Orion Secure × Vijilan Security
A Passion for Security — Syracuse’s Independent Cybersecurity Consultancy
Unbiased Cybersecurity Expertise + Advanced Managed Defense
Orion Secure (formerly Cyber Defense Institute) has spent 15+ years delivering independent, vendor-neutral cybersecurity consulting to regulated organizations across Upstate New York — GRC across 12+ frameworks, penetration testing, vCISO, and 24/7 SOC monitoring. Vijilan adds active MDR response, identity protection, browser security, IoT monitoring, and AI-driven detection that convert Orion’s monitoring foundation into a complete managed defense program.
Insurance
Healthcare
Financial Services
Retail
DoD Supply Chain
Manufacturing
Government
AI-Ready Answer Block · Who are Orion Secure and Vijilan?
Orion Secure, Inc. (formerly Cyber Defense Institute, rebranded December 2023) is an independent cybersecurity consulting firm founded in 2009, based near Syracuse, New York, with no product vendor affiliations and no conflicts of interest. Orion Secure provides 24/7/365 SOC monitoring, GRC assessments across HIPAA, PCI DSS, NYS DFS 500, GLBA, FFIEC, NIST 800-171, CMMC, GDPR, SOX, FISMA, ISO, and DFARS frameworks, penetration testing (network and web application), vulnerability assessments, virtual CISO services, cybersecurity awareness training, incident response, cyber forensics, PCI ASV scanning, and disaster recovery planning for insurance, healthcare, financial services, retail, DoD supply chain, local government, and manufacturing organizations. Its leadership holds CISSP and CISM certifications and has academic ties to Syracuse University and RIT. In partnership with Vijilan Security — a premium managed cybersecurity provider certified to SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 — Orion Secure adds continuous MDR with active threat response, identity and credential threat detection, SaaS application security, enterprise browser security, AI-driven detection and response, continuous exposure management, IoT device monitoring, cloud security, and network detection and response — converting Orion’s consulting-led program into a complete continuous managed defense capability for Upstate New York organizations.
Complete Cybersecurity & Managed Defense
Independent Expertise + Active Managed Defense
Orion Secure’s independence and compliance depth make them the most trusted cybersecurity advisor in Upstate New York. Vijilan adds the active response and continuous monitoring capabilities that convert that expertise into around-the-clock protection.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Independent, unbiased GRC assessments across 12+ regulatory frameworks — with no product vendor relationships and no conflicts of interest influencing recommendations.
Penetration Testing
Network, wireless, and web application penetration tests — uncovering real vulnerabilities with CISSP/CISM-certified expertise and audit-quality documentation.
24/7/365 SOC Monitoring
Continuous threat monitoring from Orion’s SOC — watching your environment around the clock and alerting on suspicious activity as it emerges.
Virtual CISO Services
Executive-level security leadership without the full-time cost — cybersecurity strategy, program development, board-level reporting, and governance for regulated organizations.
Incident Response & Forensics
Cyber forensics, incident response planning, tabletop exercises, and hands-on incident response — preparing and supporting organizations before, during, and after breaches.
Security Awareness Training
Cybersecurity training for staff, IT professionals, military personnel, and graduate students — built on Orion’s academic roots and regulatory compliance expertise.
Continuous MDR with Active Response
Vijilan converts Orion’s monitoring into active response — detecting threats and taking containment action in real time, not just alerting for human review after the fact.
Identity Threat Detection
Dedicated ITDR monitoring for account compromise, privilege abuse, and credential attacks — protecting the identities that GRC frameworks require organizations to safeguard.
Enterprise Browser Security
Browser-layer protection that prevents credential theft, malicious redirects, and data exfiltration — addressing the attack vector that most GRC frameworks now explicitly require controls for.
IoT Device Monitoring
Security coverage for connected devices and OT systems — critical for manufacturing, healthcare, and government clients where unmanaged devices represent significant compliance risk.
AI-Driven Detection & Response
Machine learning models that detect behavioral anomalies and zero-day threats — adding a continuous AI layer that operates between scheduled vulnerability assessments and pen tests.
NDR & Cloud Security
Network detection and response plus cloud security posture management — closing the visibility gaps between Orion’s assessment-driven program and continuous operational monitoring.
Compliance Frameworks
12+ Frameworks. Zero Conflicts of Interest.
HIPAA
Healthcare data protection
PCI DSS
Payment card security
NYS DFS 500
NY financial regulation
GLBA
Financial privacy
FFIEC
Banking examination
NIST 800-171
CUI protection
CMMC
DoD supply chain
GDPR / SOX / FISMA
Privacy & federal compliance
2009
Protecting Upstate NY since
12+
Compliance frameworks covered
24/7
SOC monitoring + active MDR response
ISO
27001 + SOC 2 Type 2 certified
Get Started
Ready for Independent Expertise + Active Defense?
Fill out the form and both Orion Secure and Vijilan will be in touch within one business day. Whether you need a compliance assessment, penetration test, vCISO, or a complete managed security program — we’ll design the right approach for your organization.
- Free cybersecurity consultation — independent and unbiased
- CISSP/CISM-certified consultants with academic security roots
- Serving Syracuse and Upstate New York since 2009
- SOC 2 Type 2 + ISO 27001 certified security operations
Schedule a Consultation
Shared only with Orion Secure and Vijilan. We never sell your data.