vCISO Services

Hiring vCISO services is quite straightforward. You start by assessing what security needs your organization has that is top of mind – the vCISO you hire can help to identify other areas that may need attention. Many typical MSP providers do not offer these types of services, so find a firm that can accommodate all of your needs as your company grows. Look at the background of the vCISO under consideration and investigate the types of firms they have helped in the past. Finally, make sure the potential vCISO connects well with your leadership team as they will become an integral part of your firm.

The regulatory landscape is complex and changes rapidly. A skilled vCISO will have the expertise and experience around a wide variety of regulations and framework so they can best guide your organization and ensure your firm remains in compliance. Many vCISOs understand the legal requirements and can tailor your security policies to meet these requirements. Whether it’s GDPR, HIPAA, or any other regulation, a vCISO will develop a compliance strategy that not only meets the standards but integrates smoothly with your business operations, ensuring you have the right systems, policies, and processes in place to meet requirements.

The cost of hiring a vCISO can vary depending on the size of your organization and the scope of services you need. Most industry reports that the cost savings can be significant over hiring full time given the current salary levels of CISOs and benefits requirements for FTEs. For many companies, they find they only need specific services and a part-time arrangement is the most flexible.

A vCISO, or virtual Chief Information Security Officer, is essentially a part-time (or fractional) security expert with extensive expertise for your organization, skilled at collaborating with leadership teams and if needed, board facing. They are most commonly hired by small to mid size firms that need security leadership, but do not have the need or budgetary resources to hire a full time CISO. Virtual CISOs handle everything from developing your cybersecurity strategy, training your team to become front line defenders, ensuring your company’s data and systems are protected against threats, and helping with compliance needs. They become a part of your team, always looking out proactively for your company’s cybersecurity needs.