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Virtual CISO (vCISO)

Strategic security leadership for organizations that need a CISO function without a full-time executive hire.

What a vCISO does for you

A Chief Information Security Officer is responsible for the security program — the documented set of controls, policies, processes, and decisions that protect the organization. In a large enterprise, this is a full-time C-level role costing $200,000 to $400,000 in total compensation, depending on market and equity. In a 50-person clinic or a 200-person law firm, that role doesn't exist. The work doesn't go away; it just doesn't get done.

A vCISO does the same job on a fractional basis. We own your security strategy, your risk register, your policy framework, your audit preparation, and your executive reporting. We don't replace your IT team — we sit above them, accountable for the security program your IT team operates within.

What's included in a VALO vCISO engagement

Every engagement includes:

  • Security program ownership and quarterly business reviews
  • Risk register development, maintenance, and quarterly updates
  • Security policy and standard development, review, and annual refresh
  • Vendor risk management program
  • Incident response plan development and annual tabletop exercises
  • Audit preparation and auditor response support
  • Client and prospect security questionnaire response
  • Board-level and executive reporting
  • Ad hoc security advisory throughout the engagement

Engagement tiers

Foundational tier

For organizations building a security program from the ground up or maturing an informal one. Quarterly cadence, annual risk assessment, baseline policy framework, executive reporting.

Compliance-driven tier

For organizations under specific regulatory pressure (HIPAA, SOC 2, GLBA, CMMC). Adds dedicated compliance program leadership, GRC platform integration (Vanta, SecureFrame, or Drata), continuous evidence collection, and full audit preparation.

Pricing is engagement-specific and depends on organization size, regulatory framework, reporting cadence, and audit support intensity. We'll discuss it during a scoping call so the number you hear reflects your actual scope, not a generic rate card.

Your first 90 days

Month 1 — Discovery and assessment

We document your environment, regulatory exposure, existing controls, and stakeholders. Output: a current-state assessment and an initial risk register.

Month 2 — Roadmap and policy foundation

We deliver a prioritized 12-month security roadmap. Foundational policies are drafted, reviewed with your team, and finalized.

Month 3 — Operationalization

Risk register is live, vendor risk process is in place, incident response plan is drafted, first tabletop exercise is scheduled. We deliver the first quarterly business review to your executive team.

From month four forward, the engagement settles into a quarterly rhythm with continuous availability for incidents, questions, and ad hoc support.

Who this is for

Organizations between 25 and 500 employees with regulatory exposure (HIPAA, GLBA, SOC 2, ABA, IRS) and either no internal security leadership or an IT manager wearing too many hats. Healthcare practices, behavioral health groups, RIAs, accounting firms, law firms, and professional services firms are typical clients.

Who this isn't for

Organizations needing 24/7 security operations center monitoring should engage a managed security service provider. We can recommend partners. Organizations under ten employees with minimal regulatory exposure are usually better served by a one-time risk assessment than an ongoing retainer. We'll tell you if that's the case.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Your IT team or MSP runs technology operations. The vCISO runs the security program. We work alongside them, not over them. Most of our clients have an MSP we partner with directly.
Your incident response plan defines escalation. As your vCISO, we're part of that escalation. We coordinate response, advise on containment and notification decisions, and manage external communications including counsel and regulators if needed. For technical incident handling at scale, we'll bring in a digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) partner.
Engagements are typically 12-month terms with 60-day notice for non-renewal. We don't lock clients into multi-year contracts.
Yes, for healthcare engagements. We're a business associate under HIPAA and we sign BAAs as a standard part of healthcare engagements.
Every engagement is governed by an NDA. For law firms and accounting firms, we sign engagement-specific confidentiality agreements that align with your existing client confidentiality obligations.

Talk to us about your environment.

A 30-minute conversation to discuss your regulatory exposure, existing resources, and what a vCISO engagement would look like for your organization.

Schedule a conversation