Cloud, security, and AI in actual production

An independent practice for teams that have a working prototype, a deadline, and real audit pressure on the way.

On the practice

I work with teams that need to ship something to production with real security, compliance, or audit constraints in the way. Usually that means an AI system going live, a SaaS preparing for SOC 2, or a Canadian defence supplier facing CPCSC. The hard part isn't getting the thing to work. It's everything between the demo and the SLA.

What the work usually looks like

Four shapes

01^-

AI in production

Infrastructure, security, scaling, and the evidence packets the auditor, procurement team, and CISO are about to ask for.

AIMLOpsCloud

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02^-

CPCSC and CMMC readiness

For Canadian defence suppliers and ITAR-adjacent firms. Architecture, control mapping, evidence packets, and SSP drafting.

NIST 800-171Defence

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03^-

DevSecOps under pressure

Pipelines, guardrails, evidence, rollback. The delivery work that lets release cadence survive an audit.

CI/CDCloud

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04^-

Architecture and delivery judgment, part-time

For technical founders who need someone holding the picture across security, infrastructure, and shipping.

FractionalSenior

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Direct answers

What does Nelson Ford help with?

Nelson Ford helps teams move cloud, security, compliance, and AI systems from working prototype to production. The work is usually hands-on architecture, delivery guardrails, evidence preparation, and technical judgment for teams facing audit, procurement, or launch pressure.

Who is this practice for?

This practice is for SaaS teams, technical founders, AI product teams, and Canadian defence suppliers that need senior cloud and security help for a defined situation. It fits best when the team already has motion, but the production path needs to be made safer and easier to explain.

CISSP

Information security
(ISC)²

AWS SAP

Solutions Architect
Professional

CMMC CCP

Certified Professional
The CyberAB

Status

Taking two to three projects at a time. Currently open.

Q2 2026 · EST · GMT-5

If one of these is close to what you're trying to ship, send a note. A few sentences is enough.

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Or write directly · hello@nelsonford.net