vCISO-led Cybersecurity, Compliance & Internal Controls Advisory
for Small Organizations (1–100 Employees)
Enterprise-grade cybersecurity expertise for organizations with 1–100 employees. Not an MSP. Not Big 4. Independent, selective, and built for the gap.
"We advise organizations on protecting their data. It would be hypocritical not to protect yours."
DARS uses no tracking cookies, no third-party analytics, and no advertising. Our free tools run entirely in your browser. When we say free, we mean it — no signup required, no gated content, no hidden agenda.
What We Do
Four Pillars of Service
vCISO & Security Leadership
Fractional CISO services. Strategic guidance, board reporting, roadmap development, incident response leadership, and vendor risk oversight.
Retainer from $4,500/moGRC & Independent Assurance
Framework assessments, audit preparation, compliance program design. NIST CSF, SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, CMMC.
Retainer from $3,500/moAI Management & Governance
AI inventory, risk classification, governance frameworks aligned with NIST AI RMF and EU AI Act. Responsible AI policy development.
Retainer from $3,000/moThird-Party Risk Management
Vendor risk assessments, SOC 2 report reviews, SLA monitoring, vendor lifecycle management. Because you get SOC 2 reports but don't know how to evaluate them.
Retainer from $3,000/mo
Ashwameth Ravilla
Founder, DARS
One Advisor. Direct Access. No Junior Staff.
When you work with DARS, you work directly with the person who built it.
"Most small organizations don't have a security problem — they have a prioritization problem. The challenge isn't knowing that security matters. It's knowing what to do first, with limited budget and no dedicated staff. That's the problem I built DARS to solve."
A B.Tech in Information Technology. An LLM in International Information Technology Law from Robert Gordon University. Close to two decades inside healthcare systems, international banks, telecom operators, and government contractors — not advising them from the outside, but working within them. That combination of engineering, law, and global GRC experience is what DARS brings to every engagement.
Certifications held individually by the founder, Ashwameth Ravilla — not by DARS LLC as a corporate entity.
A Note on Fit
DARS is not for everyone. Deliberately.
Knowing what we’re not is as important as knowing what we are. If any of the following sounds like what you’re looking for, there are faster and cheaper options — and we’d rather tell you that upfront.
Not an MSP
DARS doesn’t manage your infrastructure, monitor your helpdesk, or patch your servers. That’s a separate service from a separate type of firm. We provide strategic advisory — the thinking, planning, and governance that makes your technical investments effective.
Not Big 4
No army of junior analysts. No rotating cast of consultants. No six-figure minimum engagement. Every engagement is direct access to a senior advisor who knows your name, understands your constraints, and gives you honest answers.
Not a Compliance Mill
We don’t hand you a policy template and call it a security program. We don’t generate binders that sit on a shelf. We build programs that actually work, that your team understands, and that hold up when an insurer, auditor, or client asks hard questions.
If you need managed security services, we’ll tell you. If you need a Big 4 firm, we’ll tell you that too. Honest guidance — even if you don’t need us.
Book a Free Call to See If We’re a FitNot Sure Where to Begin?
Answer 5 questions. Get a clear starting point.
Most organizations know they have gaps. What they don't know is which one to tackle first. This takes under 2 minutes and gives you a concrete next step — not a sales pitch.
Tell us about your organization — industry, size, and what's driving the conversation
We map your situation to the most relevant service area and free tool
You leave with a clear, actionable next step — whether that involves DARS or not
“We advise organizations on protecting their data. It would be hypocritical not to protect yours.”
Every free tool runs entirely in your browser — no data stored, no tracking, no signup required. Free means free.
Free Tools
Start Here — No Cost, No Catch
Diagnostic tools and templates you can use right now. Everything runs in your browser. We practice what we preach.
Engagement Models
Three Ways to Work with DARS
All engagements begin with a complimentary 30-minute consultation to assess fit and scope.
One-time
Rapid Review
A fixed-scope assessment with a clear deliverable — ideal before a contract bid, audit, or renewal.
See what’s included →Monthly retainer
Advisory Retainer
Ongoing fractional vCISO and GRC advisory. Your trusted senior advisor on call, every month.
See what’s included →Project-based
Program Build
A full capability build — SOC 2 readiness, CMMC program, AI governance framework, or TPRM from scratch.
See what’s included →Insights
From the DARS Blog
From Clients
What Working With DARS Looks Like in Practice
"We received three SOC 2 reports from vendors during due diligence and had no idea how to evaluate them. DARS walked us through each one in plain English — identified two significant scope gaps we would have completely missed."
Director of Operations
45-person Health Tech Company, Maryland
"Our cyber insurer sent us a 60-page questionnaire. We were a 12-person nonprofit with no security staff. DARS helped us respond accurately, identify our real gaps, and build a 90-day plan to address them."
Executive Director
12-person Nonprofit, Washington D.C.
Honest guidance — even if you don't need us
Start with a free tool. If you need more, we're here. If you don't, you've still walked away with something useful.
Schedule Your Free Consultation