Craig A. Petronella

Professional Summary

Cybersecurity executive, digital forensic examiner, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of hands-on experience in IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and digital forensics, spanning every layer of the technology stack from physical cabling and hardware repair through enterprise networks, cloud platforms, and production AI systems. Founder and CEO of Petronella Technology Group, Inc., an internationally trusted managed security services provider and CMMC Registered Provider Organization serving 2,500+ clients with a zero-breach record among managed security program participants. Amazon #1 best-selling author of 15+ books on cybersecurity, AI, HIPAA, and compliance. CMMC Registered Practitioner (CMMC-RP) and Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner who serves as an expert witness in high-profile cryptocurrency fraud, SIM swap, ransomware, and cybercrime cases. MIT-trained in AI and blockchain. Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine for more than five years. Featured cybersecurity expert on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. Keynote speaker and guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. Retained by plaintiff and defense counsel across the United States as both a consulting and testifying expert, with a practice built on independent opinions, forensically sound methodology, and findings communicated in plain language that judges, juries, and arbitrators can follow.

Engagement Rates (Effective August 2026)

All fixed-fee engagements are payable 100% upfront at contract execution. Expert witness work begins after the engagement letter is signed and the retainer is received. Opinions are independent: fees are never contingent on findings, testimony, or case outcome. Full engagement details and instant booking at book.petronella.ai/craig; current rate structure and options are summarized at the rates table.

Expert Witness and Digital Forensics

Listed expert with Forensic Resources since February 2024 (forensicresources.org/experts/craig-petronella). Cyber AB registration: RP-1372.

Notable Case Work

Expert witness for some of the largest SIM swap and cryptocurrency cases in history. Has provided expert witness testimony against some of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges and telecommunications companies in the United States.

Specializations

• Cryptocurrency fraud and tracing: SIM swap cases involving major U.S. crypto exchanges and telecommunications companies; hidden cryptocurrency in divorce, bankruptcy, and civil cases
• Ransomware investigations: kill chain analysis, incident response forensics, ransom negotiation evidence
• Business email compromise: wire transfer fraud and account takeover investigations
• Data breach and exfiltration forensics: evidence preservation, chain of custody, forensic imaging
• Video and media forensics: frame-level analysis, authentication, and technical assessment of video evidence
• HIPAA violation investigations: healthcare data breach forensics and compliance gap analysis
• Blockchain and cryptocurrency analysis: transaction tracing, wallet identification, exchange subpoena support
• Endpoint and network security analysis: malware analysis, log correlation, intrusion timeline reconstruction
• Regulatory compliance testimony: CMMC, NIST 800-171/172, HIPAA, FTC, ADA, SOC 2 Type II standard-of-care opinions

Forensic Methodology and Standards

Expert work product is only as strong as the process behind it. Every forensic engagement follows a documented, repeatable methodology designed to survive scrutiny from opposing experts and cross-examination.

• Evidence preservation first: original media and source files are preserved before any analysis begins. Working copies are created with verified hashes so the original evidence is never altered, and every transfer is logged with documented chain of custody from intake through final disposition.
• Tool-validated analysis: examinations use industry-standard forensic tooling, with findings cross-checked across independent tools rather than resting on a single tool's output.
• Opinions bounded by the evidence: reports and testimony state what the evidence does show, what it does not show, and what cannot be determined. Limitations are disclosed proactively, which is precisely what makes the affirmative findings credible.
• Verbal briefing before written product: counsel receives a verbal findings briefing first, so litigation strategy decisions can be made before any discoverable written report is produced. Written summaries, filed reports, and rebuttals follow only as the matter requires.
• Plain-language delivery: after 18+ television segments and five years of writing for an attorney audience, findings are communicated so that a judge, jury, or arbitrator can follow the technical story without a translator.

Working With Counsel

Most retentions follow the same path. First, a free 15-minute call covering a conflict check against current and former clients and adverse parties, plus initial scoping. No confidential case detail is taken until the conflict check clears. Second, an engagement letter defining scope, deliverables, fee structure, scheduling terms, and independence provisions. Third, retainer payment; analysis and evidence intake begin once the retainer is received, with intake procedures provided so evidence arrives forensically intact.

