When Should You Consider a vCISO for Your Business?

Deciding whether your business would benefit from an in-house, full-time, or virtual CISO can be challenging. To help you make this decision, below are several reasons a vCISO may be a great choice.

You want help to attain cybersecurity compliance

In recent years, data privacy and information security regulations have heated up. Defense contractors must achieve compliance with various regulations and standards, including the NIST SP 800-171. These regulations are industry-specific. For instance, those in the health sector should be HIPAA compliant. Manufacturers, brokers, importers, and exporters of items under the USML and their associated technical data must achieve ITAR compliance. To bid for DoD contractors, there are several cybersecurity measures that contractors must fulfill, including DFARS 7012, 7021, 7019, and CMMC. 

If you’re unsure whether your business is compliant with industry standards or regulations, a virtual CISO can help. CIOs specializing in regulatory compliance can assess a company’s cybersecurity posture. They can also assess your information systems to find areas/ gaps that need change or improvement. CIOs can then develop and implement a remediation plan to help your company become compliant. Thus, you can avoid the hefty noncompliance penalties and fees should your company face a security incident.

You’ve got budget restraints

Cybersecurity is now a top focus for companies everywhere, thanks to data privacy regulations and the rise in cyber-attacks. This means that CISOs are hot in demand. And naturally, businesses require a leader to spearhead the information security objectives and develop measures that meet them. However, the demand for virtual CISOs has outpaced the supply, and because of this, retaining a full-time CISO is highly expensive. They operate on an on-demand and consumption-based model. It means you’ll only pay for what you need. You work with a vCISO to develop a work schedule that aligns with your budget. Since this is a virtual role, you don’t need to recruit someone local or in-house. This drastically reduces or eliminates recruitment, relocation, and onboarding costs.

You need an expert in a particular area

Most vCISO service providers employ a team of experts with diverse backgrounds and experiences working behind the scenes. Thus, a virtual CISO may be a great option if you’re looking for a very particular skill set. For instance, your organization could have a mature cybersecurity program in place but merge with or acquire another company. This would require a vCISO that has specific experience in particular areas to modify or develop the existing policies, frameworks, or guidelines.

When you need to establish a cybersecurity foundation

Getting started is among the most challenging parts of cybersecurity. Organizations must implement the right procedures, policies, guidelines, and standards. After that, it’s only about following the measures in place. CIOs have experience after working for companies, often of varying sizes and industries. It means they are in a perfect position to design a high-quality, mature cybersecurity program that your business can rely on. Are you looking for an expert to get the ground running for your information and cybersecurity efforts? Then, a virtual CISO is your best choice. They can launch and develop privacy and cybersecurity policies and frameworks tailored to your company’s objectives and needs. CIOs can help develop incident response plans, conduct risk assessments, and fortify your long-term cybersecurity.

Your information technology team needs strategic leadership

The other reason you may want to enlist a vCISO is to help you direct, upskill, or manage your existing cybersecurity team. If your team doesn’t require a full-time leader but could use professional guidance for setting objectives, providing training, and mentoring, a virtual CISO could be an ideal choice. They can step in to ensure your team has the necessary resources and budget for successful execution. The vCISO can also act as a liaison for the team, interacting with executive management, boards, investors, and even government agencies as needed.