Rende is the founder & CEO of Rhymetec, a cybersecurity firm providing cybersecurity, compliance and data privacy needs to SaaS companies.
The role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has emerged as a critical component for businesses of every size. However, not every organization has a need to employ a full-time person. The emergence of the virtual CISO (vCISO) offers a solution to this problem, but there’s palpable confusion in the marketplace about what a vCISO is and what they do.
Much of the confusion stems from the fact that the role of a vCISO is not one-size-fits-all; it varies significantly based on the specific needs, size and industry of each company. Some see a vCISO as a strategic advisor, and others view them as hands-on security leaders, while still others consider them compliance experts.
This lack of a standard definition has led to a marketplace where companies are often unsure whether they need a vCISO, what to expect from one and how to measure their effectiveness.
Parameters Of The vCISO Role
A vCISO is essentially an outsourced security expert. In today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and prevalent, having someone who can guide your company’s cybersecurity strategy is crucial. The role of a vCISO varies depending on a company’s specific needs. Understanding the role of a vCISO and the services offered can help you decide whether a vCISO is right for your company.
Some vCISOs provide advisory services, helping companies understand their security needs and develop a plan to address them. Others offer more comprehensive services, managing a company’s entire security program. Additionally, some vCISOs specialize in certain industries, while others deliver a more general service.
Reasons To Consider Deploying A vCISO
Several situations can arise where a company might determine a need for a vCISO. If your business is growing rapidly, scaling to enterprise business or dealing with an increasing amount of sensitive data, a vCISO can help manage the associated security risks and ensure your team is meeting security standards within your respective markets.
You might also need a vCISO if you’re facing specific security challenges. For example, during a project to migrate operations to the cloud, a vCISO can guide you through the process and ensure your data remains secure.
In heavily regulated industries like healthcare or finance, a vCISO can ensure you’re meeting all necessary compliance requirements, guarantee that you remain up-to-date with the latest regulations and help you address any compliance gaps. And if you’ve recently experienced a data breach, a vCISO can help you respond effectively, investigate the incident, identify the cause and implement measures to prevent future violations.
Finding The Right Fit
Once you’ve identified your company’s suitability for a vCISO solution, look for an individual or team with experience in your industry. Ask potential vendors the following questions to establish how they operate.
• Will the people building/maintaining our infosec program work in-house, or are they contractors? The answer to this question impacts your level of control over your security strategy and the responsiveness of your security team.
• Do you outsource any of your services overseas? If so, where? This answer matters because selecting a vCISO who outsources your services overseas could impact your data’s quality and security.
• Do you cap the hours (daily, weekly or monthly) that your security or compliance expert works with our team? This speaks to the availability of your vCISO. You need to know that your appointed vCISO will be available when you need them, especially in the event of a security incident or answering security questions from stakeholders.
• How does communication work between our team and yours? Successful communication is crucial in cybersecurity, so you must ensure that your vCISO will communicate effectively with your team.
• What experience do you have in providing cybersecurity and compliance services to businesses similar to ours? A vCISO with expertise in your industry will be better equipped to understand your specific security challenges and needs, better tailoring their efforts to meet security and compliance requirements within less time.
Each of these questions aims to help you understand a different aspect of your company’s security needs. By obtaining clear, unambiguous answers, you can make an informed decision about hiring a vCISO. Choose a vendor whose approach aligns with your company culture, and request (and check) references.
The Benefits Brought By A vCISO
Working with a vCISO can bring numerous benefits to your company. One of the key advantages is that a vCISO can provide expert guidance without the cost of hiring a full-time executive, which can prove especially helpful for smaller and medium-sized enterprises facing budget constraints that might hinder them from hiring a full-time CISO.
A vCISO can also provide an outside perspective, helping you see potential security risks you might have missed. They can bring their experience from working with other companies and industries, which can be invaluable in developing effective security strategies.
This robust expertise can also impact the rate at which you meet your security and compliance goals. For example, in the startup world, organizations move fast. A vCISO can move as quickly as your business is ready and allow you to focus on other critical aspects of growing your business—offering peace of mind as you enter into the marketplace.
Furthermore, a vCISO can help you build a security-conscious culture within your company. They can provide training and awareness programs to ensure your employees understand the importance of cybersecurity and know how to protect your company’s data from the early stages. This can impact how each of your employees views and manages important customer data and can greatly improve the development of your software or application to intertwine security within your technology.
A Final Word To CEOs
As a CEO, it’s crucial that you carefully consider your company’s cybersecurity requirements and make the right choice for your organization. Take the time to understand your needs, consider your options and choose a vCISO who can truly support your company’s security strategy and overarching business initiatives. The benefits of making the right choice can be significant, helping protect your company and data in the future.
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Read the full article here
