Virtual CISO
A U.S.-based virtual CISO for your organization
Get an experienced security executive to lead your program, advise your leadership, and own security decisions, without hiring a full-time CISO.
- Engagement model
- Fractional, ongoing
- Location
- U.S.-based
- Credentials
- CISSP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISM, CCISO
- Frameworks
- NIST CSF 2.0, ISO 27001, SOC 2
At a glance
A virtual CISO (vCISO) from CyberAccord is an experienced, U.S.-based security executive who leads your security program part-time. Your vCISO sets strategy, manages risk, owns policies and incident response planning, and reports to leadership. It suits organizations that need senior security leadership but are not ready for a full-time CISO.
What does a vCISO do?
A vCISO is your organization's point of contact for security. They set direction, decide priorities, and make sure the work gets done, whether by your team, your IT provider, or ours.
- Build and run a security program aligned with your business goals
- Perform an annual IT risk assessment and track risks to closure
- Write and maintain security policies and guidelines
- Develop an incident response plan covering immediate response and longer-term recovery
- Design defenses against ransomware, malware, and insider threats
- Oversee vulnerability assessments, penetration tests, and other security testing
- Deliver security awareness training and specialist briefings for staff
- Report security status and risk to executives and the board
Who needs a vCISO?
Companies that sell to larger customers and face detailed security reviews; organizations preparing for SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA; regulated firms that need a named security leader; and growing businesses whose IT team is stretched thin on security.
If security decisions currently fall to a CTO, an IT manager, or no one in particular, a vCISO gives that responsibility a clear, qualified owner.
Why a vCISO instead of a full-time hire?
Experienced CISOs are expensive and hard to recruit, and many smaller organizations do not need one full-time. A vCISO gives you the same level of judgment for the hours you actually need, with the flexibility to scale up during an audit or incident and back down afterward.
Our vCISOs also draw on CyberAccord's wider team for testing, cloud security, and compliance work, so recommendations can be acted on quickly.
What you get
Program strategy and roadmap
Security direction aligned with business goals.
Format: Document + roadmap
Risk assessment and register
Assessed annually and maintained throughout the year.
Format: Annual report + register
Policies and standards
Written and kept current by your vCISO.
Format: Policy set (Word)
Incident response and recovery plan
Covers immediate response and longer-term recovery.
Format: Plan + tabletop exercises
Executive and board reports
Security status and risk for leadership.
Format: Regular briefing
Audit and customer review support
Audits, customer security reviews and questionnaires.
Format: Ongoing
Process
How it works
- 1
Assess
Your vCISO reviews your current program, risks, and obligations, and interviews leadership to understand business goals.
- 2
Plan
Together we agree on a prioritized roadmap, budget guidance, and how progress will be reported.
- 3
Lead
Your vCISO runs the program on an ongoing basis, directing work, managing risk, and advising leadership.
- 4
Report and adjust
Regular reports show progress and risk, and the plan is updated as your business and threats change.
Method
Standards we follow
Recognized methods and frameworks our work is built on.
- NIST CSF 2.0
- ISO 27001
- SOC 2
Related
Related services and frameworks
- Security AdvisorySecurity AdvisorySecurity policies, controls assessments, awareness training, risk management, vCISO leadership, and help with security questionnaires.
- Security QuestionnairesSecurity QuestionnairesHelp completing SIG, CAIQ, HECVAT, VSA, and custom vendor security questionnaires accurately, plus a reusable answer library.
- SOC 2 Readiness and RenewalSOC 2SOC 2 readiness and renewal: gap assessment, controls, policies and evidence, prepared for your independent CPA firm's audit.
- NYDFS 23 NYCRR Part 500NYDFS 500NYDFS 23 NYCRR Part 500 compliance: risk assessment, policies, CISO support, incident response and annual compliance filing preparation.
Industries and insights
Where this applies, and further reading
- Medical, Dental and Community HealthHealthcareHIPAA Security Rule risk analysis, safeguards and evidence for practices and health centers.
- Financial Advisors and Insurance BrokersFinancial ServicesRegulation S-P, FTC Safeguards and NAIC model law programs for advisers and insurance brokers.
- CPA and Tax PracticesAccounting FirmsA written information security plan and FTC Safeguards Rule controls for CPA and tax practices.
- Defense Industrial BaseDefense ManufacturingNIST SP 800-171, DFARS 7012 and CMMC readiness for contractors that handle CUI.
- ExplainerWhat is a virtual CISO, and when does a company need one?What a virtual CISO does, the triggers that call for one, how it differs from an IT provider or MSSP, and which rules let the role be outsourced.
- GuideWhat does the FTC Safeguards Rule require of small firms?Who the FTC Safeguards Rule covers, its nine required elements, what the under-5,000-consumer exemption removes, and the 30-day FTC breach notice.
- GuideHow do you answer customer security questionnaires well?How to answer SIG, CAIQ, HECVAT, and custom security questionnaires accurately: an answer library, the right evidence, honest gaps, and clear ownership.
FAQ
Questions, answered
How much time does a vCISO spend with us?
It depends on your size and goals. Engagements are scoped to the hours you need, usually with regular scheduled meetings plus availability for urgent issues. Time can increase temporarily during audits, incidents, or major projects.
Can a vCISO satisfy the NYDFS requirement to have a CISO?
23 NYCRR 500 allows a covered entity's CISO to be provided by an affiliate or third-party service provider. The covered entity keeps full responsibility for compliance and must designate senior personnel to oversee the third-party CISO. We help you set up that oversight correctly.
Will the vCISO work with our existing IT team or provider?
Yes. The vCISO sets direction and priorities, and your IT team or provider usually handles day-to-day operations. Clear ownership between the two is one of the first things we establish.
Can the vCISO talk to our board and customers?
Yes. Presenting security status to the board and representing your program in customer security reviews and calls are common parts of the role.
Is the vCISO based in the U.S.?
Yes. CyberAccord is based in Houston, Texas, and our vCISO service is delivered by U.S.-based security leaders.
Talk to a security practitioner
Book a free 20-minute consultation. We'll learn what's driving the need and recommend a scoped next step with a fixed quote.