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Know your risks before they become your problems

We conduct comprehensive risk and gap assessment that gives businesses a clear, evidence-based picture of their security vulnerabilities, compliance gaps, and operational risks. From cybersecurity and compliance gap analyses to AI risk assessments and business risk frameworks, we help organisations understand, prioritise, and address the risks that matter most.

Assess your risk
ISO

One of Ireland's first companies to achieve ISO 42001:2023 certification, the globally recognised AI governance standard.

ISO

ISO 27001:2022 certified company, the internationally recognised information security management standard.

You cannot manage risks you cannot see

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A risk assessment is the systematic process of identifying, analysing, and evaluating the risks that could prevent your organisation from achieving its objectives, compromise its security, or expose it to regulatory penalties. A gap analysis compares your current security posture and compliance status against a defined target state, identifying the specific gaps that need to be addressed.

Together, our risk assessment services and gap analysis services give your organisation the strategic clarity needed to make informed decisions about security, compliance, and operational resilience. At Square Root Solutions, we go beyond checklist-based evaluations, delivering business-contextualised risk intelligence that enables confident, evidence-based investment decisions. As ISO 27001 certified information security professionals and one of Ireland's first ISO 42001 certified AI companies, we bring unique expertise in both information security and AI governance risk to every engagement.

What
we assess

From cybersecurity risk assessments to AI risk assessments and business risk management frameworks, our compliance gap analysis services assess the risks that matter most to your business.

Cybersecurity risk assessment

Comprehensive assessment of your cybersecurity risks across people, processes, and technology, identifying the specific threats, vulnerabilities, and control gaps that expose your organisation to the greatest risk of security incident or breach.

Compliance gap analysis

Systematic comparison of your current compliance posture against applicable regulatory frameworks including GDPR, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, EU AI Act, NIS2, and DORA, identifying the specific gaps that need to be addressed to achieve and maintain compliance.

AI risk assessment

Specialist assessment of the risks associated with your AI systems and automated decision-making processes, evaluating safety, bias, transparency, security, and governance risks against ISO 42001 and EU AI Act requirements.

Third-party & supply chain risk assessment

Comprehensive assessment of the security and compliance risks in your vendor and supply chain ecosystem, identifying third-party risks that could expose your organisation to breach, regulatory liability, or operational disruption.

Business continuity & resilience risk assessment

Assessment of the risks to your business continuity and operational resilience, identifying single points of failure, recovery capability gaps, and resilience weaknesses that could amplify the impact of a security incident or operational disruption.

Business risk management framework design

Designing and implementing a business risk management framework that provides your organisation with a structured, consistent approach to identifying, assessing, managing, and reporting on risks across the entire business.

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The cost of
unmanaged risk

Organisations that invest in proactive security risk assessment consistently outperform those that manage risk reactively. Here is what unmanaged risk costs.

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financial security

Financial impact of security incidents

The average cost of a data breach in Europe continues to rise, with direct costs including regulatory fines, legal fees, breach notification, and remediation often running into millions of euros, before the indirect costs of reputational damage and customer loss are considered.

Regulatory enforcement

Regulatory enforcement and penalties

GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and the EU AI Act all impose significant financial penalties for non-compliance. Organisations without a clear picture of their compliance gaps are exposed to enforcement actions and fines that could have been avoided with proactive risk assessment and remediation.

Operational disruption

Operational disruption

Unidentified operational risks including single points of failure, inadequate backup systems, and untested recovery procedures can turn a minor incident into a major operational crisis. Risk assessment identifies these vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

Competitive disadvantage

Competitive disadvantage Business

clients and procurement teams are increasingly scrutinising the security and compliance posture of their vendors and partners. Organisations without a demonstrable risk management programme are increasingly losing contracts to better-prepared competitors.

Risk assessment across every sector

We conduct regulatory gap assessment and risk analyses for businesses across a wide range of industries.

