Virtual CISO Services
A Virtual CISO (vCISO), also known as a Fractional CISO or CISO as a Service, provides part-time security leadership for startups, SMBs, and community banks: strategy, compliance, incident response, and board reporting, without the cost of a full-time executive hire.
Strategic security leadership without the full-time CISO cost.
// THE PROBLEM
You need security leadership. But you can't afford a full-time CISO.
I get it. You're scaling. Investors are asking questions. Auditors are circling. Your team is drowning in security tasks they don't understand.
But hiring a full-time CISO is expensive. And finding the right person takes months.
Not sure if you're at that stage yet? Read our guide: → guides/do-you-need-a-virtual-ciso
You need someone who:
- Actually knows what matters (and what's just noise)
- Can talk to your board without the buzzwords
- Builds programs auditors respect
- Won't sell you a bunch of tools you don't need
// WHAT YOU GET
What You Get
Strategic Security Leadership
- ✓ Security program strategy & roadmap
- ✓ Risk assessments that make sense
- ✓ Board & investor presentations
- ✓ Vendor security reviews
Compliance Guidance
- ✓ SOC 2 Type II prep & readiness
- ✓ Policy & procedure development
- ✓ Audit prep & support
- ✓ Right-sized controls (not overkill)
Need SOC 2? → soc2 guide
Incident Response
- ✓ Incident response planning
- ✓ Breach response support
- ✓ Tabletop exercises
- ✓ Crisis communication guidance
Recently experienced a breach? → post-incident advisory
Team Support
- ✓ Security training for your team
- ✓ Guidance for engineering leads
- ✓ Security tool selection
- ✓ On-call advisory when you need it
Avoid buying tools you don't need: → security theater vs. real security
// HOW IT WORKS
How It Works
Discovery Call (20 minutes, free)
We talk about where you are and what you need. No sales pitch.
Initial Assessment
I review your current security posture, compliance status, and biggest risks.
90-Day Roadmap
You get a clear plan. What to fix first. What can wait. What's just noise.
Ongoing Partnership
Monthly retainer. Regular check-ins. Always available when something breaks.
// TERMINOLOGY
Virtual CISO vs Fractional CISO vs CISO as a Service
These terms all mean the same thing: part-time, outsourced security leadership. The industry uses them interchangeably:
- Virtual CISO (vCISO): The most common term. Emphasizes remote/flexible engagement.
- Fractional CISO: Highlights that you get a fraction of a CISO's time at a fraction of the cost.
- CISO as a Service (CISOaaS): Frames it as an on-demand service rather than a hire.
- Outsourced CISO: Emphasizes external expertise brought into your organization.
- Part-time CISO: The simplest description of the engagement model.
Regardless of what you call it, the value is the same: strategic security leadership, compliance expertise, and board-ready communication without the $300K-$500K cost of a full-time CISO hire.
// THIS IS FOR YOU IF
This Is For You If...
You're a startup raising Series A/B and investors are asking security questions you can't answer
You need SOC 2 for a big customer deal but don't know where to start
You're a community bank needing FFIEC exam prep and board-level security reporting
Your IT team or MSP handles operations but you need strategic security oversight
You can't justify a full-time CISO salary but need security leadership
You want someone who speaks plain English, not security jargon
// RELATED SERVICES
Related Services
Compliance Consulting
Need SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA certification? Get audit-ready without vendor upsells.
→ services/compliancePost-Incident Advisory
Recently experienced a breach? Get strategic guidance to prevent recurrence and rebuild trust.
→ services/post-incident-advisorySecurity Consulting
Project-based security work: architecture reviews, vendor assessments, questionnaire support.
→ services/security-consultingCommunity Banks
Practical security for community banks: FFIEC compliance, examiner readiness, MSP oversight.
→ services/community-banks// READY TO START
Ready to get security right?
Book a 20-minute call. No pitch. Just straight talk about what you actually need.
Book a free consult