Risk management is not just a task, it’s the foundation for effective cyber security. In order to assess and manage risk, service providers need to determine the likelihood of threats, evaluate the business impact of those threats, and assess risk tolerance across different business functions. Once risks are identified, they must also develop and implement effective risk treatment and mitigation strategies that align with the client’s overall security goals.

The problem is that getting all of this right takes months when done manually. Risk assessments require collecting data from multiple sources, analyzing security gaps, prioritizing them based on the risks they pose to the business, and creating actionable remediation plans. Without an efficient process in place, security teams end up spending more time gathering information than actually mitigating risks.

In this blog, we’ll examine the five biggest challenges service providers face in risk management and offer a more efficient, effective way to overcome them.

Challenge 1: Manual risk assessments take months

The first step in risk management is identifying the risks, but that’s easier said than done. Traditional risk assessments are slow, labor-intensive, and inconsistent, making it difficult to provide clients with a timely and accurate risk picture.

One of the biggest challenges is that risk isn’t just about vulnerabilities, it spans compliance gaps, operational risks, and financial impact, each requiring a different data point and perspective. Alongside this, many service providers rely on spreadsheets and disconnected tools, leading to weeks (or even months) of back-and-forth just to complete an initial assessment.

Even after risks are identified, prioritization becomes another hurdle. Figuring out which risks matter most and how to allocate resources can be overwhelming. The result? Delays in security improvements, frustrated clients, and lost revenue opportunities.

Change 2: There is no clear roadmap for remediation

Even after risks are identified, the next challenge is deciding what to do about them. Creating a structured, prioritized, and actionable risk treatment plan is often where service providers struggle the most. 

A key issue is that risk treatment must align with business objectives, but many security professionals don’t get the opportunity to have meaningful conversations about how each risk impacts the organization financially and operationally. Clients want clear, digestible risk treatment plans, but the entire process, from assessment to prioritization to remediation and recommendations, can be overly complex or too vague.

A related challenge is the speed of implementation. Mitigation strategies often take too long to execute, leaving organizations vulnerable while security teams work through manual processes. Without a structured approach, risks remain unresolved for months, leaving businesses exposed and service providers struggling to demonstrate progress.

Challenge 3: It’s difficult to prove the value of risk management to clients

One of the biggest challenges for service providers is proving the value of risk management to clients. Many organizations don’t fully understand cybersecurity risks, and they often don’t see the ROI of these services unless it’s clearly articulated in business terms.

Clients want business outcomes, not technical jargon. Yet, too often, risk assessments are too technical, failing to connect cybersecurity risks to real-world business impact. Alongside this, a lack of clear reporting makes it hard to justify budgets. If a client doesn’t see tangible results, they may hesitate to invest further in security services.

Risk must be translated into financial and operational risk to bridge the gap, from discussing vulnerabilities to demonstrating how risks affect revenue, productivity, and compliance. Without clear and actionable reporting, risk management remains an invisible function, making it difficult to grow a business.

Challenge 4: Keeping up with compliance

Risk management and compliance go hand in hand. But keeping up with compliance frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST CSF, SOC 2, and GDPR adds another layer of complexity.

Each of these standards and every client has a different set of requirements and compliance needs. Risk assessments must be tailored to align with relevant frameworks, but doing this manually is time-consuming and inconsistent. Without an efficient process, security teams can struggle to stay up to date with consistently changing regulations. 

Meanwhile, clients expect security and compliance to be unified, and a disjointed approach leads to gaps in service and lost revenue opportunities. Without a streamlined way to map risk assessments to compliance requirements, service providers risk falling behind and missing critical regulatory obligations.

Challenge 5: Cybersecurity talent is in short supply

Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand but in short supply, and risk management expertise is especially difficult to find. For many MSSPs and MSPs, hiring a full-time risk analyst is not feasible. Skilled security professionals are expensive and hard to find, making it difficult for service providers to scale their offerings without increasing costs. At the same time, junior security staff struggle with complex risk assessments, as effective risk management requires deep expertise that many smaller security teams don’t have.

