Can't Afford a Full-time CISO? Try the Virtual Version

Can't Afford a Full-time CISO? Try the Virtual Version
A vCISO can align a company's information security program to business strategy and budgeting guidance to senior management.

Ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of a company's, their users', and their customers' information must be top priority for organizations, but it's easier said than done. Data security breaches and cyberattack threats are occurring more frequently – according to a recent Information Systems Security Association and Enterprise Strategy Group survey, 63% of cybersecurity professionals have seen an increase in cyber-attacks related to the pandemic – which means businesses today need to take additional steps to remain secure. 


An organization's in-house chief information security officer (CISO) is critically responsible for establishing and maintaining the enterprise information security vision, strategy, and program to ensure information assets and technologies are adequately protected. However, the reality is, some companies (particularly small- to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits) do not have a need for a full-time CISO or the financial resources to add another member to the C-suite, not to mention their 6-figure salary. For those organizations, there's another option: a virtual CISO (vCISO).


For a fraction of the salary of a full-time CISO, companies can hire a vCISO, which is an outsourced security practitioner with executive level experience, who, acting as a consultant, offers their time and insight to an organization on an ongoing (typically part-time) basis with the same skillset and expertise of a conventional CISO. Hiring a vCISO on a part-time (or short-term basis) allows a company the flexibility to outsource impending IT projects as needed.


A vCISO will work closely with senior management to establish a well communicated information security strategy and roadmap, one that meets the requirements of the organization and its customers, but also state and federal requirements. Most importantly, a vCISO can provide companies unbiased strateg ..

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