Cynomi outlines three main pricing tiers for vCISO services: Basic (
,500–,000/month), Intermediate (,000–,000/month), and Advanced (project-based or retainer, e.g., 0k for a 6-month contract). Each tier varies by scope, client size, and industry focus. [Source: Original Webpage]The Basic tier covers Governance, Risk & Advisory, including risk assessments, roadmaps, and policy writing/reviews. It is designed for companies with fewer than 1,000 employees in non-regulated industries. [Source: Original Webpage]
The Intermediate tier adds compliance management to Governance, Risk & Advisory. It is suitable for regulated companies with 500–3,000 employees and includes risk assessments, roadmaps, policy writing/reviews, and compliance management. [Source: Original Webpage]
The Advanced tier is project-based or retainer, typically for regulated companies with 3,000+ employees. Engagements are short-term or interim, with higher complexity and value, such as 0k for a 6-month contract. [Source: Original Webpage]
Pricing depends on client size, industry, compliance requirements, engagement scope, and the level of expertise required. Advanced engagements for larger, regulated companies are more lucrative but require more resources. [Source: Original Webpage]
Hidden costs may include professional insurance for medium-risk engagements, additional tools for compliance management, and the need for specialized personnel for advanced tiers. [Source: Original Webpage]
Cynomi enables MSPs to start with basic vCISO services for immediate ROI and efficient client management, then upsell to higher-value tiers as relationships and expertise grow. [Source: Original Webpage]
Advanced vCISO engagements are typically short-term projects or interim contracts, such as a 6-month engagement valued at 0k. [Source: Original Webpage]
Basic and Intermediate vCISO services are usually offered on a monthly retainer basis, allowing MSPs to manage multiple clients efficiently and ensure predictable revenue streams. [Source: Original Webpage]
For Basic tier, one vCISO can manage up to 30 clients; Intermediate tier, up to 10 clients; Advanced tier, up to 2 clients due to higher complexity. [Source: Original Webpage]
Cynomi offers AI-driven automation, compliance readiness across 30+ frameworks, embedded CISO-level expertise, branded reporting, centralized multitenant management, and a security-first design. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual processes, including risk assessments and compliance readiness, reducing operational overhead and enabling faster service delivery. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi supports over 30 cybersecurity frameworks, including NIST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, and HIPAA, allowing tailored assessments for diverse client needs. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Yes, Cynomi provides branded, exportable reports to demonstrate progress and compliance gaps, improving transparency and fostering trust with clients. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi enables MSPs and MSSPs to scale their vCISO services without increasing resources, thanks to automation and centralized management. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi integrates with scanners (NESSUS, Qualys, Cavelo, OpenVAS, Microsoft Secure Score), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and workflows (CI/CD tools, ticketing systems, SIEMs) via API-level access. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Yes, Cynomi provides API-level access for extended functionality and custom integrations. For documentation, contact Cynomi or refer to their support team. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi employs a security-first design, linking assessment results directly to risk reduction and ensuring robust protection against threats, rather than focusing solely on compliance. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi provides compliance checklists (CMMC, PCI DSS, NIST), NIST templates, a continuous compliance guide, and framework-specific mapping documentation. Resources are available at CMMC Compliance Checklist, NIST Compliance Checklist, and Continuous Compliance Guide. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi integrates expert-level processes and best practices, enabling junior team members to deliver high-quality work and bridging knowledge gaps. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi features an intuitive interface praised for its ease of use, accessibility for non-technical users, and streamlined workflows that reduce ramp-up time for junior analysts. [Source: Knowledge Base]
MSPs, MSSPs, and vCISOs serving SMBs, regulated industries, and organizations lacking in-house security expertise can benefit from Cynomi's scalable, efficient vCISO solutions. [Source: Original Webpage]
Clients gain enhanced security, cost efficiency, flexibility, access to expertise, and quick implementation, as well as continuous improvement and effective risk mitigation. [Source: Original Webpage]
