Virtual CISO

Not every organisation needs a full-time Chief Information Security Officer, but every organisation benefits from experienced security leadership. A Virtual CISO arrangement gives you access to senior expertise at a fraction of the cost of a permanent hire.

What a Virtual CISO provides

As your VCISO, I act as an extension of your leadership team, providing:

• Strategic direction for your security programme
• Board and executive communication on security matters
• Security programme management and roadmap development
• Risk assessment and prioritisation
• Incident response leadership when issues arise
• Vendor and third-party oversight
• Compliance programme coordination

I’m not here to replace your team—I’m here to guide them, support decision-making, and ensure security gets appropriate attention at the leadership level.

Who benefits from a VCISO

This model works well for:

• Growing companies that have outgrown ad-hoc security but aren’t ready for a full-time CISO
• Organisations between security leaders who need interim coverage
• Companies facing specific challenges like certification, due diligence, or incident response
• Businesses that need senior expertise to guide an internal security team

How it works

VCISO engagements are typically structured as retained arrangements with a defined time commitment—commonly one to four days per month, depending on your needs.

Regular activities might include:

• Attendance at leadership and board meetings
• Security programme review and planning
• Policy and governance oversight
• Risk register management
• Security metrics and reporting
• Team mentoring and development

Available as needed:

• Incident response leadership
• Third-party risk assessment
• Security architecture review
• Vendor selection guidance
• Due diligence support

What to expect

We’ll start with an assessment of your current security posture and immediate priorities. From there, I’ll propose a structure that matches your needs—this might be a fixed monthly retainer or a more flexible arrangement.

The goal is to give you consistent, senior security input without the overhead of a full-time executive hire.

Common questions

How is this different from a consultant? A consultant typically delivers a defined project and leaves. A VCISO is an ongoing relationship—I become familiar with your business, your team, and your risk profile over time. That context makes the advice more relevant and the relationship more valuable.

Will you be available when we need you? Within the agreed time commitment, yes. For retained clients, I also provide emergency availability for genuine security incidents—because those don’t wait for scheduled meetings.

What if we eventually hire a full-time CISO? That’s a success outcome. I can help with the recruitment process and transition, ensuring continuity for your security programme.

Can you work alongside our existing IT team? Absolutely. Many VCISO engagements involve guiding and developing internal staff rather than doing everything directly. Your team gains experience while you get senior oversight.