EXPERIENCE. EXPERTISE. 

vCISO Services for Business Challenges

With our virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) advisory service organizations can manage their cybersecurity risk without the need for a full-time, in-house Chief Information Security Officer. This cost-effective solution provides access to highly qualified and experienced security experts, allowing businesses to get the support they need, when they need it. The vCISO combines technical expertise with corporate governance experience, providing a flexible and comprehensive approach to addressing current and evolving security threats.

Top reasons to use vCISO Services

Expertise at a fraction of the cost on your terms

Cost-effective

Hiring a full-time cybersecurity expert can be expensive, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. vCISO services provide expertise and support at a fraction of the cost. This makes it a more budget-friendly option for businesses looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Flexibility

vCISOs offer flexible engagement models that can be adapted to meet the changing needs of your organization. This allows businesses to receive the level of support they require without having to make a long-term commitment or hire additional staff.

Expertise

vCISOs bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the table. They stay current with the latest cyber threats and industry-standard security controls and have the technical know-how to implement effective security programs. This ensures that businesses receive the highest level of cybersecurity support and protection. 

Other ways our vCISO services help...

Sidekick to personnel
Leadership
Quantifiable risk
Ongoing coaching

Maturity Assessments

Assesses current cybersecurity capabilities against best practices, standards, and frameworks, such as NIST CSF, the FFIEC assessment, or a compliance standard. It is a systematic evaluation of an organization's cybersecurity capabilities, and it focuses on identifying gaps and weaknesses that need to be addressed to improve the overall security posture of the organization relative to a defined standard.

Regulatory Compliance 

Most organizations have ongoing obligations to comply with a law, regulation, or industry standard. We assist in identifying applicable regulations and standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST, CMMC, and the NYDFS cyber regulation--to name a few. Maturity and/or risk assessments are performed, along with policy and procedure development and additional assessments with records maintained to satisfy regulators and auditors.

Risk Assessments

Provide a structured, qualitative or quantitative approach to measuring information security risks with the purpose of helping organizations make informed decisions about risk management. It also promotes a common language and framework for discussing risk, which can improve communication and collaboration among stakeholders.

Supply Chain Risk Management

Supply Chain Risk Management is essential because an organization's security is linked to the security of third parties in its supply chain. An attack on a third-party vendor or supplier could lead to a security breach or compromise of an organization's data or systems. 

Incident Response Planning

It's not if a security event will occur, but when, and having a capable response process is critical. Well-defined policies and procedures are needed with crisis communication strategies defined. 

Table-Top Exercises

Table-top exercises are an effective means to test various incident response plans in a simulated cyber-attack scenario.

Insider Threat Program Development

An insider threat program refers to a collection of policies and procedures established to identify, prevent, and mitigate insider threats to an organization's security. These threats could come from trusted insiders, including present or past staff members, contractors, or anyone else who has authorized access to an organization's confidential data, computer systems, or networks.

Cybersecurity Workforce Framework

The purpose of a cybersecurity workforce framework is to provide a comprehensive and standardized set of guidelines for organizations to manage their cybersecurity workforce. The framework provides a common language and structure for job roles, tasks, and competencies related to cybersecurity.
Frequently asked questions

What is a vCISO?

A vCISO is a valuable resource for organizations looking to develop and implement a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. As a specialist information security professional, a vCISO offers a range of expertise, experience, and leadership to companies in need of support. With a vCISO, organizations have access to vital security services on an as-needed basis, providing a flexible and cost-effective solution for managing their cybersecurity risk.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does a vCISO do?

A vCISO offers a fresh perspective and acts as an extension of a company to help it tackle information security challenges. This can be done on a recurring or project basis or to meet specific business objectives. The role of a vCISO is highly adaptable and can vary depending on the unique needs of each organization. This may include evaluating potential risks, creating policies, procedures, and controls to meet compliance standards, and ensuring the implementation of effective security practices. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is a vCISO appropriate for my organization?

vCISO services offer the advantage of being customizable to meet the needs of each organization. With the option to provide support on a case-by-case basis, vCISOs can be tailored to your specific requirements. The ideal provider should have the ability to adjust consultancy hours to fit the changing needs of your organization. This flexibility enables businesses to receive the level of support they require without having to make a long-term commitment or incur unnecessary expenses.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What should I look for in a vCISO?

When evaluating a vCISO, it's important to look for not only established cybersecurity experience with knowledge in the areas of compliance, privacy, and security, but also a keen understanding of current industry trends. The ideal vCISO should have a comprehensive network and in-depth knowledge of the industry that enables them to bring in additional resources and experts as needed.

vCISO Services Pricing: Subscriptions

With a unique, subscription-based model, CISO Sidekick makes top-tier cybersecurity solutions accessible and affordable for SMBs. Checkout our vCISO pricing!

CUSTOMIZABLE

Subscription Plans

Compliance Focus

From $3,000 /mo 
Ideal for smaller organizations or those focused primarily on meeting specific compliance obligations.
  • Planned & Tracked
  • Requirements Driven
  • Audit Ready

Enterprise Security

From $5,000 /mo
Best for small and medium sized organizations that require a more comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.
  • Security Risk Based
  • Enterprise Standardization
  • Coordinated Security Practices

Metrics-Driven

From $9,000 /mo
Recommended for organizations that require advanced measures & metrics-driven practices.
  • Quantitative Understanding
  • Detailed Metrics
  • Performance Forecasting
FEATURES

Subscription Benefits

Predictable Costs

With our vCISO services, you will know how much you'll be billed each month, making budgeting and expense management a breeze.