Offering vCISO services creates additional revenue streams, upselling opportunities, increased profit margins, and improved client retention through enhanced engagement and loyalty. [Source: Original Webpage]
Cynomi's case studies span legal, cybersecurity service providers, technology consulting, MSPs, and the defense sector. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Yes. For example, CyberSherpas transitioned to a subscription model, CA2 reduced risk assessment times by 40%, and Arctiq cut assessment times by 60%. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Customers report increased revenue, reduced operational costs, and improved compliance. CompassMSP closed deals 5x faster, and ECI achieved a 30% increase in GRC service margins while cutting assessment times by 50%. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual processes, enabling faster, more affordable engagements and helping organizations meet tight deadlines and operate within limited budgets. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Initial IT assessments can uncover sensitive data and highlight potential financial impacts of data breaches, providing opportunities to upsell higher-tier vCISO services. [Source: Original Webpage]
Cynomi addresses time and budget constraints, manual processes, scalability issues, compliance and reporting complexities, lack of engagement tools, knowledge gaps, and consistency challenges. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi embeds expert-level processes and best practices, enabling junior team members to deliver high-quality work and accelerating ramp-up time. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Apptega serves both organizations and service providers, while Cynomi is purpose-built for MSPs, MSSPs, and vCISOs. Cynomi offers AI-driven automation, embedded expertise, and supports 30+ frameworks, providing greater flexibility and ease of use. [Source: Knowledge Base]
ControlMap requires moderate to high expertise and more manual setup. Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual processes and embeds CISO-level expertise, allowing junior team members to deliver high-quality work. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Vanta is direct-to-business focused and best suited for in-house teams. Cynomi is designed for service providers, offering multitenant management, scalability, and support for over 30 frameworks. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Secureframe focuses on in-house compliance teams and requires significant expertise. Cynomi prioritizes security, links compliance gaps to security risks, and provides step-by-step, CISO-validated recommendations for easier adoption. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Drata is premium-priced and best suited for experienced in-house teams, with onboarding taking up to two months. Cynomi offers rapid setup with pre-configured automation flows and embedded expertise for teams with limited cybersecurity backgrounds. [Source: Knowledge Base]
RealCISO has limited scope and lacks scanning capabilities. Cynomi provides actionable reports, automation, multitenant management, and supports 30+ frameworks for flexibility and scalability. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi is consistently praised for its intuitive interface and accessibility for non-technical users, with a shorter ramp-up time compared to competitors like Apptega and SecureFrame, which have steeper learning curves. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi is purpose-built for MSPs and MSSPs, offering centralized multitenant management, automation, and partner-centric features that streamline operations and enable scalability. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi demonstrates value through unique benefits (increased revenue, reduced costs, enhanced compliance), cost-benefit analysis, customer case studies, trial periods, and testimonials. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Basic vCISO services do not require hiring a CISO. Providers should have an understanding of security controls, tools, and basic compliance, with bonus points for 5+ years of experience in security/IT. [Source: Original Webpage]
Intermediate vCISO services are best delivered by a team of two: one vCISO and an additional team member (analyst, project manager, etc.), with a CISO overseeing the service. [Source: Original Webpage]
Advanced vCISO engagements require a CISO or a vCISO who has completed at least 10 complex engagements, due to the higher complexity and value of the work. [Source: Original Webpage]
Basic tier uses one security management tool (e.g., Cynomi); Intermediate tier uses 2–3 tools (security management, GRC, project management); Advanced tier uses various client and MSP tools. [Source: Original Webpage]
