A vCISO (Virtual Chief Information Security Officer) provides the same leadership and strategic oversight as a traditional CISO but on a flexible, non-full-time basis.

They help organizations develop and manage security programs, ensure compliance, define security strategy and architecture, and communicate cybersecurity posture to stakeholders. vCISO services are typically delivered by experienced security professionals, consultants, or trusted partners such as MSPs and MSSPs.

Cybersecurity isn’t just about tools, it’s about people, processes, and technology working together. While technology provides protection, true security comes from having the right policies, trained people, and processes to manage risk and compliance.

Many SMBs can’t afford or don’t need a full-time CISO, whose salary can exceed $200K annually. A vCISO fills this gap by offering part-time, expert security leadership that takes a holistic, objective view of your company’s cybersecurity posture, and at a fraction of the cost.

While the terms vCISO, fractional CISO and CISOaaS (CISO as a Service) can be used interchangeably, there are some implied differences between them.  

A fractional CISO can sometimes refer to a third-party (i.e.non-payroll) CISO who spends time on-site; whereas a vCISO usually provides their services completely off-site. CISOaaS can refer to a company providing third-party services, as opposed to an individual. 

A vCISO is responsible for overseeing an organization’s entire cybersecurity program, ensuring its technology, processes, and people are aligned and effective. They assess the current security posture, identify gaps, and create a plan to strengthen security and compliance.

Key responsibilities include:

• Defining the company’s security vision and strategy
• Selecting and aligning with relevant security frameworks
• Assessing risks, compliance, and internal controls
• Developing and implementing security policies and procedures
• Recommending budgets and security technologies
• Conducting gap analyses and tracking remediation progress

In short, a vCISO ensures that your organization’s security is comprehensive, compliant, and continuously improving.

Almost every organization can benefit from a vCISO. As cyber threats now target businesses of all sizes, even small and mid-sized companies need strategic security leadership. Hiring a full-time CISO is costly and competitive, but a vCISO provides the same expertise on a flexible, affordable basis.

While large enterprises often have full-time CISOs, companies with fewer than 1,000 employees can strengthen their cybersecurity, compliance, and resilience effectively through a vCISO.

Select a vCISO partner led by experienced security professionals who understand your business, compliance needs, and risk landscape. Look for trusted providers, such as MSPs, MSSPs, or specialized consultants, who offer personalized, high-quality, and cost-effective services aligned with global best practices.

Ideally, your provider should use an advanced vCISO platform that leverages AI to assess security posture, identify risks, generate custom policies, and build strategic remediation plans. Such platforms ensure consistent, data-driven, and scalable security management.

A vCISO service provided by MSSPs, MSPs, or consultants ranges from a few thousand dollars for a one-time project for a small organization, to $30k – $120k annually. This will depend on numerous factors such as: 

• Is it a one-time project or an ongoing engagement? 
• What is the scope of the engagement? 
• How mature is your current information security program? 
• How much policy framework development is involved? 
• Compliance: what standards are required to be complied with, such as ISO 27001, PCI, Cyber Essentials, or SOC2? 
• Will the vCISO be working alone or managing a team?