Cybersecurity
Defend Your Business with Proactive Penetration Testing!
Is your business prepared against cyber threats? Stay ahead of potential breaches with our penetration testing services, designed to identify gaps in your defenses from every angle.
Why Choose Us?
- Strategic Defense: We simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities and escalation before malicious actors do.
- Actionable Insights: Receive detailed reports and actionable recommendations from a defender’s perspective to strengthen your cybersecurity posture.
- Comprehensive Testing: Thorough assessments of your internal infrastructure.
Protect your business today with proactive defense strategies. Partner with us for proactive penetration testing that keeps your business safe and resilient against evolving cyber threats.
Defending M365 & Azure – May 13th & 14th
This class is designed to be an introduction to M365 and Azure security strategies. Trainer: Kevin Klingbile
In today’s digital landscape, organizations commonly rely on Azure and Microsoft 365 for critical operations. However, with the increased adoption of these platforms comes a heightened need for robust defense strategies to protect against evolving threats and safeguard sensitive data.
Cybersecurity Services
GENERAL SECURITY ASSESSMENT
We discuss your current cyber security posture as it relates to the CIS controls, where you would like it to go, and how we would get there.
- Interview key personnel
- Identify any gaps in processes
- Discuss current standards and practices
- Report on key configurations & policies
PENETRATION TESTING
We will not only scan for vulnerabilities but attempt to exploit them in various (safe!) ways and generate reports on exactly what it was able to do.
- Arsenal of attacks & techniques
- User credential validation
- Data hygiene and sanitation verification
- Testing for lateral path availability
RANSOMWARE EMULATION
We will attempt to execute defanged versions of ransomware to the chosen systems.
- Reduced threat and ransomware impact
- Hardened network and security readiness
- Accelerated validation-remediation cycle
- Assured continuous efficacy of your security program
CLOUD SIEM
Protect your existing infrastructure by collecting logs from all systems into our centralized platform.
- Log aggregation across different sources
- Real-time alerting
- Easy to follow remediation playbooks
- Automation abilities
ACTIVE DIRECTORY PASSWORD ASSESSMENT
We will copy the user hashes contained within your AD structure and attempt to crack them.
- Verify password policies
- Identify weak passwords
- Identify accounts with the same password
- Locate all privileged users
TACTICAL TABLETOPS
We work with you to create and facilitate focused and meaningful tabletops that
identify potential gaps in your security posture.
- Custom scenarios
- Ensuring relevant personnel are involved
- Dialed in to identify gaps in your infrastructure
POLICY DISCUSSIONS
We discuss your current security-based policies and decide where you want to go
with them and how to get there.
- Discuss common security policies
- Identify gaps with current policies
- Suggest improvements as necessary
Meet Our Team

Shira Dankner
Shira Dankner has been with NineStar Connect, a combined utility, for over 10 years, starting as a Network Engineer and currently working as Director of Security Services. Prior to working in the cooperative space, she was a digital forensic analyst for a global accounting firm. Shira enjoys sharing her knowledge and public speaking and has presented on various cybersecurity topics at industry conferences. She is also a member of a number of industry cybersecurity and working groups.
In her free time, Shira enjoys playing with her dogs and SCUBA diving.
She earned her Master’s in Digital Forensics from Purdue University and her Cyber Defense Operations and Industrial Control Systems Security graduate certificates from SANS.
Certifications: GCIA, GMON, GCWN, GDSA, GICSP, GCIP, GRID, GCDA, Cisco CyberOps Associate

Travis Short
Travis Short has been with NineStar Connect for 1.5 years, as a Tier 3 SOC Analyst. Travis has a combined 3 years of experience in IT and Cybersecurity. He has served in the Indiana Army National Guard for over 10 years. Travis has served as an Infantrymen, Information Technology Specialist, and Cyber Operations Sergent. In his free time, Travis enjoys playing strategy video games and snowboarding.
Travis earned his B.S. in Cybersecurity from Purdue Global in 2024.
Certifications: GCIA, GCIH, Net+, Sec+, CySA+, Linux+, Pentest+, eJPT, and BTL1