VIRTUAL CISO

Security Leadership Without a Full-Time Hire

Security decisions are business decisions. Someone needs to own the plan, weigh the risks, and explain them to leadership in plain terms.

Most small and mid-sized organizations cannot justify a full-time Chief Information Security Officer. A virtual CISO gives you that same leadership on a part-time basis, backed by the team that already protects your environment around the clock.

Signs You Need a vCISO

  • Your board or owners are asking about cyber risk
  • Clients or insurers send security questionnaires you struggle to answer
  • You follow HIPAA, PCI DSS, or the FTC Safeguards Rule
  • You are unsure where to spend your security budget
  • No one inside owns security strategy

A Security Leader Without the Executive Salary

Most small and mid-sized organizations need security leadership, but not a full-time executive.

A virtual Chief Information Security Officer gives you that leadership on a part-time basis. Your vCISO sets direction, prioritizes spending, and translates security into terms your leadership and board can act on.

Strategic advisoryA security roadmap tied to your goals and budget

Architecture reviewHow your systems fit together, and where the gaps are

Board-level reportingClear updates on risk and progress for leadership

Governance toolsRisk, policy, and compliance tracked in one place

Board Security ReportEXAMPLE
Overall risk score Trending down
Q1Q2Q3Q4
Q1Risk assessment and policy libraryDone
Q2Multi-factor login for every accountDone
Q3Vendor risk reviewsIn progress
Q4Incident response tabletop exercisePlanned
What Your vCISO Handles

Leadership That Turns Risk Into a Plan

Your vCISO owns the strategy side of security, so decisions are made deliberately instead of in a crisis.

Security Strategy and Roadmap

A prioritized plan tied to your goals, your risks, and your budget, updated as your organization changes.

Architecture Review

A review of how your systems, accounts, and data fit together, and where the weak points are.

Board-Level Reporting

Clear updates on risk and progress that leadership, owners, and boards can act on.

Governance and Risk Tracking

Policies, risks, and compliance tasks tracked in one place, with clear owners and due dates.

Spending Priorities

Guidance on where security dollars do the most good, so your budget goes to the biggest risks first.

Audit and Regulator Support

On the Compliance plan, support when auditors, regulators, or insurers ask how your program works.

Availability

Virtual CISO by Plan

Ongoing vCISO leadership is part of our higher plans, with advisory hours available to every client.

FoundationHourly advisory

Advisory available by the hour when you need guidance.

EssentialHourly advisory

Advisory available by the hour when you need guidance.

AdvancedOptional add-on

Add ongoing vCISO services and governance tools to your plan.

ComplianceIncluded

Dedicated vCISO advisory and board-level reporting are built in.

See everything each plan includes on Plans and Pricing.

How It Works

From Assessment to Ongoing Leadership

A structured engagement that starts with where you stand and keeps you moving forward.

1

Assess

We review your current security, risks, and obligations to see where you stand.

2

Plan

Your vCISO builds a prioritized roadmap tied to your goals and budget.

3

Guide

We lead the work on the roadmap and coordinate with your team and ours.

4

Report

Leadership gets clear updates on risk and progress, and the plan adjusts as you grow.

FAQ

Virtual CISO Questions

Your vCISO provides security leadership on a part-time basis: building your security roadmap, reviewing how your systems are designed, prioritizing spending, and reporting on risk and progress to your leadership or board.

Ongoing vCISO services are included on the Compliance plan and available as an add-on on Advanced. Advisory is also available by the hour on any plan. Compare all plans.

A full-time CISO is a senior executive salary. A virtual CISO gives you the same kind of leadership on a part-time basis, sized to what your organization actually needs.

Yes. Your vCISO works alongside your leadership, your IT team, and our engineers, so strategy and day-to-day protection stay connected.

Yes. Your vCISO helps you answer client and insurer security questionnaires and, on the Compliance plan, supports you when auditors or regulators ask how your program works. Coverage and audit outcomes are always decided by the insurer or auditor.

A compliance program documents and maintains the safeguards a framework requires. A virtual CISO provides the ongoing leadership and strategy behind your whole security program. The Compliance plan includes both.

Yes. Our free Cyber Insurance Readiness Checklist covers the controls insurers commonly ask about, and your vCISO can help you work through it.

Not Sure Which Plan Fits?

Start With a Free Security Assessment