Service / vCISO & Strategic Advisory
vCISO and strategic security advisory
Senior security leadership when you need it. None of the cost when you don't. Built for companies between "we need a CISO" and "we can afford a CISO."
The problem
You've outgrown ad-hoc security. You're not ready for a $400K hire.
Your customers are asking for SOC 2. Your investors want a security program before the next round. Your engineering team is making security decisions in Slack threads. You need executive-level security leadership — but a full-time CISO costs $300–500K all-in and takes 6+ months to hire.
A vCISO bridges the gap. Senior security leadership, on a fractional schedule, accountable for the outcomes a full-time CISO would own.
What we do
What our vCISO engagements cover
Security strategy & roadmap
We define your security strategy with your leadership team, build a 12–18 month roadmap, and execute on it. Not a one-time deliverable — an ongoing partnership.
Compliance readiness
SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS. We get you audit-ready: policies, procedures, evidence collection, control implementation, auditor management. We've done this many times; you don't have to.
Risk management & board reporting
Risk register, board-level security reporting, third-party risk assessments, security questionnaire responses. Material your CEO can confidently present.
Security operations oversight
We manage your security stack, vendors, and incident response. We own the relationships with your MSP, your auditor, and your security tooling vendors so your team can focus on shipping.
Engagement models
Three ways to engage
Fractional vCISO
8–20 hours/week of dedicated CISO time. Monthly retainer. 6-month minimum. Ideal for companies 50–250 employees with active security needs.
Project-based vCISO
Defined-scope engagement for a specific outcome — SOC 2 in 90 days, HIPAA readiness, post-breach program rebuild. Fixed fee, fixed timeline.
Advisory vCISO
1–2 hours/week, ongoing. Strategic counsel for companies with an internal security lead who needs a senior sounding board.
The 90-day sprint
What the first 90 days typically look like
- 01
Days 1–30 — Assess & align
Security posture assessment. Stakeholder interviews. Gap analysis against your target compliance framework. We deliver a current-state report and a prioritized 12-month roadmap.
- 02
Days 31–60 — Foundation
Policy framework deployed. Risk register stood up. Critical controls implemented or remediated. Security awareness program launched. Customer-facing security materials updated.
- 03
Days 61–90 — Execution & cadence
Quarterly security review cadence established. Board-level security reporting in place. Compliance evidence collection running. Your security program is now operational and visible.
What you get
Deliverables across a typical engagement
- Information security policy library, tailored to your business
- Risk register and risk treatment plan
- Compliance program (framework of your choice)
- Vendor and third-party risk management process
- Incident response plan, tabletop exercises
- Security awareness program
- Board and customer security reporting templates
- Security questionnaire response library (saves your team weeks per year)
Why Defenssive vCISO
What makes our vCISO engagements different
Senior leadership, every engagement
Every vCISO engagement is led by a practitioner with 10+ years in security leadership roles. Not a junior consultant with a CISO title for the sales call.
We do the work, not just the advice
Most vCISO firms write recommendations and bill you to implement them. We build the policies, configure the tools, and run the audits with you. The retainer covers execution, not just opinion.
Transparent pricing, no hidden hours
Flat monthly retainer. You always know what you're paying. No scope creep invoices, no surprise charges. If we need more time, we tell you why and what changes.
Pricing
Transparent vCISO pricing
Starter
from $3,500/month
8 hours/week of vCISO time. Suited for companies under 50 employees or in early compliance prep. Includes monthly executive review.
Book a callGrowth
from $7,500/month
16 hours/week of vCISO time, plus access to our security engineering team for implementation work. Most popular for companies 50–200 employees pursuing SOC 2 or HIPAA.
Book a callScale
custom
Dedicated vCISO plus a delivery team. Ideal for companies 200+ employees, multi-framework compliance, or post-incident program rebuild.
Book a callAll engagements include a no-cost discovery call and proposal. 6-month minimum commitment on retainer tiers.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a vCISO and a security consultant?
How fast can you start?
Do you replace our internal security person?
What happens at the end of the engagement?
Are you available for incident response?
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Talk to a senior vCISO consultant. 30 minutes, no pitch, real recommendations on what your security program needs next.