EdTech
EdTech
FinTech
FinTech
HealthTech
HealthTech
E-commerce
E-commerce
B2B & Supply Chain
B2B & Supply Chain
Government Public Sector
Government and
Public Sector
GreenTech Sustainability
GreenTech and
Sustainability
SportsTech
SportsTech
Real Estate
Real Estate
Hardware & IoT
Hardware & IoT
Wellness
Wellness
Social Community
Social Impact and
Community

Why established Irish businesses choose Square Root Solutions for risk assessment and gap analysis

ISO certifications, deep technical expertise, and a business-contextualised approach to risk that goes beyond compliance checklists.

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ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 certified expertise

As ISO 27001 certified information security professionals and one of Ireland's first ISO 42001 certified AI companies, we bring independently verified expertise in both information security and AI governance risk to every assessment. Assessment scope is anchored to critical business services.

Technical and business risk combined

We assess risk from both a technical and a business perspective, contextualising every finding by its potential business impact. Risk scenarios are written as credible failure events, and hidden dependencies are exposed through system relationship mapping.

AI risk specialisation

Our unique ISO 42001 certification gives us specialist expertise in AI-specific risks including algorithmic bias, model drift, adversarial attacks, and governance failures that traditional frameworks miss, with existing controls tested for operating effectiveness.

Practical, prioritised recommendations

Every assessment delivers a prioritised remediation roadmap, balancing risk reduction against implementation cost. Findings are separated into control gaps and control failures, with remediation decisions based on residual exposure.

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Our risk assessment & gap analysis process

A structured, evidence-based approach to control gap analysis, from scoping to remediation roadmap.

1. Scope definition and risk context

We begin by defining the scope of the risk assessment, understanding your business objectives, regulatory environment, threat landscape, and risk appetite, ensuring the assessment focuses on the risks most relevant to your specific organisation and operating context.

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2. Asset and threat identification

We identify and catalogue the assets, systems, processes, and data that fall within scope, map the threat landscape relevant to your organisation and industry, and identify the specific vulnerabilities and control weaknesses that create risk exposure.

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3. Risk analysis and evaluation

We analyse each identified risk by assessing the likelihood of the threat being realised and the potential impact if it is, producing a risk register that quantifies your risk exposure and prioritises risks by their potential business impact.

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4. Gap analysis and control assessment

We compare your current security controls, compliance posture, and operational capabilities against the target state defined by applicable standards, regulations, and best practice frameworks, identifying the specific gaps that need to be addressed.

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5. Risk report and remediation roadmap

We deliver a comprehensive risk assessment report covering all identified risks, their likelihood and impact ratings, associated control gaps, and a prioritised remediation roadmap that gives your organisation a clear, actionable plan for reducing its risk exposure.

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Tools and frameworks we use

The most effective tools and frameworks for conducting comprehensive, evidence-based risk assessments.

PECB
nist
fair
iso
iso-42001
gdpr
nis2
Nessus Vulnerability Scanner
qualys
att&ck
servicenow
onetrust
microsoft sentinel
splunk
nist ai rmf

Built at scale, trusted globally

Over a decade of delivering AI and software products for established Irish businesses. Every number represents a real client, a real product, and a real outcome.

10+

Years of
Experience

125M+

Platform
Users Served

350+

Projects
Delivered

150+

Engineers on
Our Team

45+

AI Solutions
Deployed

Know Your Risks Before
They Become Your Problems

See how structured risk assessments and gap analyses give organisations a clear, evidence-based view of security, compliance and operational risks, with practical priorities for reducing exposure.

SaaS / Technology

Cybersecurity Risk Assessment for a Growing SaaS Platform

The Problem:

A growing SaaS company had expanded its cloud infrastructure, applications and third-party integrations rapidly, but its security controls had evolved without a consistent risk framework. Leadership lacked a clear view of critical assets, control weaknesses, third-party dependencies and the risks that could have the greatest business impact.

Our Solution:

We conducted a business-contextualised cybersecurity risk assessment covering people, processes and technology. We mapped critical assets and dependencies, identified relevant threats, evaluated existing controls, assessed likelihood and business impact, and created a prioritised risk register and remediation roadmap.

