Virtual CISO
A seasoned CISO at a fraction of the cost
Don’t invest in a title and its overhead.
Invest in hands-on security leadership.
Invest in hands-on security leadership.
Strategy. Governance. Risk. Compliance. Board Reporting.
Virtual CISO basics
What is a virtual CISO?
A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is an experienced security executive who leads your security program on a part-time or retainer basis. You get the strategy, governance, and accountability of a CISO without the cost and long search of a full-time hire.
Your InfoGuard vCISO works on-site or remotely, for as many or as few hours each month as you need. If you already have IT or security staff, we supplement them with senior leadership and a proven, repeatable process, rather than replacing them.
Why it matters
Senior leadership your business can afford
Lower cost
Executive expertise at a fraction of a full-time salary
Qualified CISOs command high salaries. Pay only for the leadership you need, without the salary, benefits, and recruiting costs of a full-time hire.
Qualified CISOs command high salaries. Pay only for the leadership you need, without the salary, benefits, and recruiting costs of a full-time hire.
Talent shortage
A proven playbook from day one
Qualified CISOs are scarce and slow to recruit. Your vCISO skips the search and starts with a tested program and process.
Qualified CISOs are scarce and slow to recruit. Your vCISO skips the search and starts with a tested program and process.
Executive accountability
Fill the security executive role your board and auditors expect
Boards, enterprise customers, and frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and CMMC expect a qualified executive accountable for security. Your vCISO fills that role.
Boards, enterprise customers, and frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and CMMC expect a qualified executive accountable for security. Your vCISO fills that role.
Security spent wisely
Your budget goes to your highest security risks first
Priorities are set by real risk and business goals, so every security dollar does the most good.
Priorities are set by real risk and business goals, so every security dollar does the most good.
What your vCISO does
Everything a CISO owns, scaled to your needs
Your vCISO takes ownership of the security program, from setting direction to reporting results, and works directly with your leadership and technical teams.
Strategy
Security roadmap
A prioritized plan tied to business goals, budget, and risk, with clear milestones and owners.
Governance
Policies and accountability
Security policies, roles, and decision-making that hold up to customer reviews and audits.
Risk and compliance
Risk and audit readiness
Risk assessments, vendor risk, and readiness for SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, HIPAA, and more.
Leadership
Reporting and response
Board and executive reporting, security team guidance, and leadership during incidents.
vCISO or full-time CISO
Is a virtual CISO right for you?
Both lead your security program. The difference is cost, flexibility, and how quickly you can get started.
Area
Virtual CISO
Full-time CISO
Cost
A retainer scoped to the hours you need
High salary, benefits, and recurring costs
Time to start
Immediately
Often months to recruit and onboard
Experience
Lessons from many environments and frameworks
Depends on one hire's background
Flexibility
Scale hours up or down as needs change
Fixed headcount
Where they work
On-site or remote, as you prefer
Typically on-site
Best fit for
Growing and regulated companies without a security executive
Large enterprises that need a dedicated executive every day
Our vCISO approach
30+ years of expertise and hundreds of clients served, at your fingertips
Hands-on leadership
A leader who can also do the work
Your vCISO sets strategy and rolls up their sleeves on architecture, risk assessments, and audits.
Your vCISO sets strategy and rolls up their sleeves on architecture, risk assessments, and audits.
Compliance depth
One leader for every framework you face
Experience across SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, FedRAMP, and HIPAA keeps all your obligations on one plan.
Experience across SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, FedRAMP, and HIPAA keeps all your obligations on one plan.
Business-first security
Security decisions that support growth
Every recommendation is tied to revenue, customer trust, or operational risk, not technology for its own sake.
Every recommendation is tied to revenue, customer trust, or operational risk, not technology for its own sake.
Knowledge transfer
Your team gets stronger, not dependent
We mentor your IT and security staff, so the capability stays with you as you grow.
We mentor your IT and security staff, so the capability stays with you as you grow.
Your vCISO rolls up their sleeves and gets the work done.
How we work
From first assessment to a program that runs
01
Discovery & Assessment
We learn your business, systems, and obligations, and assess where your security program stands today.
02
Security Roadmap
We build a prioritized roadmap with budget, milestones, and owners, aligned to your business goals.
03
Policies & Governance
We put in place the policies, roles, and decision-making your customers and auditors expect to see.
04
Program Execution
We lead and guide the work with your IT team, vendors, and managed service providers, keeping projects on track.
05
Board & Executive Reporting
Regular reporting gives leadership a clear view of risk, progress, and where investment is needed next.
06
Continuous Improvement
We revisit risks, adjust priorities, and prepare you for audits as your business and threats change.
FAQ
Virtual CISO questions, answered
The service
What does a virtual CISO do?
A vCISO leads your security program: setting strategy, owning policies and governance, managing risk and compliance, reporting to leadership, and guiding your team during incidents. The difference from a full-time CISO is the engagement model, not the responsibility.
How is a vCISO different from a security consultant?
A consultant usually delivers a defined project. A vCISO takes ongoing ownership of your program and stays accountable for its results, month after month.
We already have an IT team or managed service provider. Do we still need a vCISO?
Often, yes. IT teams and MSPs keep systems running, while a vCISO sets security direction, manages risk, and answers to leadership and auditors. Your vCISO works alongside them, not in place of them.
Can our vCISO help with SOC 2, CMMC, or HIPAA?
Yes. Your vCISO can lead your compliance program, prepare you for audits, and coordinate with auditors and assessors, so multiple frameworks run on one plan.
Engagement, timing, and cost
How many hours does a vCISO work?
As many or as few as you need. Engagements are typically a monthly retainer sized to your goals, and hours can scale up during audits or major projects and down once the program is running.
Is the vCISO on-site or remote?
Either. Most work happens remotely, with on-site time for workshops, leadership meetings, or key milestones when it helps.
How quickly can a vCISO start?
Right away. We begin with a discovery and assessment, then agree on priorities for the first months.
How much does a vCISO cost?
Cost depends on your size, obligations, and the hours you need each month. There is no one-size-fits-all fee. We provide a clear proposal after an initial conversation.
Security leadership in practice
Security without a leader drifts
A vCISO keeps roles, responsibilities, and accountability clear and priorities on track.
Next step
Tell us where you stand
Tell us about your organization and what you need from security leadership. We’ll reply with next steps and a proposal sized to your goals.