What is a vCSO? A vCSO, or virtual Chief Security Officer, is a critical addition to any business. But what is a vCSO? What does a vCSO do?
In this article, we'll explain what a vCSO is, what a vCSO does, the difference between vCSO as a service and an independent vCSO, and why a vCSO is a great tool for businesses and organizations of all sizes.
What is a vCSO?
A vCSO (virtual Chief Security Officer) is an outsourced cybersecurity professional who works with businesses in an advisory capacity to help guide and refine their cybersecurity strategies.
A virtual Chief Security Officer keeps businesses ahead of the curve by constantly analyzing new vulnerabilities and metrics.
What Does a vCSO Do?
The duties and responsibilities of a vCSO include:
Vendor Self-Assessment Questionnaires
Vendor Self-Assessment Questionnaires
Risk Assessment Questionnaires
Incident Response Procedures
Ransomware Tabletop Exercises
Security Incident Logs
Critical Asset Evaluations
Quarterly Privilege Reviews
Threat Intelligence
Penetration Testing
Monthly Analysis Logs
Quarterly Analysis Logs
Physical Access Checkpoints
Remote User Checklists
Risk/Control Policy Standards
Budget Worksheets
Executive Leadership Frameworks
Policy Presentations
Security Presentations
A vCSO is involved in all aspects of an organization’s security strategy. The bullet points listed above are just a high-level snapshot of how a vCSO will bolster your security posture.
Now we get into some tricky territory: the different ways in which the term “vCSO” is currently being used. Like many tech terms and titles, “vCSO” is used somewhat fluidly, which can sometimes make it difficult to understand what the term actually means.
What are the two types of vCSO?
There are two main types of vCSO out there, and it’s worth noting that, while similar in function and responsibilities, there are some key differences.
Single-Person Solution — Virtual (Remote) CSO
A virtual Chief Security Officer can be a single individual with cybersecurity experience. This person often works remotely advising more than one organization, but you can also choose to hire a full-time remote CSO.
There are more accurate terms available for an individual splitting their time between different companies. “Remote CSO” or “Fractional CSO,” perhaps. But the key takeaway is that a remote Chief Security Officer is a single individual working . . . well, remotely. They’re called a vCSO because—let’s face it—the word “virtual” sounds cooler.
Advantages of a single-person solution: A single-person vCSO has no built-in advantage over vCSO as a service beyond personal preference. Some business and organization leaders might prefer to work directly with an individual rather than partner with a cybersecurity provider.
Cybersecurity Provider Partnership — vCSO as a Service
On the other hand, vCSO as a service does the same work, but instead of a single individual, you’ll partner with a cybersecurity provider like a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). You should expect to work with a single point of contact, just like you would with an individual hire.
Advantages of vCSO as a Service: With vCSO as a service, you’ll still build a rapport with a familiar face, but that individual’s work will be backed by investments in advanced resources, tools, and experience that a single individual can’t provide.
Maybe you prefer a single-person solution, or perhaps your team has different opinions on the subject. How do you decide which type of vCSO is right for your organization?
Which Type of vCSO is Right for You?
It comes down to a couple of key factors. You may have accounting considerations and/or personal preferences that lead you to believe that a direct hire is preferable over outsourcing the role to a business.
Another consideration: the effectiveness of a vCSO as a service can depend on the company offering it. Be sure to do your research and ask questions. It bears repeating that you should expect to build a rapport with a single point of contact at a cybersecurity company when investing in vCSO services.
Which Type of vCSO is Most Effective?
Let’s say your cybersecurity provider is reliable and experienced, and you have an individual candidate who looks great on paper. In this situation, with all things being equal, a vCSO as a service will always provide a higher return on investment than an individual vCSO. Put simply, a cybersecurity provider can invest more capital in advanced tools than an individual security officer.
By choosing vCSO as a service, you’ll benefit from the combined expertise of a skilled team of experienced security professionals while maintaining a consistent rapport with a familiar point of contact. All other factors being equal, investing in vCSO services with a cybersecurity provider is a far better option than hiring an individual to fill the position.
Why Use a vCSO?
Easy: Risk! Threat actors are more innovative, adaptable, and aggressive than ever, and they pose more of a threat to your operations than you think.
If your most critical vendor is compromised, how long can you operate before losing money to downtime and/or lost sales? How about your third most critical vendor? Fifth?
How much of your data do your vendors have on file, and how exposed are you in the event they suffer an attack?
You’re only as secure as your least secure vendor. What is your exposure? What are your backup plans?
These things aren’t easy or fun to think about. A virtual Chief Security Officer analyzes these intricacies and much more, which is what makes a vCSO a foundational piece of any secure organization, big or small.
Skyrocketing Risk
According to a recent Forbes article forecasting cybersecurity trends for 2025, phishing messages increased by 202% over the final six months of 2024. With the increasing sophistication and accessibility of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, it’s easier than ever for bad actors to probe for weaknesses and launch widescale phishing and ransomware campaigns.
Think about running an ad campaign for your business on Facebook or LinkedIn, and the wide array of custom targeting options you have at your disposal to increase your chances of multiple conversions. Technology is opening the door for more hackers to mount similarly intelligent and focused campaigns—only they’re not marketing their businesses; they’re stealing from yours.
As attacks rise and more attackers gain access to advanced tools, it’s no surprise that more organizations are investing in vCSO services. A vCSO—particularly as a service backed by the power and experience of a cybersecurity provider like an MSSP—evens the playing field by providing critical insights and strategic guidance as you tighten your cybersecurity posture.
Compliance
If your organization has compliance standards to meet, a vCSO will become a key piece of your overall compliance strategy, streamline and secure the compliance process by identifying, organizing, and clearly communicating the steps you need to take to ensure ongoing compliance.
Cyber Insurance
If you have cyber insurance or plan to apply for a policy in the future, a vCSO will be an indispensable resource as you ensure your organization is up to the insurance provider’s standards and can respond accordingly to an incident. Remember, insurance companies aren’t in the business of looking for reasons to pay out claims. Cyber insurance is relatively new, and cyber insurance providers are countering skyrocketing claim numbers with higher premiums, stricter standards, and more rigorous investigations. Those investigations won’t necessarily focus on the attack itself, but rather on your security. Were you truthful in your application? In other words, if you tell them something is in place, and they can demonstrate it wasn’t (no matter how trivial it may seem), they’ll high-five each other and deny your claim. A vCSO can help you navigate the increasingly complex and stringent world of cyber insurance policies and claims.
Conclusion
In today’s heightened and unpredictable risk landscape, wanting to be secure isn’t enough. Threat actors are more innovative, adaptable, and aggressive than ever, and the tools at their disposal are advancing exponentially.
A vCSO analyzes risk and guides your organization through the process of uniting people, processes, and technology as your organization shores up weaknesses and adopts the kind of security-centric culture that can combat the skyrocketing rate of devastating cyberattacks. They'll start with a cyber risk assessment and work closely with you from there to develop a plan tailored to your organization's specific needs.