vCISO
Our vCISO services provide you with expert CISO-level leadership, strategic direction, and proactive cybersecurity management without the high cost of a full-time CISO.
WHAT IS A VIRTUAL CISO
Experienced Experts to Guide Your Security Program
A virtual CISO (also known as a fractional CISO) is a service that gives organizations access to high-level security expertise and guidance. Built off of decades worth of hands-on experience, our team specializes in creating information security programs that align with business goals and deliver quantifiable improvement in your security posture.
RISK ASSESSMENTS
By conducting a series of questionnaires and scans on your environment, we provide a comprehensive assessment of your current risk level and cybersecurity posture in comparison to industry standards. This includes a detailed gap analysis identifying vulnerabilities and potential exploits.
COMPLIANCE READINESS
We determine the regulatory standards your organization must comply with and conduct a comprehensive compliance readiness assessment. We identify gaps, develop a plan to address them, and collaborate with you to ensure its successful implementation.
SECURITY POLICIES
We develop a customized set of clear, actionable policies tailored to your unique needs, IT environment, tools, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. We ensure these policies are not only aligned with best practices but also practical and easy to implement, empowering teams to enhance security effectively.
INCIDENT RESPONSE PLANNING
We develop strategic remediation plans with prioritized tasks, ensuring each task is clearly explained and easy to follow for smooth implementation. Additionally, every task is accompanied by an impact assessment and criticality rating to help you focus on the most urgent issues first, optimizing your remediation efforts.
How our vCISO service works
step 1
FULL RISK ASSESSMENT
With our guidance, this assessment will identify administrative, physical, internal, and external technical risks, enabling targeted improvements to be implemented.
step 2
ROADMAP DEVELOPMENT
A customized roadmap will be developed from the findings of your comprehensive risk assessment, with an initial focus on the highest-impact security objectives to enhance both your security posture and overall business operations.
step 3
DAILY vCISO OPERATIONS
Your vCISO will serve as your dedicated security expert, ensuring your organization stays on track while providing support with coaching, policy development, asset management, risk mitigation, and any other areas where your in-house team needs additional assistance.
vCISO FAQs
CISO as a Service, also known as virtual CISO consulting, provides organizations with access to a certified and experienced information security professional. A provider like Secure Shield assigns this expert to help safeguard sensitive data and support the organization in achieving its related business objectives.
A virtual CISO is a dedicated expert with experience in developing and enhancing information security programs. They begin with a thorough risk assessment to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization’s security posture. From there, the vCISO collaborates with executive leadership to understand the company’s goals, budget, and available resources. This enables them to offer actionable recommendations or create a tailored roadmap aligned with business objectives and the risk assessment findings. Once the roadmap is established, the vCISO works alongside the internal security team to train staff and implement improvements, strengthening the organization’s ability to protect sensitive information and optimize operational efficiency. Over time, the vCISO becomes a trusted advisor, offering ongoing support as a resource for addressing security challenges and questions.
The cost of a virtual CISO service depends on several factors, such as the size and complexity of your organization, the number of devices in your network, and the estimated level of engagement required. After assessing these factors, we can provide a customized pricing plan. Our service typically includes annual assessments, road mapping, vulnerability scanning, consulting services, and access to portal software for tracking and communication.
vCISO services are designed to be adaptable, tailored to meet the unique requirements of each client. Engagements generally follow a cycle of assessment, planning, and remediation.
Whether you need strategic guidance on a monthly or quarterly basis or require hands-on support several days a week, our vCISOs can create a solution that fits your needs.
Common objectives of vCISO engagements include:
- Information security leadership and strategy
- Steering committee leadership or participation
- Security compliance oversight
- Development of security policies, processes, and procedures
- Incident response planning
- Security training and awareness programs
- Presentations for board and executive leadership
- Security assessments
- Internal audits
- Vulnerability assessments
- Risk assessments
- Much more
Reduced Costs Over Time
While the initial cost of a virtual CISO can vary depending on your business’s size and requirements, much of the foundational work is completed early on. As your security program matures, the level of involvement—and therefore the cost—typically decreases over time.
Extensive Expertise and Industry Knowledge
Is your “security” person juggling multiple roles within the organization? It’s common for companies to assign security duties to employees whose primary role lies elsewhere, often meaning they lack specialized security expertise. Virtual CISOs are highly trained, certified professionals with years of experience in information security. They bring valuable expertise to enhance the capabilities of your internal staff tasked with security, providing advanced techniques and best practices.
Minimized Turnover
In today’s competitive security job market, turnover can be a significant challenge. Losing key security staff can disrupt operations and leave vulnerabilities. With a virtual CISO, your team benefits from consistent expertise, methodologies, and resources, ensuring continuity. Whether you’re in the process of hiring a full-time CISO or prefer to rely on a virtual CISO for the long term, your security efforts will remain uninterrupted.