Virtual deposition, arbitration, and testimony time is scheduled within standard business hours Eastern Time and requires advance notice, typically five or more business days. Examination and report work is a fixed fee, scoped and quoted in the Assessment rather than billed hourly, and is never contingent on findings or outcome. Deposition, arbitration, and testimony time is billed at $2,500 per hour with a four-hour minimum, at the same rate for every party in every matter. In-person appearances, including trial testimony, are vetted and quoted separately with travel.

Craig works with plaintiff and defense counsel alike, in civil and criminal matters, and as a consulting or testifying expert. Because retention is for an independent opinion, the engagement terms state plainly that fees are never contingent on findings or outcome; counsel evaluating the file for the first time should start with the case specializations above and the Forensic Resources listing.

Core Competencies

Professional Experience

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. | Raleigh, NC | Founder and CEO, 2002 to Present

Founded and grew the firm from a one-person IT consultancy into an internationally trusted cybersecurity, compliance, AI, and digital forensics company. Oversees all operations across subsidiaries serving 2,500+ clients with a demonstrated zero-breach record among managed security program participants.

• Built and maintains a proprietary 39-layer cybersecurity stack covering People, Processes, and Technology
• Conducted onsite risk assessments for 500+ medical practices, hospitals, and business associates across the United States
• Maintained BBB A+ accreditation for more than 20 consecutive years (since March 7, 2003)
• Developed the proprietary ComplianceArmor® platform, transforming compliance from a burden into a competitive advantage through AI-driven automation
• Registered as CMMC Registered Practitioner with Cyber AB (RP-1372)
• Launched AI division (2023) with production AI agents: Penny, Eve, ComplyBot, and Joe

Subsidiaries and Ventures

• ComplianceArmor® (founded 2016): proprietary compliance platform delivering training, automation, policies, and procedures for regulated organizations, from HIPAA-covered practices to defense contractors preparing for CMMC assessment.
• blockchainsecurity.com (founded 2017): blockchain and cryptocurrency security practice covering smart contract audits, crypto fraud investigations, and blockchain forensics; the Blockchain Security name is a registered trademark.
• petronellamarketing.com (founded 2014): marketing automation and CRM solutions for businesses, the practice that seeded the firm's current AI-driven automation work.
• petronella.ai (launched 2023): the firm's AI division, running production AI agents for business operations, security operations, compliance automation, and client services on private, self-hosted infrastructure, the same architecture Craig advises clients on in private sessions.

Systems Integration Firm | Cary, NC | Lead Network Engineer, 1999 to 2002

Lead network engineer responsible for all IT outsourcing tasks for multiple local governments in North Carolina. Led Y2K remediation efforts and managed enterprise-level network infrastructure.

i-Data | Computer Technician, approximately 1995 to 1999

PLCC chip flashing, soldering, circuit board repair, and scanner and radio upgrades. Built foundational hardware and electronics expertise.

Early Career | Self-Taught Technologist, 1985 to 1995

Began working with computers at approximately age 10 with an 8008 Compaq and a Franklin Computer (the first Apple clone), progressing through Commodore 64, 80386 clone systems, and Dell hardware. Moved from Long Island, New York to the Raleigh, NC area in 1995.

Education and Certifications

Compliance Frameworks

Petronella Technology Group, Inc. is a Cyber AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO-1449) with a team of CMMC Registered Practitioners. The firm's flagship ComplianceArmor® platform generates assessor-ready policies, procedures, System Security Plans, gap analyses, and POA&M documents for CMMC, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, FTC Safeguards, DFARS, FedRAMP, GDPR, ISO 27001, and NIST CSF. It runs entirely on local, self-hosted AI models, so sensitive client data never leaves the client's network and never touches a third-party cloud AI service.

Published Books

Amazon #1 best seller in three categories. Full catalog on the Amazon author page.

