A Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is a cyber security expert who provides executive-level leadership and guidance on security strategy and implementation, typically on a part-time, contract, and remote basis. Unlike a traditional CISO, a vCISO is not a full-time employee but is engaged to offer specialised expertise, often to organisations that cannot justify the expense of a full-time CISO or that need interim support.
A good vCISO should possess the following characteristics:
The InfoShelter vCISO service draws upon a broad network of internal and external expertise, offering you a strong combination of skillsets.
Hiring a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) can be expensive. The mean cost of a CISO in UK is around £100k . A vCISO, being a part-time or on-demand role, can provide all the benefits at a much lower cost. This makes it an attractive option for SMBs that might not have the resources or need to hire a full-time CISO.
We are not hindered with internal politics and are therefore very well placed to report risks as we see them. We have also found that our clients are more likely to share their concerns and ideas with someone outside of the organisation, avoiding fear of recrimination.
The InfoShelter vCISOs develop and promote tailored information security policies, and train employees on cyber security best practices.