Scaling risk management without increasing headcount is another major challenge. Most MSSPs and MSPs need a way to deliver CISO-level risk management at scale, but without the right tools, they face resource constraints that limit efficiency and growth. Manual risk assessments remain bottlenecked by human limitations, preventing MSSPs and MSPs from growing their services effectively.

A Smarter Approach for Risk Management

Risk management doesn’t have to be a manual, slow, and overwhelming process. While the traditional approach takes months, new technology can change that. With the right tools, cyber security professionals can accelerate risk assessments, standardize treatment plans, and clearly communicate risk to clients—all without adding overhead.

A more efficient risk management approach should:

• Automate risk assessments to replace time-consuming manual data collection.
• Provide multi-layered risk insights that consider likelihood, impact, and business tolerance—all in one place.
• Create structured, actionable treatment plans that help clients mitigate risk faster.
• Deliver clear, business-focused reports that translate risk into financial and operational terms.
• Align with compliance frameworks while going beyond checklists to proactively reduce security risks.

Technologies like Cynomi’s AI-driven vCISO platform help MSSPs and MSPs solve these challenges by streamlining and automating every step of the risk management process – from risk assessments to remediation planning and reporting. 

Screenshots of the Cynomi Risk Management Dashboard detailed risk heatmap and risk register offering a clear snapshot of risks ranked by severity and likelihood.

With Cynomi, what once took months can now be completed in days. Using a quick client onboarding questionnaire, the platform automatically identifies and prioritizes risks specific to each client, generating a comprehensive risk register with no manual effort. Built on expert CISO insights, the Cynomi risk register suggests the most relevant risks based on each client’s unique profile and generates a detailed heat map, offering a clear snapshot of risks ranked by severity and likelihood.

The risk register also provides a structured view of all identified risks, with associated tasks seamlessly mapped to enable automated remediation workflows, reducing manual effort and saving time. Service providers can customize risk tolerances and align security efforts with each client’s business goals.

As a central cybersecurity hub, Cynomi delivers an out-of-the-box yet customizable risk management framework, streamlining processes, eliminating bottlenecks, and improving efficiency across the platform.

For MSSPs and MSPs looking to turn risk management from a burden into a competitive advantage, the right technology can streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and prove value to clients.

Looking to streamline your risk management process and focus on what matters most? Book a demo to discover how Cynomi’s AI-powered platform simplifies risk management, saves time, and delivers insights that resonate with your clients.

The Power of Specialization: Why Focusing Your vCISO Practice on Niche Industries is a Game-Changer

If you are reading this blog you know that the world of virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services is growing and getting crowded. It’s easy to think that offering your expertise across multiple industries is the best way to grow your practice. It makes sense; more industries mean more clients, right? Well, does it really?

The reality is that trying to be everything to everyone can dilute your value and make it harder to stand out. Trust me—I learned this the hard way.

During the first two years of our practice, we struggled to generate leads. We were all over the place, trying to work with multiple industries (while not knowing how to message them), and in many cases, we didn’t even fully understand how some business models worked. We wasted a lot of time trying to figure it out.

I spent several years working in law firms and attended their annual legal technology conferences. In 2023, I attended one of these conferences again, and everything changed. Thanks to a combination of having a solid network in the legal space, a deep understanding of how law firms operate, and knowing how to talk to legal tech professionals and attorneys, I had real, meaningful conversations. Several of those conversations turned into qualified leads, and a good number of those leads became actual projects and long-term clients.

That experience taught me one simple truth: specialization works!

Let’s break down why focusing your vCISO practice on a specific niche could be the smartest business decision you’ll ever make.

1. Deep Industry Expertise Creates Value

When you stick to a niche, you gain the kind of knowledge that sets you apart. You’re not just another cybersecurity consultant—you become The Expert in that industry’s unique challenges, risks, and compliance requirements.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not just about technical know-how. A huge part of being a successful vCISO is connecting with other executives and key stakeholders—CIOs, CFOs, managing partners—on their terms. Every industry has its own language, priorities, and way of communicating. Knowing what matters most to these leaders helps you position security as a business enabler, not just an IT issue.

