The shift to the digital, interconnected economy in recent years has underscored the importance of cybersecurity for organizations of all sizes. Many business leaders understand now that security risk is a business risk. And they’re relying on the internal experts — whether it’s technology, security, finance, or compliance leaders — to make cybersecurity a strategic part of the business.
This shift has raised the prominence and important role of a CISO within the organization. Bringing in a full-time CISO, however, may not be viable — or even necessary — for some organizations.
Even if it is viable, recruiting a skilled CISO may be a struggle, and not just because the demand for this role has grown dramatically. Currently, the cybersecurity industry is experiencing what some have called the Great CISO Resignation. Increased burnout and rising job pressures, among other things, are driving security leaders to exit their profession in masse.
To help fill the gap, many organizations are outsourcing their CISO function to outside security leaders for security consulting, typically called virtual CISOs (vCISOs). But navigating the market for security consulting services can quickly get confusing. Here’s what you need to know.
A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is an outsourced security expert or team that provides cybersecurity leadership and guidance to organizations without requiring the commitment or expense of a full-time, in-house CISO.
When you’re looking for an outside security expert, you’ll likely encounter a half-dozen or so variations of the name. Virtual CISO (vCISO), fractional CISO, CISO-as-service, on-demand CISO, augmented CISO — what’s the difference? And which model is best for your organization?
As the great Bard once implied, a rose by any other name is still a rose. The same is true for the vCISO market. Essentially, you’re purchasing security consulting services. What the services are called is less important than who offers them and what core capabilities they bring.
The vCISO service may be offered by an individual consultant, team, or platform-based marketplace. Some of the most common providers are:
| Key Considerations | Cybersecurity Service Providers | Insurance Companies | Business & Professional Services Consultancies |
| Strategic Focus | Proactive, holistic security—ensures robust defense against evolving threats across prevention, detection, and response. | Narrow, reactive focus—mostly concerned with mitigating loss after an incident occurs. | Compliance over security—focused on meeting regulations more so than comprehensive security. |
| Risk Mitigation | Full-spectrum services including real-time threat detection and response, incident response, and ongoing security strategy development. | Limited to policy-driven risks—reactive guidance primarily focused on protecting the insurer. | Regulatory compliance without a strategic view on improving overall risk posture. |
| Impact on Security Posture | Security-first with compliance as a byproduct—a focus on overall resilience that ensures compliance as a natural outcome. | Compliance with insurance policies—more about policy adherence than improving long-term security. | Compliance-only focus—meets regulatory requirements, but security posture may remain vulnerable. |
| Outcome of Value | Strategic partnership for continuous improvement—builds long-term security maturity and adapts to changing threat landscapes. | Short-term cost focus—designed to minimize financial loss in the event of an incident, not to improve security. | Limited to compliance cycles—no continuous improvement of security posture beyond meeting regulations. |
The models for vCISO services are as diverse as the labels. Typically, you’ll find:
The types of services offered by vCISOs range from one provider to the next, but typically, your options may include:
Whether you are a startup looking to create a robust security posture or an established enterprise seeking to enhance your existing security framework, a vCISO can be instrumental to your security program.
If you want to get the most value from outside expertise, we recommend looking for a service that achieves three outcomes:
To meet these outcomes, look for these core capabilities as you evaluate vCISO services:
It’s not enough to identify risks that can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your information assets. You need to assess and prioritize them based on your organizational goals. Comprehensive risk assessments allow you to quantify potential threats and strategize on mitigations to ensure your risk posture aligns with those goals.
Risk management should be right-sized and customized to your organization based on criteria such as size and the probability of a risk occurring. To ensure you’re getting the biggest bang for your security dollar, look for a vCISO who can help you prioritize and address the most important risks first rather than overwhelming you with a list of risks that you’ll never address.
Operational efficiency helps you build a resilient cybersecurity program. This requires constant refining and optimizing of operational technologies and processes. Indicators that the cybersecurity service provider champions operational excellence include enhanced incident response capabilities, consistently fine-tuned security controls, and a culture of continuous improvement.
The technology landscape is dynamic. To ensure your cybersecurity measures remain robust and adapt to the evolving threats, your vCISO should continuously help you to:
Your vCISO also needs to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. Ask your potential partner how they will help you keep up with the changing landscape, deploy technology strategically, and integrate cutting-edge security solutions.
The Digital Hands vCISO program was designed in response to the dynamic nature of cyber threats. Our comprehensive, focused solution can be tailored to your needs to help you optimize security investments, reduce risks, and improve incident response.
Our goal is to make your organization more cyber resilient, not just compliant.
Cybersecurity is not about checking a compliance box — it’s a strategic business driver. Look for a seasoned vCISO partner who understands how security can drive your business forward — and you’ll be ready to face whatever challenges the cybersecurity landscape brings next. Get started today.