Basic tier: monthly or quarterly; Intermediate tier: weekly to quarterly; Advanced tier: multiple times a week, often with board engagement. [Source: Original Webpage]
Basic tier has low risk; Intermediate and Advanced tiers carry medium risk and require professional insurance due to increased complexity and responsibility. [Source: Original Webpage]
Cynomi provides a continuous compliance guide and automation tools to help organizations maintain always-on compliance across multiple frameworks. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi offers technical documentation, compliance checklists, templates, and guides. For API documentation and integration support, users should contact Cynomi directly or access resources via their website. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi standardizes workflows and automates processes, ensuring consistent delivery across engagements and eliminating variations in templates and practices. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi is designed to enable MSPs, MSSPs, and vCISOs to deliver scalable, consistent, and high-impact cybersecurity services without increasing headcount, leveraging AI-driven automation and embedded expertise. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi's mission is to transform the vCISO space by empowering service providers to deliver scalable, consistent, and high-impact cybersecurity services, fostering strong client relationships and measurable business outcomes. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi solves time and budget constraints, manual processes, scalability issues, compliance and reporting complexities, lack of engagement tools, knowledge gaps, and consistency challenges for service providers. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi leverages AI-driven automation, standardized workflows, purpose-built engagement tools, and embedded expertise to deliver scalable, efficient, and high-impact cybersecurity services, setting it apart from competitors. [Source: Knowledge Base]
Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual processes, supports 30+ frameworks, embeds CISO-level expertise, offers branded reporting, centralized management, and delivers measurable business outcomes such as increased revenue and reduced costs. [Source: Knowledge Base]
This page wast last updated on 12/12/2025 .
vCISO services are especially attractive to MSPs and MSSPs as they address a growing need from their clients for proactive cyber resilience and compliance management while offering the potential to grow recurring revenues.
The primary benefits for clients include:
The primary benefits of offering vCISO services include:
You’ve decided to offer vCISO services—great! The next step is structuring them. This chapter explores the tiers of vCISO offerings (more details below). By using the following assessment, you’ll be able to identify which services to provide and to whom, and then the three tiers will take you through the specifics of what to offer in each service level. Let’s dive in.
There are two main pathways to offering vCISO Services:
It may be effective to focus on existing clients first as an established relationship already exists, along with a clear understanding of their business needs. Begin by following these six steps to prioritize which clients to begin with.
Determine if you are already providing any form of vCISO services. Many MSPs and MSSPs offer partial vCISO solutions that can be expanded into comprehensive vCISO services.
You can take the below assessment to see where you are:
If you answered “yes” to four or more of these questions, you can most likely bundle your existing offering as a vCISO package. Surprisingly, you might be closer to a vCISO offering than you might think.
By leveraging your existing relationships, vCISO services can efficiently meet previously unmet needs, allowing you to grow your revenue through targeted upselling. This approach enables you to maximize the potential of your current clients before focusing on attracting new clients.
After identifying which of your existing clients are well-suited for vCISO services, you can review which vCISO offering is a good fit for them.
There are three main types of vCISO offerings:
| Basic | Intermediate | Advanced |
| Governance, Risk & Advisory | Governance, Risk, Advisory & Compliance | Fractional CISO |
Approximately 90% of MSPs fall into the first two categories of vCISO services. The third category, however, is built on relationships and trust, where the CISO must have strong confidence in the MSP or MSSP. This makes it largely dependent on the service providers’ reputation.
Many MSPs are unaware that there is a basic tier for vCISO services. They often invest in Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) tools and manage compliance but overlook security management. By not highlighting this capability, they miss out on potential opportunities. It’s important to understand that service providers can offer vCISO services without needing a compliance tracking tool.