The Result:

  • Critical security and control gaps identified and prioritised
  • Key assets and third-party dependencies mapped
  • Leadership gained a clear view of the organisation's highest-risk areas
  • A prioritised remediation roadmap aligned security investment with business risk
SaaS / Technology image
HealthTech

GDPR & ISO 27001 Compliance Gap Analysis

The Problem:

A healthcare technology company was preparing for ISO 27001 certification while continuing to handle sensitive patient and operational data. Existing policies, processes and technical controls had developed over time, but the organisation lacked a clear understanding of where its current security and compliance posture fell short of the required standards.

Our Solution:

We assessed the organisation's current controls against ISO 27001 and GDPR requirements, reviewing governance, access control, data protection, incident management, supplier controls, business continuity and technical safeguards. We documented each gap and prioritised remediation based on risk and implementation effort.

The Result:

  • Current compliance posture mapped against ISO 27001 and GDPR requirements
  • High-priority control gaps identified and assigned for remediation
  • Improved visibility across security and data-protection responsibilities
  • Clear roadmap created towards certification and stronger compliance
HealthTech image
Financial Services

AI Risk Assessment for an Enterprise AI System

The Problem:

A financial services organisation was preparing to deploy an AI system to support customer and internal decision-making. While the model performed well technically, the organisation had not formally assessed risks around bias, explainability, data privacy, security, model drift or governance.

Our Solution:

We conducted an AI risk assessment covering the AI system's data, model behaviour, decision-making processes and governance controls. We assessed risks against ISO 42001 and EU AI Act requirements, evaluated existing controls and produced a prioritised remediation plan covering transparency, security, human oversight, monitoring and governance.

The Result:

  • AI-specific risks identified before production deployment
  • Governance and control gaps mapped against relevant requirements
  • High-risk areas prioritised for remediation
  • Clear AI governance roadmap established for responsible deployment
Financial Services image
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Marah Curtin

“Frekkel's AI turned our vision into something real. Our users love the personalisation, the transparency, and the progress they can see and feel.”

Marah Curtin (Founder & CEO, Frekkel)

Wendy Oke

“They're not just an outsource development company, they became an extension of our team.”

Wendy Oke (CEO, TeachKloud)

Dr Jake Robinson

“Square Root Solutions understood exactly what we needed for our AI-powered learning platform. The team delivered something our students and educators genuinely rely on.”

Dr Jake Robinson
(Founder & CEO, OnWard Education)

Cathal D’Arcy

“Square Root Solutions put me at ease from day one, clear communication, a brilliant project manager, and a team that treated our success as their own.”

Cathal D’Arcy (Founder & CEO, Bergo)

Deirdre Lyons

“Square Root Solutions brought both technical depth and genuine care to our platform. What they built gives our team real confidence in how it performs.”

Deirdre Lyons (Founder & CEO, Acuru)

Aaron Keane

“Square Root Solutions built a platform our students actually use every day. Reliable, easy to use, and exactly what we needed.”

Aaron Keane (Founder, Leaving Cert Plus)

Our clients speak

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Square Root took the time to understand our vision, built a clear technical roadmap, and communicated brilliantly throughout, our dedicated project manager was outstanding. The team treated Bergo's success as their own, and I couldn't recommend them more highly.

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Cathal D'Arcy

Founder, BERGO - Specialist BER Assessment Software
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Square Root Solutions delivered a stable, high-performing MVP with strong early user engagement. Following an agile approach throughout, the team was responsive, adaptable, and proactive in resolving issues and incorporating feedback. They excelled at translating complex ideas into intuitive user experiences that users loved from day one.

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Anthony Kelly

Founder, Hitch Networking
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Square Root Solutions delivered exactly what we needed with professionalism, clear communication, and exceptional responsiveness. Their ability to adapt quickly while maintaining high-quality delivery made the entire process seamless. We look forward to working with them again and recommend them without hesitation.

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Louise Jones

CEO, Barrister365
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Working with Square Root Solutions was a seamless experience. They successfully delivered our app across two platforms, earning positive feedback for its intuitive design while maintaining a transparent and well-organized development process. Their willingness to adapt to evolving requirements, coupled with deep technical expertise & strong product thinking, made them a trusted technology partner.

