How PMC Transformed Security into Competitive Advantage

When Pyramid Model Consortium acquired a custom-built data platform to expand their educational intervention services, they inherited more than software—they inherited a barrier to growth.

PMC's Pyramid Information Data System (PIDS) helps thousands of educators, coaches, and state agencies make data-driven decisions about early childhood behavioral interventions. Their tools process sensitive student behavioral data across entire state education systems. But post-acquisition, PMC discovered a gap that was costing them deals.

"We acquired a custom-built application without comprehensive documentation or insight into the security architecture," explains PMC's leadership team. "Our concern was not just about potential technical weaknesses—it was about the inability to provide our customers and partners with verifiable assurances that their data was being handled in a secure and compliant manner."

Deals Were Stuck. Documentation Didn't Exist.

For an organization trusted by state education departments to handle behavioral intervention data, security isn't just IT—it's table stakes for every contract. Three impacts hit immediately:

Large deals sat in procurement limbo for months awaiting security documentation that didn't exist. Sales cycles that typically closed in 90 days stretched past 180 as prospects' security teams asked questions PMC couldn't confidently answer. State contracts—their primary growth market—remained off-limits without compliance verification.

The acquisition meant to accelerate growth had become an anchor.

From Years of Work to Months

PMC needed more than a pen test report. They needed a partner who understood what enterprise buyers actually ask for—because we've been on that side of the table, running those evaluations.

Over four months, Adversis worked alongside PMC and their technology partners to systematically close every gap blocking their sales pipeline.

We conducted comprehensive web application penetration testing across PIDS, then worked directly with PMC's software vendor to implement secure coding practices and remediate findings. We mapped their systems against CIS v8 controls, validated GDPR compliance for their international education partners, and laid the groundwork for SOC 2 readiness to unlock larger enterprise contracts.

The engagement went beyond finding vulnerabilities. Adversis collaborated with PMC's development team to strengthen authentication mechanisms, implement improved API security controls, and establish ongoing practices that prevented issues from recurring.

"We anticipated a standard penetration test—but what we received went far beyond that," PMC's team noted. "Noah and the Adversis team became trusted advisors, bridging a critical knowledge gap in our organization. What would have taken us years to accomplish internally was achieved in months through their structured, transparent, and supportive approach."

The Results: Security That Closes Deals

Before the engagement, PMC lacked the capacity to evaluate their own security controls—let alone document them for buyers. Today, they respond to RFPs and compliance requests with evidence-based documentation that satisfies the most demanding security teams.

Sales velocity improved dramatically. Security reviews that stalled deals for six months now complete in weeks. Stalled contracts moved forward.

New markets opened. With validated alignment to CIS Controls and GDPR principles, PMC became eligible for state agency and federal contracts that were previously off-limits.

The team gained confidence. "We can now confidently state that our custom application aligns with industry best practices and cybersecurity frameworks," PMC's leadership explained. "More importantly, we have the internal confidence and external proof that our platform protects the integrity, privacy, and safety of the data it manages."

Security as Mission Enabler

For PMC, the transformation went beyond compliance checkboxes. When educational institutions entrust you with behavioral data about their most vulnerable students, security becomes inseparable from mission.

Today, PMC's security posture actively supports their work improving educational outcomes. Customers deploy PIDS knowing it meets the same standards they expect from their own systems. Early intervention programs can focus on helping children rather than fielding security questionnaire calls they can't answer.

"Adversis's flexibility helped us remain agile and responsive to the diverse needs of our customers while strengthening our security foundation," PMC noted. "The engagement wasn't just tactical—it was transformational."

For organizations facing similar challenges—whether through acquisition, rapid growth, or evolving buyer expectations—PMC's experience demonstrates what's possible. Security gaps compound when left unaddressed. But with the right partner, years of work compresses into months—and security becomes the thing that accelerates growth rather than blocking it.

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