We help government contractors and mission-driven teams design compliant architecture that passes audit — from day one.
Why YCG?
We don’t just advise on meeting requirements — we guide you in strategically exceeding them. With decades of experience in secure systems architecture, compliance readiness, and mission-critical operations, YCG ensures your systems are secure by design, compliant by default, and operationally resilient.
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YCG Team
At Young Consulting Group, our team brings together unmatched expertise and proven results in the cybersecurity and systems engineering fields. Collectively, we have:
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Advanced Academic Credentials – Including a Doctorate in Cybersecurity and advanced degrees in technical disciplines.
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Industry-Recognized Certifications – CISO, CISSP, CISA, CASP, and CISM.
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Extensive Real-World Experience – Over a decade of hands-on leadership and consulting in commercial and government sectors, including the Department of Defense (DoD), aerospace, and mission-critical government contract environments.
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Published Technical Authors – Our team members have authored and contributed to respected publications in the cybersecurity and technical space.
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Academic Leadership – College professor experience teaching the next generation of cybersecurity and IT professionals.
We understand the high-stakes environments our clients operate in. Our unique combination of academic knowledge, industry certifications, and real-world operational expertise allows us to deliver actionable, secure, and scalable solutions aligned with mission requirements.
YCG Services
At Young Consulting Group, we specialize in designing, building, and securing mission-critical systems that meet the highest federal and enterprise compliance standards. Our work is rooted in the principles of the Secure Stack Series — ensuring that security isn’t an afterthought, but a foundation from day one.
Secure Systems Architecture & Design
We provide expert architectural guidance for building secure, mission-ready systems from the ground up. Whether you’re designing a new infrastructure or upgrading an existing one, we ensure security is embedded at every layer — from network topology to access controls — in alignment with NIST 800-53 and mission requirements.
Key Services:
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Infrastructure architecture reviews and recommendations
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Secure design blueprints and diagrams
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Cross-domain and network segmentation strategies
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Integration with operational and compliance requirements
Security Assessments & Compliance Readiness
Annual assessments don’t have to be stressful. We prepare your systems, teams, and documentation so you’re ready for audits, inspections, and interviews with assessors. We identify gaps before they become findings and equip your team with the knowledge and artifacts needed to succeed.
Key Services:
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Pre-assessment reviews and mock audits
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Compliance gap analysis (NIST, RMF, STIG, CIS)
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Assessor interview preparation for IT, network, and security staff
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Evidence gathering and alignment with control requirements
Secure Implementation & Ongoing Support
We take your secure design from blueprint to reality. Our hands-on implementation ensures every build meets strict security and compliance standards. And our ongoing advisory support keeps your systems secure as technology and requirements evolve.
Key Services:
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Implementation of hardened system builds
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Secure configuration of applications and services
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Continuous security advisory and remediation guidance
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Integration of security into ITN&E and operational workflows
YCG Engagement Tiers
We offer three levels of engagement so you can select the right fit for your needs and mission scope.
Tier 1
Foundations
For organizations that need secure architecture planning or assessment readiness support.
($15K–$25K)
Includes:
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Architecture or system design review
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Compliance readiness strategy sessions
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Security-focused recommendations and roadmaps
Tier 2
Hardened Build Oversight
For organizations that want secure design guidance plus oversight of the implementation process.
($40K–$75K)
Includes:
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All Tier 1 services
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Oversight and review of hardened build and configuration plans
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Milestone-based implementation review sessions
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Recommendations for pre-assessment remediation
Tier 3
Mission-Ready Partnership)
For organizations that need full lifecycle advisory — from initial planning to post-assessment readiness.
($10K–$20K/month)
Includes:
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All Tier 1 & 2 services
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Continuous security and compliance advisory throughout the project
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Ongoing feedback and improvement recommendations
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Advisory support during assessments and assessor interviews
Check Out YCG Publications
The Secure Stack Series is our proven framework in action — a collection of practical, no-fluff guides for building, securing, and optimizing systems in high-stakes federal and enterprise environments. Written by our founder, L. Denise Young, these books turn complex security and compliance challenges into clear, actionable strategies.
Titles include:
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Secure the Shell – Building secure Linux systems from the start
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Fixing Real-World Linux – Troubleshooting in production environments
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A Linux Engineer’s Guide to Speaking NIST 800‑53: How to Speak, Show, and Survive Your Next Security Audit
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The ISSO Playbook – Mastering risk, compliance, and communication in cybersecurity
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Building Secure Architecture: A Blueprint from the Ground Up
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Acing the Linux Admin Interview: From First Call to Final Offer
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Securing the Network – NIST 800-53 architecture for classified and mission-critical environments
“The cost of getting it wrong is always higher than building it right the first time.”