Virtual CISOs and Virtual CCOs make sense when a company handles sensitive data and they undergo a fair amount (or more) of scrutiny from customers and prospects but don’t feel like they need a full-time resource. Our team has been heads of audit and security departments and had staff under them; however, that level of investment isn’t necessary until a company is quite large. If you’re internal team is getting bogged down by customer and prospect questionnaires and security inquiries, it makes sense to look into a Virtual CISO or Virtual CCO.
The important point here is that if you’re handling sensitive data and are receiving some level of scrutiny from customers and prospects around your security measures, you should be speaking with an experienced security professional early in your growth cycle if you don’t have the expertise in-house. You don’t necessarily need a virtual CISO immediately, but if you handle things properly, you’ll likely grow into the need.
