As cyberattacks become more prevalent, corporations are beginning to recognize the significance of implementing effective security measures offered by the IT help desk. A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) can generate significant progress toward this objective.
A virtual CISO (vCISO) can provide strategic and operational security leadership to organizations that cannot afford a full-time CISO. Chief information security officers (CISOs) are in great demand, and qualified candidates are expensive and difficult to find.
Here we offer you the best ways to ensure that you hire the right VCISO for your firm that can lead to future betterment.
What is a virtual CISO (VCISO)?
A virtual CISO is a part-time or remote security practitioner or service provider who lends their time and knowledge to a company on a temporary or continuous basis.
Companies that want to implement security controls but cannot hire a full-time CISO may find success with a virtual CISO. If you are a small or medium-sized organization looking to implement the necessary security controls, hiring a virtual CISO could be a brilliant starting point.
Part-time opportunities as a virtual CISO are becoming more prevalent as firms recruit more individuals for consultancy positions across the enterprise. Virtual CISOs can be placed by a company or IT helpdesk support that provides them as a service, similar to a talent agency, or they can operate as independent contractors. In either case, firms can hire a virtual CISO without adding a full-time employee on-site and still benefit from access to security expertise.
What does a vCISO do?
A vCISO contributes to the protection of an organization’s IT infrastructure by performing a variety of duties. Each of these responsibilities is designed to maximize security while decreasing expenses.
Here are some of the primary responsibilities you might anticipate a vCISO to perform:
- Conducting routine penetration tests and scanning for vulnerabilities
- Examining and updating existing security policies and practices
- Ensuring conformity to industry laws such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc.
- Developing and using incident response strategies (IRPs)
- Making recommendations for the replacement or reinforcement of current security tools and resources
- The most crucial aspect of a vCISO’s responsibility is to identify and explain the infosec risk a company faces and propose methods to lower this risk level when necessary.
Finding the right VCISO for your organization at the right time can prevent you from so many security threats. However, what considerations must one pay attention to before choosing the right Virtual CISO for their organization?
Business factors to consider when employing a vCISO
While the numerous advantages of a virtual chief information security officer (vCISO) are incredibly tempting, there are several crucial factors to consider before hiring one.
A successful vCISO must also be adaptable and quick to learn, they need to quickly grasp the specific business environment in which your organization functions and the primary strategic objectives of that corporation. Only when the vCISO comprehends these can he build and integrate the information security strategy with the business plan of your firm. However, choosing the wrong VCISO can have the opposite effect and damage your business.
So, how can you know what quality you are receiving without extensive auditing? How do you ensure that they will deliver as promised? The considerations mentioned below can help you answer this and ensure that you are not investing in an incompatible or wrong VCISO for your firm.
- You must clearly define the vCISO’s responsibilities before engaging candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge.
- The manner in which your firm utilizes a vCISO is very dependent on its structure, products and services, markets, and IT. So, Educate yourself on the business objectives of your program’s security.
- Understand the sorts of information you manage and the regulations you must follow.
- Comprehend the components of a security program, including company and industry standards.
- Evaluate your current program’s compliance with regulations and architecture.
- Comprehending the subject matter is crucial but understanding the application within one’s risk tolerance context is essential. Make sure your chosen candidate knows how to do this.
- Always do vCISO provider research with a budget in mind.
- Compare virtual CISO choices based on their annual cost, resources, and technologies.
- Consider how each alternative will affect your current situation to determine which is the most effective.
- Ensure to have a Non-Disclosure Agreement in place. Apply the same nondisclosure agreement to a project-based vCISO as you would to a full-time CISO. A solid privacy policy should be incorporated within the NDA.
- Additionally, perform adequate employee verification. A Verification is crucial on both ends, including vCISO agency and the individual delivering vCISO services.
If you fail to find the right candidate, requesting suggestions from within the industry is the best way. Look for someone with the right talents and experience for your industry and business type. Find someone who has the ability to swiftly and efficiently switch between risk appetites and cultures.
Still, confused about whether or not to go for a Virtual CISO? Let’s review some benefits to help you make the right decision.
What are the Advantages of a vCISO?
Why select a virtual CISO over a conventional one? For a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee, you receive the expertise of a world-class CISO and specialized security personnel. Apart from this, vCISO services give numerous benefits to your firm, including:
- A helpful solution when a temporary presence is required.
- The knowledge of a full-time CISO without the associated expenses or training.
- Expert help for navigating newly implemented cybersecurity regulations.
- Current updates on threats and strategies.
- Anticipate future security and compliance concerns, such as data breaches, data theft, identity theft, and commercial loss.
- The vCISO manages the risk management team.
- Development of incident response plans.
A vCISO may be your best choice
A virtual CSO program enables a business to benefit from the knowledge of a CISO without adding a full-time person to the payroll. This circumstance can benefit all parties concerned. Every firm should consider utilizing a vCISO to achieve its security goals.