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Niamh De Búrca

Founder, SproutPlans
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Square Root Solutions delivered our custom platform with professionalism, clear communication, and a genuine commitment to our success. They consistently met milestones, responded quickly to feedback, and worked as an extension of our team. Their dedication to building the best possible product helped make our platform launch a success.

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Conall Horgan

Founder, Talent Prospecting
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Working with Square Root Solutions was a great experience. They delivered a beautifully designed mobile app, communicated openly about timelines, and consistently met key milestones. Their responsiveness, transparency, and commitment to quality made the entire development process smooth and collaborative.

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Clare Gleeson

Co-Founder, Fostering Connect
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Square Root Solutions went above and beyond to help us achieve our goals. They successfully maintained our web platform, delivered a high-quality mobile app on time and within budget, and remained highly responsive throughout the project. The team consistently kept their promises, met every milestone, and demonstrated a genuine commitment to our success, making them a trusted technology partner.

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Deirdre Lyons

Co-Founder, Acuru (formerly Examfly)
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Square Root Solutions delivered a high-quality app that exceeded our expectations and created new revenue opportunities for our business. Throughout the project, the team communicated clearly, delivered on time, and remained incredibly flexible as our vision evolved. Their willingness to adapt, refine, and ensure every detail was right made them an outstanding partner to work with.

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Karl O Meara

Managing Director, Centric Pensions Limited
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Square Root Solutions brought creativity, enthusiasm, and genuine passion to every stage of our project. They delivered intuitive apps that have been warmly received by educators for their ease of use and rich functionality, while also generating growing interest among parents. Their clear communication and collaborative approach kept everyone aligned, making the entire development process smooth and enjoyable.

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Avril McMonagle

Founder & Lead Consultant, Meantóir
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Square Root Solutions transformed our website into a modern, accessible platform that's easy for non-technical users to manage and seamlessly integrates with third-party systems. Their excellent communication, responsiveness, and commitment to meeting deadlines made the entire process effortless. The improvements have contributed to increased student enrolment and delivered lasting value to our organisation.

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Tadhg Farrelly

IT Coordinator, Greenhills Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

A risk assessment is the systematic process of identifying, analysing, and evaluating the risks that could prevent your organisation from achieving its objectives, compromise its security, or expose it to regulatory penalties. It produces a risk register that quantifies your risk exposure and prioritises risks by their potential business impact, enabling informed decisions about risk management investment.

A gap analysis compares your current security posture, compliance status, or operational capabilities against a defined target state such as an ISO standard, regulatory requirement, or industry best practice framework, identifying the specific gaps that need to be addressed to achieve your goals. It is typically conducted as part of a broader risk assessment to inform remediation planning.

A penetration test actively exploits vulnerabilities in your systems to demonstrate the real-world impact of a successful attack. A risk assessment is a broader, more strategic exercise that evaluates risks across people, processes, and technology, assessing not just technical vulnerabilities but also governance, compliance, operational, and business risks. Both are complementary and we recommend combining them for the most comprehensive risk picture.

We recommend conducting a comprehensive risk assessment at least annually, and additionally after significant changes to your systems, organisation, regulatory environment, or threat landscape. ISO 27001 and other standards require regular risk assessments as part of their ongoing compliance requirements.

AI risk assessment is the evaluation of the specific risks associated with AI systems including algorithmic bias, model drift, adversarial attacks, data privacy risks, and AI governance failures. As AI systems are deployed in increasingly high-stakes contexts, the risks they introduce are significant and growing. The EU AI Act and ISO 42001 both require formal AI risk assessment for high-risk AI systems, making AI risk assessment a regulatory necessity as well as a business imperative.

Every risk assessment engagement delivers a comprehensive risk assessment report covering all identified risks with likelihood and impact ratings, a compliance gap analysis where applicable, an asset and threat inventory, a risk register, and a prioritised remediation roadmap. We also provide an executive summary suitable for board-level presentation and a detailed technical remediation guide for your security and engineering teams.