CEO, Sentinel Defense Systems — MacDill AFB Contractor
Owner, Rivera Legal Group — Tampa, FL
WinForge is Tampa Bay’s premier Fractional CISO firm — delivering enterprise-grade cybersecurity leadership at a fraction of the cost. Founded and led by Carlos A. Bonilla — business strategist, cybersecurity operator, and executive advisor — WinForge protects Florida businesses from breach, compliance failure, and reputational damage.
From CMMC compliance for defense contractors to HIPAA readiness for healthcare providers, WinForge brings the executive presence, operational intelligence, and technical credibility your organization needs — without the full-time hire.
🏅 WinForge is a verified Aligo-certified cybersecurity firm. View Aligo certifications & credentials →
Years in Cybersecurity
Certifications Held
Carlos A. Bonilla is a business strategist, cybersecurity operator, and executive advisor with deep roots in intelligence operations, red team methodology, and enterprise sales leadership.
He built WinForge after witnessing firsthand how SMBs and mid-market companies are left exposed — outmatched by threats they can’t see and compliance mandates they can’t navigate alone. WinForge is his answer: fractional CISO leadership built around your risk, your budget, and your mission.
Carlos A. Bonilla is a business strategist, cybersecurity operator, and executive advisor with deep roots in intelligence operations, red team methodology, and enterprise sales leadership. He built WinForge after seeing firsthand how SMBs and mid-market companies are left exposed — outmatched by threats they can’t see and compliance mandates they can’t navigate alone.
WinForge is his answer: fractional CISO leadership that gives Florida businesses the same caliber of protection Fortune 500 companies rely on — built around your risk, your budget, and your mission.
Gain executive-level cybersecurity leadership without the full-time cost. Our virtual CISOs align your security program to business goals, regulatory requirements, and risk tolerance — so you lead with confidence.
Navigate CMMC 2.0, HIPAA, SOC 2, and NIST with a clear, structured roadmap. We identify your gaps, build your compliance program, and prepare you for audits — from policy development to technical controls.
Minimize damage when threats strike. Our IR team delivers rapid containment, forensic investigation, and full recovery planning — backed by tested playbooks and experienced responders on call.
Know your exposure before adversaries do. Our risk assessment maps vulnerabilities, evaluates existing controls, and delivers a prioritized remediation plan built around your specific threat landscape.
WinForge delivers executive-level cybersecurity leadership without the full-time cost. Founded and led by Carlos A. Bonilla — business strategist, cybersecurity operator, and executive advisor — we protect Tampa and Orlando businesses from breach, compliance failure, and reputational damage.
From CMMC compliance for defense contractors to HIPAA readiness for healthcare providers, WinForge brings the expertise, credentials, and executive presence your organization needs — without the full-time hire.
🏅 WinForge is a verified Aligo-certified cybersecurity firm. View Aligo certifications & credentials →
COO, Tampa Bay Medical Group
To engineer solutions that protect and elevate overlooked communities—through the power of technology, AI, and heart-led leadership.
“This isn’t about code or technology. It’s about keeping a promise—to my son, and to every overlooked voice in our communities.”
— Carlos A Bonilla, Founder of WinForge
To engineer solutions that protect and elevate overlooked communities—through the power of technology, AI, and heart-led leadership.
Real outcomes from Florida businesses that faced real threats. From CMMC compliance for defense contractors to ransomware response for law firms — these are the results WinForge delivers when it matters most.
We were staring down CMMC 2.0 Level 2 with a 90-day deadline and zero internal security infrastructure. Carlos and the WinForge team didn't just consult — they embedded with us. They built our System Security Plan, closed 14 control gaps, and got us to assessment-ready. As a defense contractor supporting MacDill AFB programs, having a seasoned cybersecurity operator in our corner made all the difference. We passed. Our contract held. That's the only result that matters.
After our third-party billing vendor was breached, we had 72 hours to respond before OCR notification requirements kicked in. WinForge deployed same day. The team contained the exposure, documented everything for HIPAA breach notification, and stayed with us through the entire incident response process. They communicated with our board in plain language — no jargon, just clear facts and decisive action. We've been on retainer ever since. I won't run a healthcare operation without them.
Ransomware hit us on a Tuesday morning. By noon, our entire case management system was encrypted. We called WinForge in a panic — Carlos picked up personally. The team isolated the infected nodes within hours, recovered clean backups, and had us back operational in 48 hours with zero ransom paid. What impressed me most wasn't just the speed — it was how they communicated with our partners throughout. No jargon, just clear status and next steps. WinForge is now our permanent Fractional CISO on retainer. Best decision we've made post-incident.
Tell us about your security situation and we’ll reach out within 1 business day to schedule your complimentary Security Assessment.