Why a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO)

Virtual CISOs are far more affordable than an average full-time CISO. Today, the CISO role is expensive and difficult to fill, with current compensation ranging from $175K to $337K. In contrast, a vCISO with comparable credentials will cost at least 35 to 40 percent less or even lower, depending on the scope of work. vCISOs can be hired fractionally to further reduce costs.

Digital Beachhead provides a TEAM of experts to support your organization so you never lose continuity 

 Since vCISOs are contracted across a range of businesses and industries, they are fully up to speed with the latest security best practices and have in-depth experience in dealing with any number of security scenarios. From chairing a governance panel, auditing technical security controls, analyzing risks, developing a cybersecurity strategy, ongoing risk monitoring, compliance with privacy and other governance, providing awareness training to users, to responding to cybersecurity incidents and recovering from them, vCISOs provide expert guidance in a variety of security-related functions and decisions 

A vCISO can guide investments safely, ensuring activities do not open your organization up to more risk. This may involve supporting the expansion of your online presence, a roll-out of a new system, decisions about technology initiatives & more.

As a seasoned professional in the field of information security, vCISOs also have a deep understanding of the latest threats, governance, and technologies. They can provide invaluable guidance and support to help your organization stay secure.

 When facing an urgent cybersecurity issue or a complex data and privacy challenge, sometimes it is in the business’s interest to seek an impartial opinion that is free from any conflict of interest. Under such circumstances, relying on a vCISO who is not only trusted, but also provides unfiltered feedback and unbiased guidance can prove extremely useful. Businesses can also leverage vCISO expertise and guidance in discussions relating to severe vulnerabilities, forensic investigations, active compliance violations, fines and lawsuits, as well as cyber insurance forms. 

 vCISOs can be a great choice for organizations that struggle with limited resources (like startups and SMBs). Allowing the IT Department Lead to assume the CISO role can lead to a major security hazard.  Often they are busy working the day to day operations and do not have the time to develop a strategic cyber plan.  vCISOs cover a broad range of functions both strategic and tactical, and their services can be tailored to suit client requirements. For example, businesses can either go with a long-term retainer or hire someone short-term on a project basis, buy a chunk of support hours or agree to a fixed-fee, delivery-based approach. 

 Cybersecurity is such a vast domain, it is difficult to find expertise in every area. When businesses leverage a vCISO service, they usually get access to a group of experts the vCISO can bring in depending on the needs and requirements of the business. For example, if a company wants to identify security loopholes in their infrastructure and processes, a vCISO can bring in penetration testers and forensics specialists that can help assess the security posture of the organization. If a business wants to improve security awareness to reduce phishing scams, a vCISO can suggest tools and trainers that are specialists in that area. 

1. Cybersecurity Strategy
2. Cybersecurity Policies
3. 24 / 7 SOC Monitoring Available 
4. Cyber Awareness Training 
5. Disaster Recover Plans

1. Risk assessment
2. Risk prioritization
3. Risk mitigation plan
4. Audit/Assessment reports
5. Monthly Cyber Intel Report

1. Incident Response Plan
2. Incident Response Dashboard
3. Incident Response Training
4. Tabletop Exercises
5. Member of Incident Response Team

1. Review of controls compliance
2. GAP Analysis
3. Develop Program of Actions and Milestones (POA&M) 
4. Monthly POA&M progress review
5. Support implementing controls

1. Trusted and Impartial
2. Long-term partner (our team is  your team)
3. Experienced, Certified Cyber Professionals
4. Customizable solutions to meet your organizational needs
5. Proven Value

1. SEC Cybersecurity Rules
2. HIPAA
3. CMMC
4. NIST (CSF, 800-53, 800-171)
5. GDPR
6. PIPEDA
7. State Privacy Laws