Aprio, LLP, a nationally-recognized top 100 CPA-led business advisory firm announced that Brett Williams has joined Aprio as a partner in the Information Assurance Services group with a focus on serving the information risk and compliance needs of small to mid-market companies nationally.

In 2007, Aprio launched its Information Assurance Services group led by Dan Schroeder. Aprio provides independent and objective attestation reporting that includes System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certifications, ISO 27001 certifications, Experian's Independent 3rd Party Assessment (EI3PA), Limited Access Death Master File (LADMF) certifications, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance, agreed upon procedures and internal audit co-sourcing. Aprio is among an elite group of only three CPA firms in the country that are an ISO 27001 certifying body.

Given the increased cybersecurity threats facing businesses today, Williams will spearhead the national expansion of Aprio’s Information Assurance Services practice to help small to mid-market companies both develop and demonstrate a strong security posture.

Williams joins Aprio from Grant Thornton where he served as the Southeast Special Attestation Reporting Practice Leader. Williams has over 20 years of experience focused on business process and information technology controls, and he has served clients in a variety of industries including technology, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, retail, real estate, non-profits, insurance and telecommunications.

Dan Schroeder will continue to serve as Partner-in-Charge of Aprio’s Information Assurance Services practice with a focus on serving the information security needs of Fortune 1000 FinTech, technology service providers and cloud-based businesses.

Williams will focus on providing information risk and compliance services to mid-market companies who are experiencing an ever-increasing escalation of security compliance requests by providing attestation and certification reporting.

“We are excited to have Brett join the Aprio Information Assurance Services team,” said Schroeder. “We can now leverage Brett’s expertise to grow our practice nationally and provide mid-market companies and their trading partners with the highest level of confidence that the appropriate measures are in place to protect their businesses.”

“As businesses of all sizes continue to see an increased threat from cybersecurity related activities, the work we are doing to protect these businesses is more important than ever,” said Williams. “For over 66 years, Aprio has served mid-market companies across the United States and around the globe, and I am excited to be able to provide these clients information risk management services that give business owners peace of mind.”