Virtual CISO Services
Senior security leadership, on a flexible basis, backed by a full team of specialists.
Designed for organisations that need dedicated security
leadership but do not yet have it in-house.
Virtual CISO (vCISO) service
Most businesses reach a point where cyber security needs clear ownership and strategic direction, but hiring a full-time security leader is not yet the right fit. The gap between “nobody owns this” and “we have a CISO” is where risk accumulates, compliance falters and client confidence erodes.
Our Virtual CISO (vCISO) service is designed to close that gap by providing flexible access to senior security expertise, embedded within your organisation at a level that reflects your current needs, rather than the commitment of a full-time hire.
- Flexible access to experienced senior security leadership
- Strategic guidance aligned to your business objectives
- Governance, compliance and risk management expertise
- Support across technical architecture, incident response and third-party risk
- A named vCISO backed by the knowledge and capability of our wider security practice
With a dedicated vCISO leading your engagement and the strength of our full team behind them, you gain trusted security leadership that grows with your organisation.
Benefits Of Our vCISO Service
Immediate Senior Leadership
Gain immediate access to a seasoned security executive, without the time and commitment of recruiting a full-time CISO.
Expertise Across Leading Frameworks & Regulations
Our vCISOs have deep experience with internationally recognised standards, including ISO 27001, NIST CSF, CSA, DORA, and NIS2.
Tailored Strategic Support
We align our recommendations with your business’s needs and objectives, so you’re always prepared for evolving threats and compliance needs.
How Your vCISO Supports Your Business
Alignment to Global Security Standards
ISO 27001:2022 Compliance
We guide you through certification with gap assessments, required documentation, and audit preparation.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) Implementation
We assess your security maturity, identify gaps, and create a tailored roadmap to enhance risk management and resilience.
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Guidance
We mitigate cloud risks with best practices for governance, risk management, and control implementation using the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix.
Regulatory Compliance Support
- Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) Compliance
We provide a comprehensive gap assessment and roadmap for compliance, focusing on ICT risk management, incident reporting, and operational continuity planning.
- Network and Information Security (NIS2) Directive Compliance
We support your organisation’s NIS2 readiness by conducting gap assessments, supporting the development of security policies, and ensuring compliance with supply chain security, incident response, and risk governance obligations.
Strategic Cyber Security Advisory
- Cyber Security Strategy Development
We align your cyber security strategy with business objectives, ensuring that security investments deliver maximum value.
- Risk Management & Governance
We establish or enhance your organisation’s risk management framework through risk identification, assessment, treatment, and monitoring to ensure that risks are managed effectively.
- Executive & Board Reporting
We ensure senior stakeholders understand the organisation’s risk posture, key threats, and areas requiring action. We provide clear, concise, and actionable reports and briefings for informed decision-making at the executive and board levels.
Access to a Team, Not Just an Individual
Your named vCISO is your primary point of contact and programme lead, supported by a wider team of specialists across:
- Governance, risk and compliance
- Cloud and network security architecture
- Penetration testing and vulnerability management
- Third-party and supply-chain risk
- Security awareness and culture change
What this means in practice
One relationship, backed by the full capability of a security practice.
- When needed, we bring in specialist expertise at no extra cost.
- When your needs evolve, the team evolves with you.
- Leverage cross-industry experience in security and compliance.
vCISO Engagement Areas
Security leadership and expertise tailored to your organisation’s goals, risks, and stage of growth.
Risk & Compliance
Gap analysis and readiness for ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus, NIST CSF and GDPR. Own and maintain your risk register. Manage regulatory relationships and audit processes.
Security Strategy & Leadership
Define your security vision and build a board-ready programme roadmap. Attend board meetings, investor sessions and client due diligence reviews as your security lead.
Incident Preparedness & Response
Develop incident response plans, run tabletop exercises and build actionable playbooks. Be available during live incidents for containment, communication and post-incident review.
Policy & Programme Development
Create the policies, standards and controls that form the foundation of your security programme. Ensure they are proportionate, practical and embedded in how your organisation actually operates.
Awareness & Culture
Design security awareness programmes that change behaviour, including tailored training, phishing simulation strategy and executive coaching.
Security Architecture & Oversight
Review cloud, hybrid and on-premise architectures. Advise on secure SDLC and DevSecOps. Scope and oversee penetration testing, and hold suppliers accountable for remediation.
Third-Party Risk Management
Design and operate a supplier assurance programme covering your entire supply chain. Risk-tier vendors, conduct assessments, manage remediation and provide ongoing oversight.
Third-Party Risk Management
in Depth
Supply-chain risk is one of the most consistently underestimated exposures in a modern organisation. Most businesses have hundreds of third parties with some level of access to systems, data or operations, and very few have a structured way of understanding what risk each one represents.
Our third-party risk management service gives you that structure. We work with you to:
- Inventory & Classification:
Map your supplier landscape and risk-tier each vendor based on the data and access they hold.
- Assurance & Due Diligence:
Conduct proportionate security assessments, including questionnaires, review of certifications and technical assurance where warranted.
- Contractual Controls:
Define and embed the security obligations that should sit within supplier contracts and data processing agreements.
- Ongoing Monitoring & Remediation:
Track supplier risk over time, manage remediation actions and escalate where a third party falls below your required standard.
Engagement Models
We structure every engagement to reflect your current stage and objectives. Most clients begin with one model and evolve over time:
1-2 days / month
Advisory
Strategy, board reporting, risk oversight and on-demand advice, with regular QBRs and access to the specialist team.
Best suited to: early-stage organisations, SMBs and board-level support requirements.
3 - 4 days / month
Embedded
Full programme ownership covering delivery, governance, compliance, third-party risk and incident readiness.
Fixed scope
Certification Sprint
A targeted, time-boxed programme to achieve ISO 27001, with the wider team engaged as required.
Why Clients Choose This Model
Our service covers the full scope of what a senior security leader would be expected to own and drive:
Immediate deployment
No recruitment cycle. Your vCISO is introduced within days, with a 90-day plan agreed at kick-off.
Breadth of the practice
You access a team, not a single pair of hands. Specialist depth is available across every security domain.
Fractional cost
A full-time CISO typically costs £150k–£250k per year in salary alone. Our engagements deliver equivalent leadership at a fraction of that investment.
Vendor-agnostic advice
We have no commercial relationships with technology vendors. Every recommendation is made in your interest alone.
Flexible and scalable
Scale hours and scope up or down as your business evolves. No fixed multi-year contract and no penalties for changing your requirements.
Continuity and accountability
A named lead, a documented programme and a consistent presence — not a rotating cast of consultants with no institutional memory.