Virtual CISO
What is a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO)?
A vCISO, or Virtual Chief Information Security Officer is a security practitioner availabel to organizations who need security expertise and guidance. The vCISO is a great solution for small businesses and startups who don’t require a full time security position but wish to build cyber security programs that align with business objectives and show measurable improvements to security posture.
Many business owners relate having a vCISO under contract is very much like have a lawyer or an accountant. They don’t require their services full time, but they do require the guidance and experience to help navigate the business through potential pitfalls. A vCISO helps navigate the broad scope of security and privacy compliance needs that today’s businesses face.
Things to Know About vCISO Services
How much does a Virtual CISO cost?
vCISO services can cost as little as $15000 per year. Our typical vCISO services decrease in cost over time as our client’s security programs mature and constant building and implementation effort is no longer a factor.
What are the responsibilities of a vCISO?
Our vCISO offering is meant to be flexible in order to meet the needs of our clients. Our engagements typically follow a cycle of assess, plan and then remediate.
Whether you need high level guidance on a monthly or quarterly basis or need hands-on help several days a week, we will be able to build a solution that best suits your needs.
The typical objectives of our engagements include:
- Information security leadership and guidance
- Steering committee leadership or participation
- Security compliance management
- Security policy, process and procedure development
- Incident response planning
- Security awareness training programs
- Board and executive leadership presentations
- Vulnerability assessment
- Security assessment
- Risk assessment
Is This Your Situation?
I can't afford a full-time security person
Most small businesses and startups don’t have the resources to hire a full time security person or have enough work to keep one busy. vCISO service is a great way to get the assistance you require with broad industry experience and the flexibility of costs.
I'm a business owner and don't know where to start
Security and privacy can appear to be a technically challenging issue for your business. In actual fact, it isn’t. It’s a business risk, you just need the expertise to help guide you through how to manage it as such. By hiring a vCISO, you will have all of the information you require to make decisions to manage your security and privacy.
Our computer supplier handles our security.
If your local computer supplier says they are handling your security, have they assisted your business in creating a security strategy using recognized frameworks? Chances are, they are providing operational security services, meaning they look after your backups, your antivirus and your firewall. Although these are important pieces in the overall security of your business, they don’t totally protect your business.
a vCISO will provide you with an end-to-end cyber security program that will protect your business.
Our Approach
Approach
Every organization is unique, and every organization is in different stage with the development of their security program. We get to intimately know your company, your processes and your culture and combine these with a security assessment to inform you of what your strengths and weaknesses are, and then apply our experience and best practices to provide you with next steps.
Focus
Cyber security is all we do. We don’t provide IT support, we don’t sell hardware or software. We eat, sleep, live security. Our team works hard to be a partner with your business, working with you every step of the way.
Mission
Our mission is to help secure as many small businesses and startups. It’s more than a mission, it’s our passion. We love working with small business owners and founders, their drive and passion is infectious and we don’t want to see that diminished in any way with a security incident or data breach.
Book a free 30 minute consultation.