As your business grows and scales, and you are considering your own cybersecurity posture, you may have heard someone mention a CISO or vCISO and are questioning if your business needs one. In the final installment of our October cyber series, we are going to cover what someone in the role of a CISO or vCISO does and when you may need one in your security journey. Let’s dive in.
What is a CISO?
Like any c-suite role, the Chief Information Security Officer, or CISO, is an executive organizational role that is chiefly responsible for the security of any information stored, processed, or transmitted through a company’s infrastructure.
A CISO may be responsible for ensuring proper technical controls are in place as well as proper training for staff to manage information protection holistically.
What is a VCISO and How Does That Differ?
A vCISO (or Fractional CISO) offers flexibility in addition to other advantages to companies who need CISO services but cannot justify the cost. A vCISO can fulfill the role of a traditional CISO without the HR costs PLUS add a layer of impartiality that isn’t possible with an internally positioned hire
For example, a vCISO isn’t incentivized in the same way as an internal CISO, so depending on your corporate environment it can better align incentives with outcomes.
When Should You Bring in a CISO or vCISO?
So as a business owner, at what point in your security journey should you consider bringing in a CISO or vCISO?
Many times the decision to bring in a vCISO is made after you’ve made significant headway in building a cybersecurity program. In many cases, businesses don’t need to start with a vCISO, though it represents a significant value over a traditional CISO. However, a vCISO may be underutilized without a mature cybersecurity program.
It’s important to remember that starting your cybersecurity journey with a trusted partner or cybersecurity consultancy is often the most effective route.
And That’s a Wrap!
This concludes our four-part cybers series. We hope you found this information helpful and that you can take some of this information back and use it in your own business or organization.
We understand first-hand that the IT and cybersecurity landscapes can be difficult and oftentimes, incredibly frustrating when you have to deal with it on your own. To learn more about how our people-centered IT experts can give you supreme cyber-confidence, contact us today.
