Virtual CISO: An Irresistible Alternative To CISO


The elevation of data breaches and compliance violations invoked concerns among cyber security experts and other associated professionals. As per a report published by the Identity Theft Resource Centre (ITRC), a registered figure of 1862 data breaches took place in the US in 2021, which was 68% higher compared to the data breaches that occurred in the US in 2020.

According to security experts, the stats of cyber threats will rise in 2023 and the forthcoming years. Industries like finance, healthcare, SaaS, businesses, and retails are among the most invaded sectors, affecting millions of US residents every year.


The rise in security breach events has also brought a lot of hassle to Chief Information Security Officers of different organizations.


Although it’s not a prime concern here. The matter of concern here is that there are several organizations out there that don’t even have a CISO to maintain the security posture within the organization. And irrespective of the size, every company is at risk of being invaded by cyber criminals.


Nowadays, small-size companies or enterprises are the most vulnerable target for hackers. Why? The lack of security and awareness makes them vulnerable to cyber-attacks and later causes them to lose a hefty amount of money in the form of ransom or penalty.


So, what can prevent small-size companies from security breaches? Contracting a vCISO can save companies from data breaches and other information security risks.

What is vCISO and How Does It Help Organizations?

A vCISO, or virtual CISO, is an information security professional who offers cybersecurity expertise and assistance to businesses on an interim or as-required basis. Unlike a full-time Chief Information Security Office (CISO) who is appointed by the organization, a vCISO works virtually or remotely and is often contracted for a particular period of time.


The role of a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer is to aid businesses to develop and maintain rigorous cybersecurity programs, establish and implement information security policies and processes, address and managing cyber risks, and responding to security breach incidents. A virtual CISO offers strategic guidance to assist organizations to comprehend their existing information security posture and build plans to improve it.


Appointing a virtual CISO or leveraging CISO as a Service can help businesses in a variety of ways, including:

Caters to Multiple Organizational Requirements

A vCISO serves multiple purposes, for instance, cyber-attack resilience planning, incident response planning, malicious activity reporting, Regulatory Compliance, cyber insurance procurement, stakeholders onboarding, etc.

Oversees the Organization’s Cyber Security Requirements

A vCISO is a qualified security officer that can effectively oversee and maintain the information security posture of the organization by collaborating with the IT team, C-suite, and other executives.

Offers Risk Management Services

A vCISO also offers risk management services. As an expert security officer and advisor to the organization, a vCISO can aid in identifying and evaluating risks and build strategies to lower cyber risks. And impose risk management guidelines/frameworks to ensure business continuity.

Mitigated Business Risk

Onboarding a prominent and authoritative employee is a big task and needs a major investment. It is believed that an underperforming employee can cost an organization up to five times their wages. However, hiring a vCISO can reduce the business risk, as you can go with the optimal service level from a wide variety of offerings and terminate the contract at any point if they are unable to meet the requirements.

How is A vCISO Better Than A CISO?

It would not be right to say that a vCISO is "better" than a CISO since they both serve different requirements and purposes inside an organization. However, vCISO can become an irresistible alternative to a CISO. A vCISO offers part-time or as-required cybersecurity expertise to companies, whereas, a full-time CISO is appointed by the organization and looks after its overall security program.


However, for organizations that cannot afford to hire a full-time cybersecurity expert, vCSIO as a service becomes an appealing option.


Here are a few examples that make contracting vCISO over a CISO the wisest decision:


  • Radically Lower Wages: A virtual CISO can deliver cybersecurity expertise to a business without the expense of appointing a full-time CISO. Plus, a virtual CISO charges radically lower than a full-time CISO, which proves to be a favor-for-price deal for the organizations.


  • Flexibility: A virtual CISO can be engaged for a particular project or duration, providing firms with the flexibility to cater to their cybersecurity needs as required.


  • Expertise: A vCISO brings rich cybersecurity experience and knowledge to a company, offering valuable insights and assistance on security best practices.


  • Scalability: A virtual CISO can scale its information security services up or down depending on an organization's requisites, offering a budget-friendly and flexible solution.


  • Compliance: Contracting a vCISO helps firms navigate critical regulatory and standard compliance needs, making certain they meet all pertinent information security standards and regulations.

Conclusion

Overall, leveraging vCISO services can provide organizations with cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and expert cybersecurity guidance, helping them to develop and maintain vigorous cybersecurity programs and reduce security risks.


Reach out to an organization that offers vCISO services as per your requirements and fits your budget.

https://www.upguard.com/blog/biggest-data-breaches-us

https://cybersecurity.att.com/blogs/security-essentials/virtual-ciso-services-explained

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