Cyber Risk Management Support – Virtual CISO (vCISO)

THE MODERN CYBERSECURITY LANDSCAPE

Cyber threats are on the rise. Threat actors are no longer harmless kids trying to gain notoriety for beating the system. Threats arise from organized crime groups, state-sponsored actors, and hacktivist groups. Organizations of all sizes are being targeted, including high-growth enterprises and mid-market companies.

The outcomes of not protecting your information assets can be consequential and may include:

• Loss of productivity from ransomware or denial of service attacks
• Loss of intellectual property and personal information
• Reputational damage and lost revenue
• Regulatory fines and damages

Responding to cyber threats is not easy for entrepreneurs of high-growth enterprises and leaders of mid-market companies. Finding and hiring people with the right business understanding and knowledge of security, risk, and technology is difficult and expensive. Yet, without the proper expertise, your organization increases the risk of exposure to cyber threats.

WHAT IS A vCISO?

A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is a security professional who provides advisory and strategic cybersecurity leadership to organizations on a part-time or fractional basis. The purpose of a vCISO is to provide the necessary expertise to manage cyber risk without the need to engage a full-time resource.

vCISOs can support high-growth enterprises and mid-market companies with various initiatives, such as:

• Developing a cybersecurity strategy
• Implementing or optimizing a security program
• Ensuring regulatory compliance (such as SOC, PCI, SOX)
• Supporting Incident response and disaster recovery activities
• Performing risk assessments and quantifying risk
• Conducting employee security awareness training
• Implementing Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions
• Conducting third-party risk management activities
• Handling Board or Committee presentations and communications

By engaging a vCISO, organizations can access the expertise of a seasoned cybersecurity professional on an as-needed basis to perform risk management activities without the financial commitment associated with a full-time executive.

This approach allows organizations to benefit from strategic cybersecurity guidance tailored to their needs, contributing to a more resilient and secure digital environment while providing maximum flexibility.

HOW WE CAN HELP  

Richter’s Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) service will pair your organization with a dedicated, experienced CISO on an as-needed basis.

Onboarding and customization – Upon assigning a virtual CISO to your organization, they will meet with your management team to understand your business and security objectives. They will also review and understand your organization’s technology environment, business processes, and the roles and responsibilities of your management team.

Service catalogue – Your virtual CISO will have the experience and knowledge to assist your organization with the following and more:

• Vulnerability assessment and Penetration testing (VAPT)
• Tabletop exercises
• Threat and Risk Assessments (TRAs)
• Fraud risk assessments
• Systems and Organization Controls (SOC) reports
• Payment Card Industry (PCI) advisory services
• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) assurance services
• Internal audit support
• Enterprise risk management
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) implementation

Local resources – Your virtual CISO will be a local practitioner who knows your immediate market. They will be supported by a team of security professionals with access to prominent security technology vendors, membership to security research organizations, and knowledge of industry good practices.

Deep Expertise – Your virtual CISO will be a seasoned advisor with several years of experience. They will have demonstrated business, technology, security, risk, regulations, and compliance knowledge and a proven track record of helping organizations like yours meet their business and security objectives.

They will hold multiple professional cybersecurity and risk management designations, including but not limited to:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified in Risk and Information System Controls (CRISC)
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Qualified Security Assessor (QSA)

Most importantly, your virtual CISO will reduce your organization’s exposure to cyber threats. Through strategic guidance, risk management, and continuous improvement, our vCISO services empower organizations to navigate the complexities of cybersecurity, fortify their defences in an ever-changing threat landscape, and strategically invest in the long-term resilience of their organization.