dollar and per hour invested.
Read more →Have a Security Question?
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