Virtual Chief Information Security Officer

Executive security leadership for organizations that require experienced oversight without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.

Security Leadership On Demand

Security is a board-level concern. Regulatory requirements continue to expand, threat actors grow more sophisticated, and the financial and reputational cost of a breach can threaten the business itself.

A vCISO provides the strategic security leadership required to build and maintain an effective security program (policy development, risk management, compliance oversight, incident preparedness, and board reporting) without the $300K+ fully-loaded cost of a full-time security executive.

This role is appropriate for organizations that have outgrown ad-hoc security practices but do not yet require or cannot justify a dedicated CISO.

Core Responsibilities

Security Program Development

  • Establish formal Information Security Program with governance structure
  • Develop and maintain security policies, standards, and procedures
  • Define security roles, responsibilities, and accountability
  • Create security metrics and reporting cadence
  • Align security initiatives with business objectives

Risk Assessment & Management

  • Conduct enterprise risk assessments and threat modeling
  • Develop and maintain risk register with treatment plans
  • Evaluate third-party and vendor security risk
  • Perform business impact analysis for critical systems
  • Establish risk appetite and tolerance thresholds with leadership

Compliance & Regulatory

  • Assess current state against applicable frameworks (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR, SEC/FINRA)
  • Develop remediation roadmaps with prioritized controls
  • Prepare documentation and evidence for audits
  • Serve as liaison with external auditors and assessors
  • Audit report tracking and remediation management
  • Maintain continuous compliance posture

Incident Preparedness

  • Develop and document incident response plans
  • Establish escalation procedures and communication templates
  • Conduct tabletop exercises with key stakeholders
  • Coordinate response during active incidents
  • Lead post-incident review and remediation

Board & Executive Reporting

  • Provide regular security posture updates to leadership
  • Translate technical risk into business terms
  • Support cyber insurance applications and renewals
  • Brief board on security program maturity and roadmap
  • Advise on security implications of business decisions

Typical Deliverables

  • Information Security Program Charter
  • Security Policy Library (15-25 policies)
  • Risk Assessment Report with Risk Register
  • Compliance Gap Assessment and Remediation Roadmap
  • Incident Response Plan
  • Audit Report Tracking and Remediation Dashboard
  • Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Plans
  • Vendor Risk Assessment Process and Templates
  • Security Awareness Training Program
  • Board-Level Security Reports (quarterly)
  • Audit Readiness Documentation Package

Engagement Model

vCISO engagements typically begin with a 30-60 day assessment phase to evaluate current security posture, identify gaps, and develop a prioritized roadmap. Following assessment, ongoing engagement is structured around regular strategic sessions, audit preparation cycles, and incident support as needed.

ModelStructureTypical Use Case
Assessment30-60 day fixed scopeInitial security posture evaluation and roadmap
Retainer10-20 hours/monthOngoing security leadership and program management
Compliance Sprint3-6 month engagementAudit preparation for SOC 2, HIPAA, SEC, or other certification
Incident RetainerOn-call availabilityIncident response support and crisis management

When a vCISO Makes Sense

  • Regulatory or customer requirements mandate formal security oversight
  • Preparing for SOC 2, HIPAA, SEC, or other compliance certification
  • Board or investors require regular security posture reporting
  • Cyber insurance application requires demonstrated security leadership
  • Security responsibilities currently distributed across IT with no dedicated owner
  • Previous incident exposed gaps in security governance
  • Scaling operations and need to formalize security before growth
  • Cannot justify $250K-$400K fully-loaded cost of a full-time CISO

Let's Talk

Whether you're exploring fractional leadership or just want to gut-check your security strategy, I'm happy to chat.

Get in Touch