About Lori Crooks
Lori Crooks helps software companies tackle cybersecurity compliance with clarity, confidence, and zero jargon. She’s the founder of Cadra, a woman-owned consultancy that makes navigating complex frameworks like FedRAMP, NIST, and HIPAA not just doable—but surprisingly calm.
With over 15 years of experience translating regulatory chaos into clear, manageable steps, Lori brings a human-first approach to an industry known for overwhelm. She’s a seasoned compliance expert, corporate escapee, and firm believer that getting things right doesn’t have to mean losing your mind in the process.
Known for her no-drama demeanor and practical wisdom, Lori built Cadra for startups and small teams who want to meet security standards without drowning in documents. Clients say she’s refreshingly real, calm under pressure, and exactly the kind of guide you want when the audit clock is ticking.
Latest Media Hits
Innovation in Compliance: Navigating Cybersecurity Compliance: From Physical Audits to AI Frameworks with Lori Crooks.
- 09/09/2025
- Innovation is present in many areas, and compliance professionals must not only be prepared for it but also actively embrace it. Join Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance, as he visits with top innovative minds, thinkers, and creators in the award-winning Innovation in Compliance podcast. In this episode, host Tom Fox visits with Lori Crooks, a seasoned professional in the field of cybersecurity and audit assessments, to discuss the evolution of auditing practices from physical infrastructure to cloud and AI.
- Lori shares insights from her extensive career, highlighting key federal compliance frameworks like NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, and NIST 800-171. Lori stresses the importance of proactive compliance strategies and scalable GRC programs. As AI integration accelerates, she also addresses the challenges of adapting compliance frameworks to keep pace with technological advancements and the need to foster collaboration within organizations to effectively meet regulatory requirements.
Cyber Compliance for Visibility: Protect Your Brand.
- 09/04/2025
How to Pivot Into Tech Without Experience & Find Your Voice in a Male-Dominated Industry with Lori Crooks
- 07/22/2025
- What if one bold step could launch a whole new career? When Lori Crooks left accounting for a cybersecurity role she wasn’t “qualified” for, it set her on the path to becoming a tech CEO and business owner. On From a Woman to a Leader, Lori shares how she built confidence in male-dominated rooms, created visibility as an introvert, and turned compliance expertise into a thriving consulting business. You’ll hear practical lessons on breaking into tech, finding your voice, and growing through mentorship and networking. A must-listen if you’re eyeing a career pivot—or leadership that feels a little out of reach.
UnHacked - Cybersecurity Made Simple for Small Businesses
Episode 47. Architects of Defense with Lori Crooks
- 04/03/2025
Ep 16: Lori Crooks: Cybersecurity, Compliance, and the Realities of Entrepreneurship
- 04/30/2025
On Dear Tech, Lori Crooks, Founder and CEO of Cadra, shares her journey from finance to IT auditing to building a cybersecurity consultancy that makes compliance approachable. With 20+ years of experience, she unpacks what most companies get wrong about security and why the human side of compliance matters. Highlights include:
- Leaving corporate life to launch Cadra
- Why compliance is misunderstood—and often ignored
- The real-world impact of FedRAMP, NIST, and CMMC
- How AI is reshaping cybersecurity compliance
- Leadership lessons, mentorship, and a hard drive with bullet holes.
- A candid look at building a values-driven business in a field too often buried in jargon.
Thriving In an IT Environment as a Woman with Lori Crooks
- 03/27/2024
“We can only control ourselves – we cannot control how someone responds to us.
Lori Crooks, CEO of CADRA, began her working life crunching numbers and auditing in accounting, before life as an IT auditor and working with companies to ensure that they comply with security standards and apply best practices. Many businesses are simply overwhelmed and unsure where to turn; Lori ensures that companies have the guidance they need to comply and for their IT environments to be secure. Lori encourages women to achieve appropriate education, but also to create a connection with men. The IT industry is a male-dominated one, however, connections are important and can be forged through conversation, having a sense of humor, and perhaps sometimes via sarcasm. Lori teaches that women need to believe in themselves when they sit at a table where they are the only female and remind themselves that they deserve to be there as much as any male. Never forget to have an open mind, and to seek out different opinions.
How to Keep Your Business Safe: Cybersecurity Tips for Entrepreneurs with Lori Crooks
- 10/29/2024
“Welcome to another amazing episode of Boss Your Business Podcast! Today, we’re diving deep into the fascinating and intricate world of cybersecurity with our special guest, Lori Crooks.
In this episode, Lori shares her insights on the common pitfalls businesses face when it comes to data security, offers valuable tips on user training and access control, and discusses the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity regulations. She also opens up about her personal passions, including her love for puzzles and finding balance amidst the chaos of her demanding career.
Get ready to arm yourself with the knowledge to safeguard your business and sleep better at night knowing your data is secure.”