When and How to Hire a Virtual CISO?

Posted by Marbenz Antonio on August 2, 2022

How to make sure your Virtual CISO is providing the necessary leadership for your IT and security strategies

A virtual CISO is an outsourced expert who manages the cyber security function for your business and offers extensive knowledge remotely. Having the proper kind of leadership in charge of your IT and security may make all the difference in the world today. Cybersecurity has quickly risen to the top of the priority list for many businesses all around the world.

A top executive at an organization who is in charge of safeguarding computer systems, computer networks, and sensitive data from online threats is known as a Chief Information Security Officer or CISO. The CISO must establish the organization’s risk management and critical asset protection policies. The CISO position is complicated and calls for specialized knowledge and broad experience.

However, not every organization has the financial resources to hire a specialized cyber security expert, establish a cybersecurity team with information security managers, or simply implement the proper information technology security procedures. To put things in perspective, the annual salary of a CISO might range from £120,000 to $250,000. On the other hand, some of the top VCISOs on the market may be hired for about £12,000 a year.

To navigate security concerns for your small business cost-effectively, a virtual CISO is an ideal solution.

A virtual CISO, also known as a VCISO, is essentially a trusted advisor and cybersecurity professional who serves as a security consultant for your business. The Virtual CISO will do all necessary tasks to secure your business’s sensitive data and your business from security incidents even though he or she is not a full-time employee of your business.

What can your small business expect from the Virtual CISO?

The following are some of the things the VCISO can do for your business:

Evaluate and assess the organization’s overall preparation for breaches as well as its susceptibility to cyber threats.
Check to see if the technology you already have is adequate for risk management. Where necessary, help with the identification, evaluation, and selection of affordable technology.
Give a dependable opinion on data privacy and information security.
Provide fundamental training to important stakeholders on how to defend your company from harmful software, phishing, and social engineering assaults.
If necessary, provide specialized cybersecurity training to certain teams and executives within the organization.
Give advice on present and future investments in cybersecurity that is independent of vendors.
On your behalf, manage and interact with regulators regarding all requests relating to data privacy and information security.
Verify your organization’s compliance with any applicable regulations.

In fact, a virtual CISO will do all of the duties associated with a cybersecurity leader for your company, although online and on a consulting basis. This leads to the following question.

When and how should a VCISO be hired?

When should you hire a VCISO?

You know you need to hire security leadership but are unable to pay for a full-time CISO.
You could feel that you need an outside security advisor. However, you soon realize that the demand is insufficient to justify hiring a full-time employee. In fact, you might realize that you only need a virtual information security manager rather than a CISO, and the majority of reputable VCISO service providers can meet that need as well.
You must have a security plan that is specifically designed for your company.
You want an evaluation of your technology investments from a vendor-neutral perspective.
You want your company to meet with global quality frameworks like ISO 27001:2013 and UK’s Cyber Essentials.
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is something you want to deploy throughout your company.
You are starting a significant IT or IT security transformation project.
You wish to use the Cyber Incident Response Methodology from NIST.

Second, analyze the knowledge and experience a VCISO brings to the table when deciding how to hire one. You can hire a very senior and experienced person to manage your security section because a VCISO offers your company tremendous cost advantages.

How to select the right VCISO service/offering?

When searching for a VCISO service provider, keep the following factors in mind:

The business must be a specialist in cybersecurity consulting and advisory services.
The company’s leadership should be recognized and well-known.
To meet your organization’s changing and evolving needs throughout time, the organization must be flexible with its service contract options.
Ensure that the VCISO you hire has a staff of compliance and governance specialists at their availability.
The VCISO who will be working with you should have a history of effective communication and be able to connect with both middle-level and junior-level technologists and senior business executives.

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