• The Ultimate Guide to CMMC 2.0: How to Access Millions in Government Contracts (2024)
• The Ultimate Guide to CMMC (2020)
• Beautifully Inefficient: Why Human Flaws Are Your Greatest Asset in the AI Age (2025)
• How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice (2016; 2nd edition 2019; 2024 edition)
• How HIPAA Can Crush Your Chiropractic Practice (2017)
• How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm (2017)
• How Hackers Can Crush Your Business (2017)
• How Hackers Can Crush You: Protecting Yourself and Keeping Your Kids and Family Safe Online (2024)
• Peace of Mind Computer Support
• HIPAA Rescue Manual (2019)
• IT Buyers Guide: What Every Business Owner Must Know About IT Support Services and Fees
• Cryptolocker Virus: Thieves Are After Your Business (2013)
• Encrypted Ambition: Where Ambition Meets Encryption (2020, audio)
• How to Get 100 New Customers in 100 Days Online (digital, out of print)

Published Articles and Thought Leadership

Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity, NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine (5+ years)

• Locating Hidden Cryptocurrency in Divorce, Bankruptcy and Other Cases (May 2023)
• Expert Witness Forensic Evaluations After Cybercrimes (March 2023)
• FIDO Stops Cybercrooks From Fetching Your Data (January 2023)
• Cybersecurity Ethics Requirements (September 2022)
• Breaking News: Blockchain Security Trademarked (May 2022)
• Cryptocurrency Security (March 2022)
• CMMC 2.0: What You Need to Know If You Do Business with Uncle Sam (January 2022)
• Law Firms at Risk: Ransomware Attacks on the Rise (October 2021)
• Ransomware Attacks: Growing Risk in the Private Sector (August 2021)
• Doing Business With the DOD Requires New Cybersecurity Levels (December 2020)
• CSI Cybersecurity: Your Client Was Hacked, Now What? (March 2020)
• Does the Other Side of Your Wire Transfer Have Cybersecurity? (November 2019)
• Trust Accounts at Two Triangle Law Firms Hacked for $1.57 Million (July 2018)
• Blockchain for Dummies (April 2018)
• One Simple Trick to Boost Your Security That Nobody Does (December 2018)

Author profile: attorneyatlawmagazine.com/author/craig-petronella. Additional thought leadership via LexBlog and ProVisors.

Media Appearances and Press

Television (Selected)

Recurring featured cybersecurity expert for CBS 17 / WNCN Raleigh with 18+ segments, with additional appearances on ABC 11 (Raleigh and Charlotte), NBC, FOX, WRAL, and Time Warner Cable News. Selected CBS 17 segments:

• How Is Data on a Security System Stored? (security camera data deletion and recovery)
• Russia and Cybersecurity: Concerns for Everyday Americans
• Practice Good Cyber Hygiene to Avoid Ransomware Attacks, Expert Says
• NC Lawmakers Adamant About Not Paying Ransom to Hackers (Chatham County ransomware attack)
• Scam Warning: New Scam Sends Text Messages From Your Own Number (Verizon spoofing)
• Gone Phishing: The Latest Scams to Hit Amazon
• Some Clues Can Help Consumers Easily Identify Scammers Using Amazon
• Be Aware of Fake Social Media Accounts (impersonation and profiling)
• Guard Your Heart and Wallet From Romance Scams
• Rental Car Drivers Warned Infotainment Systems Can Access and Store Personal Phone Data
• Facebook May Be Gathering Data Thanks to Popular 10-Year Challenge (biometric data, January 2019)
• IT Security Expert Looks for Solution in Cyberbullying Problem for Wilson 6th Grader (forensic analysis during virtual learning)
• NC Among 40 States in $400 Million Google Privacy Settlement (December 2022)
• How Having Your Personal Photos Stolen Is Like Another Kind of Identity Theft (photo metadata and GPS, November 2021)
• TikTok Is a Security Risk, but Will It Be Removed From App Stores?
• Unsecured Webcams Leave Open Door for Criminals
• Privacy Nutrition Labels Aim to Help You Know What Apps Do With Your Data
• NC Officials Using New Technology to Stop Cyber and Ransomware Attacks (NC Joint Cybersecurity Task Force)
• Have You Been SMISHED Lately? Texting Scams Are on the Rise

Press (Selected)