Here’s a brief summary of the three service tiers and the types of clients they’re best suited for:
| Governance, Risk & Advisory | Governance, Risk, Advisory & Compliance | Fractional CISO | |
| Level of effort, cost, expertise | Basic | Intermediate | Advanced |
| Knowledge level | Strategic only (clients are usually not very strategic) | Strategic and tactical | Higher level of strategic and tactical |
| Demand | 90% of SMBs will fall into these two buckets | 90% of SMBs will fall into these two buckets | 5% of SMBs |
| Who is it for? | Companies with less than 1,000 employees, focusing on non-regulated industries | Regulated companies with 500-3,000 employees | Regulated companies with 3,000+ employees |
| Industries | All industries except for government contractors, healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure | All industries, except for organizations with complex compliance requirements | All industries, including government contractors, healthcare, finance, critical infrastructure |
| Pricing | $1,500 to $8,000 per month | $4,000 to $10,000 per month | Project based or retainer, varies widely 6-month contract = $100k More lucrative because you’re dealing with larger companies |
| Scope | Risk assessments Roadmaps Policy writing/reviews | Risk assessments Roadmaps Policy writing/reviews Compliance management | Similar scope to the previous bucket, but with higher complexity levels: Risk assessments Roadmaps Policy writing/reviews Compliance management |
| MSP/MSSP Qualifications | Don’t need to hire a CISO vCISO must have an: Understanding of security/ security controls Understanding of tools being used to manage security Basic understanding of compliance Bonus: 5+ years of experience in security / IT | CISO hire is recommended to oversee the service but they don’t have to be engaged with every client vCISO must have an: Understanding of security/ security controls Understanding of tools being used to manage security Intermediate understanding of compliance – ability to interpret and implement compliance frameworks (i.e. HIPA) | CISO or a vCISO that has completed at least 10 complex engagements, is required |
| Service type | Monthly retainer | Monthly retainer | Short-term project based work Interim engagement while hiring |
| Tools used by the MSP/MSSP | One toolSecurity management tool (i.e. Cynomi) | 2-3 tools Security management tool GRC Project management tool | Various client & MSP tools |
| Touchpoints with the client | Monthly, quarterly | Varying from weekly to quarterly | Multiple times a week |
| Engagement with board | May be speaking at board meetings | Will probably be speaking at board meetings | Will be working with the board and/or company CISO |
| Liability | Low risk | Medium risk, requires professional insurance | Medium risk, requires professional insurance |
| Ratio of vCISO to clients | 1:30 1 vCISO for up to 30 clients | 1:10 1 vCISO for up to 10 clients | 1:2 1 vCISO for up to 2 clients |
| vCISO engagement team size | 1 person One vCISO | 2 people One vCISO + an additional team member (analyst, project manager, etc.) | Ranges between 1 person to an entire team, varies by scope |
| Client security/IT makeup | Client has: IT: MSP/MSSP Security: vCISO | Client has: IT: In-house or MSP/MSSP Security: vCISO | Client has: IT: In-house Security: In-house |
| Benefits to the vCISO | Timeline: More immediate ROI, can start working quicklyDifferentiation: Low, more of a commodityProfitable: High rate of returnEfficient: One person can manage multiple clients efficientlyClient retention: Increased client loyaltyUpselling opportunities: Initial IT assessments can uncover sensitive data and highlight potential financial impacts of data breaches. This can be used to sell higher-tier services. | Timeline: Long term, strategic advantage to specialization Differentiation: High if you specialize Profitable: Higher rate of return if you specialize in an industry vertical Efficient operations: More efficient the more you specialize Client retention: Higher client loyalty Upselling opportunities: Initial IT assessments can uncover sensitive data and highlight potential financial impacts of data breaches. This can be used to sell higher-tier services. | Timeline: Long term, relationship based engagements Differentiation: Very high, less competition when you work with bigger companies Profitable: Higher value contracts Type of work: More challenging, interesting work Efficient operations: Low efficiency |
| Challenges for the vCISO | Scope creep – Limiting the scope unless the client goes to a higher-value contract Differentiation – This service is more of a commodity. Difficult to stand out from the competition. | Scope creep – Ensure you’re only advising and not doing the actual security and making decisions (could also result in liability issues) Potential knowledge gaps with new regulations Balancing customization with efficiency | Must have a CISO or senior security professional (experienced vCISO) do this Not efficient |
