Defending Your Business Against Digital Threats With Elite Cybersecurity Leadership
“When cyber threats escalate, we respond with experience, precision, and speed.”
Darkstack7 delivers elite advisory, incident response, and AI-era cybersecurity leadership trusted by global enterprises and regulated industries.
🛡️ Professional & Credible
“Elite Cybersecurity for High-Stakes Moments. ”
Our expertise
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Unmatched Fortune 500 Leadership: Harness the strategic insight and operational excellence of seasoned enterprise security leaders—now tailored to meet the needs of mid-market and SMB organizations.
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Decades of Global Security Leadership: Proven success delivering cybersecurity strategies across industries and continents—from the U.K. and Europe to Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia."
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Board-Level Communication & Trust: We translate complex security challenges into clear, actionable insights for executives and boards, building confidence during times of crisis.
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Rapid 24/7 Crisis Response: Our team is on standby to provide immediate, expert-level support when you need it most.
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Strategic Thought Leadership: Stay ahead of the curve with forward-thinking guidance and innovative solutions that anticipate future threats.
what we do
Founded by Joshua R. Nicholson—a 24-year cybersecurity veteran and former U.S. Marine with leadership experience at Northrop Grumman, Whitney Bank, EY, Wells Fargo, Cofense, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Deepseas—Darkstack7 offers Fortune 500-level expertise to businesses facing complex digital threats.
We specialize in high-stakes incident response, strategic vCISO services, and advanced security consulting & Defense Engineering. Our proven track record, built on managing hundreds of security incidents across multiple countries, ensures we deliver the crisis-ready leadership and board-level communication your organization needs to navigate its most critical challenges.
Working with the best partners for comprehensive coverage & emergency surge
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Incident Response (Reactive):
Who are you going to call in a cyber emergency?
Need expertise and a contract in place to close the gap quickly?
Under attack now and need assistance?
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Incident Response (Proactive):
Are you organizationally prepared for a breach?
Do regulations require a yearly Tabletop exercise (TTX)?
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Malicious Insiders:
Employees, contractors, or partners who intentionally misuse their access for personal gain, revenge, or ideological reasons
Do you need a sensitive & discreet internal cyber investigation?
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Strategic Services:
Do you need a fractional CISO or Strategic Advisor to either uplift or run your security program?
Do you need that CISO to be technically proficient in a cyber intrusion as well?
Response Services
Paint Points
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Need to identify security gaps exposed by a security incident
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Want to test and improve IR Capabilities
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Board mandate for security program evaluation
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Upcoming audit or compliance examination
Outcomes
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Comprehensive gap analysis completed
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IR capabilities tested and improved
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Security roadmap developed
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Team training and preparedness enhanced
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Cyber Insurance requirements for a tabletop exercise are met (due care)
Strategic Services
Paint Points
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Security program needs strategic direction
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Board requires regular security reporting
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New technologies (AI/ML,Cloud) creating Governance challenges
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Team needs senior level mentorship and guidance
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Budget planning and vendor selection decisions
Outcomes
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Mature security program established
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Regular Board reporting and communications
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AI Governance framework implemented
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Team capabilities enhanced
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Strategic security roadmap synthesized and executed
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vCISO
Our vCISO service is designed for organizations that need technical leadership with real-world experience. We bring executive-level cybersecurity expertise to the table—focused on strategy, architecture, threat defense, and security engineering, not just compliance checklists. This is a hands-on service for companies who need a CISO that can speak to both boards and blue teams. Whether you're building a security program from scratch or hardening it against advanced threats, we lead with depth, not fluff. Our vCISOs have led global teams, handled critical incidents, and built scalable security programs in high-pressure environments. If you're looking for a technical CISO who gets things done—not just someone who fills out forms—you’re in the right place.
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Security Consulting & Engineering Services
Our security consulting practice delivers the clarity, confidence, and technical depth your organization needs to stay ahead of evolving threats. We provide comprehensive assessments and audits that go beyond checklists—uncovering real risks, validating controls, and building a security strategy that’s practical, scalable, and resilient. Whether it’s your on-premise environment, multi-cloud infrastructure, AI-driven applications, or complex network environments, we bring specialized expertise to secure your most critical assets.
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Training & Speaking Services
We offer executive-level training, public speaking, and leadership development focused on real-world cybersecurity challenges. Our speaking engagements span conferences, boardrooms, and team workshops, delivering insights on incident response, threat trends, and building resilient security cultures. With over two decades of industry experience, we translate complex technical topics into actionable strategies for technical and non-technical audiences alike. From keynote addresses to private CISO roundtables, we bring clarity, authority, and energy to every stage. Whether you're looking to inspire your team, educate stakeholders, or elevate your event—we deliver high-impact, no-fluff content that sticks.