• Small Business Trendsetters: "Craig Petronella's New Book Becomes Amazon #1 Best Seller"
• Authority Press Wire: "New Book Hits 3 Amazon Best Seller's Lists"
• Mission Matters: "On a Mission to Help Companies Become Unhackable"
• Fintech Newscast: Episode 264, "Cybersecurity Expert Craig Petronella" (August 2025)
• Coruzant Technologies: professional profile
• News and Observer (Raleigh): cybersecurity expert commentary

Podcast

Encrypted Ambition: Where Ambition Meets Encryption (previously "Cybersecurity with Craig Petronella"). 95+ episodes since 2020, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, YouTube, and every major platform. Explores the vision, grit, and game plans behind disruptive founders and technologists, spanning cybersecurity threats, compliance, cryptocurrency security, healthcare IT, AI, and digital resilience.

Notable Episodes and Guest Appearances

• Sarah's 35-Year Journey Shows How Mental Health Care Has Evolved (July 2025)
• From Ransomware to Recovery: How One Rural Hospital Transformed Its Cybersecurity (June 2025)
• The Future of Medicine: How Robotic Surgery Is Revolutionizing Healthcare (May 2025)
• From Zero-Trust to Zero-Day: An Interview with PreVeil's Compliance Wizard, Noel Vestal
• Cybersecurity Insurance, with Matt Holcomb of Biltmore Insurance Services (December 2020)
• Guest: Mission Matters, "On a Mission to Help Companies Become Unhackable"
• Guest: Fintech Newscast, Episode 264, "Cybersecurity Expert Craig Petronella" (August 2025)

Keynote Speaking

Keynote speaker across national and regional venues, and guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law on cybersecurity for legal practices, cybersecurity ethics, and digital forensics for attorneys.

Topics

• AI security and governance: data poisoning, model inversion, prompt injection defense, EU AI Act, NIST AI Risk Management Framework
• Ransomware kill chain analysis: attack anatomy, defense strategies, incident response playbooks
• Digital forensics case studies: investigation methodology, evidence preservation, chain of custody
• Compliance as competitive advantage: CMMC 2.0, HIPAA, SOC 2, NIST frameworks
• CISO playbook and program development for mid-market organizations
• Cryptocurrency and blockchain security; supply chain security and vendor risk

Formats and Availability

30 to 60 minute keynotes, 90-minute breakouts, half-day workshops, panel moderation, virtual presentations, and executive board briefings. National and international engagements; based in Raleigh, NC. Booking lead time: 2 to 3 months for conferences, 3 to 4 weeks for smaller events.

Proprietary Technology and Platforms

• 39-Layer Cybersecurity Stack (expanded from the original 22-layer system): comprehensive security framework covering People, Processes, and Technology
• 4 Pillars Assessment Methodology: proprietary framework for business risk assessment across cybersecurity, compliance, technology infrastructure, and organizational readiness
• ComplianceArmor®: AI-driven compliance automation platform for training, policies, procedures, and regulatory compliance management
• AI production agents (launched 2023): Penny, Eve, ComplyBot, and Joe
• blockchainsecurity.com: registered trademark (Attorney at Law Magazine, May 2022)

Professional Memberships and Recognition

• Amazon #1 best seller in three categories
• Zero-breach record among managed security program clients
• 500+ healthcare risk assessments conducted onsite across the US
• 2,500+ clients served across healthcare, legal, government, defense, and financial services
• 30+ years of experience in IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and digital forensics

References and Verification Sources

Every material claim in this curriculum vitae can be independently verified through the registries, profiles, and published sources below. Counsel preparing for retention or cross-examination is encouraged to review them directly.

Professional Registries

• Cyber AB registry: cyberab.org/Member/RP-1372-Petronella-Craig
• Forensic Resources expert listing: forensicresources.org/experts/craig-petronella
• Better Business Bureau: Petronella Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics profile

Company and Professional Profiles

• petronellatech.com: About Us and Press
• petronellatech.com: Cybersecurity Keynote Speaker
• petronellatech.com: Cybersecurity Expert Witness
• LinkedIn: Craig Petronella and company page

Published Works and Media

• Amazon author page and Audible author page
• Attorney at Law Magazine author archive
• SIM swap crypto expert witness interview
• CBS 17 segment archive, Small Business Trendsetters, Authority Press Wire, and Mission Matters features linked in the media section above