A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is an experienced and dedicated expert in cybersecurity and compliance who collaborates with your company to develop strategies and manage projects for meeting security requirements. 

A vCISO works with clients at their own pace to manage risk and implement governance. The duties of a vCISO include preparing IT security budgets and integrating cybersecurity into an overall IT strategy to strengthen the security posture. vCISOs may use AI tools to assist them in developing compliance frameworks. Other functions range from making managed services and managed security service recommendations to developing industry-specific cybersecurity models. 

Any type of business can benefit from working with a vCISO, but companies in highly regulated industries should take advantage of expertise in compliance. Companies with IT teams that lack cybersecurity leadership and skills also benefit from vCISO services. 

A business should consider hiring a vCISO if they face challenges related to cybersecurity and compliance. Companies that have difficulty understanding regulatory requirements and lack the bandwidth necessary to meet compliance regulations should hire a vCISO. A vCISO will help organizations that haven’t achieved cybersecurity maturity and need to document security policies or incident response plans.