Focus on Results

Concentrate on achieving desired outcomes rather than counting hours worked, promoting a results-driven approach to your projects.

Simplified Billing

Enjoy the convenience of a single, recurring charge instead of multiple invoices for individual services or hours worked.

Consistent Service

With a monthly subscription, clients have access to ongoing support and services, which can lead to more consistent and reliable results over time.

Frequently asked Questions about vCISO Services

What services are included in each subscription tier?

Compliance Focused: This tier is suitable for clients who need to meet specific compliance obligations and have some documentation and tracking of their security and privacy controls. The services we provide in this tier include:

    • Conducting a gap analysis to identify the compliance requirements and the current state of the controls
    • Developing and documenting policies and procedures for the required controls
    • Assigning and training roles and responsibilities for implementing and maintaining the controls
    • Defining and reporting metrics for monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of the controls
    • Providing guidance and support on complying with relevant laws, regulations, standards, and best practices


Enterprise Security: This tier suits clients who want to standardize and optimize their security and privacy controls across the enterprise and integrate them into their business processes, systems, and projects. The services we provide in this tier include:

    • Conducting a maturity assessment to evaluate the current level of standardization and optimization of the controls
    • Developing and implementing a roadmap for achieving enterprise-wide standardization and optimization of the controls
    • Integrating and aligning the controls with the strategic objectives and risk appetite of the organization
    • Implementing and improving continuous processes for auditing, reviewing, assessing, and testing the controls
    • Providing support and advice on managing and remediating security and privacy incidents and breaches

Metrics-Driven: This tier suits clients who want to achieve excellence and innovation in their security and privacy controls and demonstrate their value proposition and competitive advantage in the market. The services we provide in this tier include:

    • Conducting a benchmarking analysis to compare the performance of the controls with industry peers and best practices
    • Developing and implementing a plan for adopting emerging technologies, methodologies, and frameworks for security and privacy
    • Demonstrating the value proposition and competitive advantage of the security and privacy controls to stakeholders and customers
    • Providing thought leadership and advocacy on security and privacy issues and trends
    • Influencing the development of standards and regulations for security and privacy

Can a custom tier be developed with services from different levels?

Yes, we can create a custom tier for you that incorporates services from different levels. We understand that each client's needs are unique, and our goal is to provide tailored solutions that best fit your requirements. Our team will work closely with you to understand your needs and combine elements from various levels to design a custom package that aligns with your objectives and budget. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs, and we'll be more than happy to develop a custom tier just for you.

Note: Our pre-packaged tiers are inspired by Secure Controls Framework’s™ (SCF) Security & Privacy Capability Maturity Model (SP-CMM). 

SCF SP-CMM: 
https://securecontrolsframework.com/capability-maturity-model

License Link:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/legalcode

I don't need a subscription or vCISO pricing. Do you offer project work options?

Yes, we absolutely offer project work options for clients who do not require a subscription. We understand that each client's needs are unique, and we strive to provide flexible solutions that cater to your specific requirements. Contact us for a free consultation and needs assessment.

What are some project examples performed outside subscriptions?

Here are some project examples that can be performed outside of subscriptions, and feel free to contact us with your particular need to determine if we can meet it:

Table Top Exercises: Conducting simulated cybersecurity incidents or crisis scenarios to evaluate your organization's response capabilities and identify areas for improvement.

Maturity Assessments: Assessing the maturity of your organization's cybersecurity practices, processes, and controls to identify gaps, prioritize risk mitigation efforts, and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Insider Threat Program Development: Designing and implementing a comprehensive insider threat program to detect, prevent, and mitigate risks posed by employees, contractors, or other individuals with access to your organization's sensitive information and systems.

Ransomware Preparedness and Response: Helping your organization to develop and implement a proactive strategy to prevent and respond to ransomware attacks, including employee training, incident response planning, and data backup and recovery solutions.

Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing: Identifying potential weaknesses in your organization's systems, networks, and applications through vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

Phishing Simulation and Awareness Training: Specifically designed to help your organization assess and improve your employees' ability to recognize and respond to phishing attacks. This standalone service aims to minimize the risk of security breaches resulting from phishing and other social engineering tactics.

Incident Response Planning: Developing and implementing a robust incident response plan to ensure your organization can quickly and effectively respond to security incidents and minimize potential damage and downtime.

Compliance Audits and Gap Analysis: Evaluating your organization's compliance with relevant industry regulations, standards, and best practices, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or NIST frameworks, and providing recommendations to address identified gaps and risks.

Data Privacy Program Development: Creating and implementing a comprehensive data privacy program that aligns with applicable privacy regulations and helps protect your organization's sensitive information while ensuring compliance.

Third-Party Risk Assessments: Evaluating the cybersecurity posture of your vendors, partners, or other third parties to manage potential risks and ensure that they meet your organization's security and compliance requirements.

Custom Subscriptions

Don't see what you need? Contact us for customized options to meet your needs. We have vCISO pricing that will fit your budget. 
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