Curious about the results?

• Faster problem-solving
• Meaningful, business-aligned solutions
• Stronger client relationships and deeper trust
• Longer relationships

2. You’ll Stand Out from the Crowd

Let’s be honest—there’s no shortage of cybersecurity consultants. But when you brand yourself as the go-to vCISO for, say, law firms or insurance companies, you immediately differentiate yourself. You’re no longer competing with the masses.

Your messaging becomes clearer, your marketing dollars go further, and your expertise attracts clients who are specifically looking for what you offer. After all, clients don’t want someone who “gets cybersecurity”—they want someone who “gets them.”

3. Premium Pricing? Yes, Please!

Specialists get paid more—it’s that simple. When you focus on a specific industry, you’re not just selling your time or service; you’re selling a deep understanding that’s hard to replicate.

For example, one of our niches is the insurance industry. Insurance companies usually have big application development teams who are constantly working on customizations of their platforms to deliver value to policyholders, underwriters, and independent agents. Knowing how to build a Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) program without stressing the engineering team or adding unnecessary hurdles will make you a lot of friends—and even better, the full support of the executive leadership team.

That kind of insider knowledge isn’t something you can learn on the fly. It’s what makes a specialized vCISO so valuable—and worth every penny.

4. Efficient Operations = Faster Growth

The beauty of specialization is that your processes become repeatable and scalable. Understanding the client’s Enterprise Architecture enables the creation of industry-specific frameworks, templates, and playbooks to improve efficiency and consistency.

• Need to onboard a new client? Done in half the time.
• Building out policies? Already have a set tailored for that industry.
• Risk assessments? You know exactly what to look for.
• Deliver executive reports and presentations? You know what they care about.

This efficiency means you can serve more clients without sacrificing quality—and without running yourself ragged.

5. Better Client Outcomes = Happier Clients

Knowing an industry well means proactively guiding clients to better decisions, not just reacting to problems. You understand how their business works, how they make money, what their concerns are, their inherited risk, emerging industry threats, and ultimately, how cybersecurity can help them grow—not just stay compliant.

In another example, last year, we helped a $1B insurance company improve their PCI-DSS compliance from 45% to 91% in about eight months. We created both strategic and tactical plans to drive improvement across several critical areas, ultimately helping them meet the requirements for a successful SAQ A attestation. After presenting this data to the company’s CEO, he requested periodic updates for the rest of the executive team.

That’s the kind of result that builds trust and long-term partnerships. And when your clients see real progress, they stick with you for the long haul.

6. Your Reputation Travels Faster Than You Think

Here’s the cool part about being a specialist—your name starts popping up everywhere. You’ll find yourself invited to speak at industry conferences, joining panels, and meeting decision-makers in all the right places.

Even better? Executives frequently communicate through Slack channels, collaboration calls, and other venues to exchange ideas. When CIOs, CTOs, and managing partners share stories, one of their favorite questions is, “Who’s helping you with this problem?” If your name comes up enough times, referrals start coming in.

Picture this: Becoming the vCISO everyone recommends because you’ve earned their trust and respect. That’s the power of niche focus.

Is focusing your vCISO Practice speaking to you?

Specialization isn’t limiting—it’s liberating. It sets you up as an expert, opens new doors, and ultimately makes your practice more profitable and sustainable. When you choose your niche, you’re not just another vCISO—you’re The vCISO for that industry.

One of my mentors once advised me to master one skill before moving on to the next. With time, I became a very strong routing, switching and voice engineer. Then, I became a strong cybersecurity and cloud professional. These specialization led to leadership rolls and I became a solid leader. Fast forward to the CA2Security era, by using my experience as a CTO and CISO at law firms and insurance carriers, I decided to focus our practice on these areas, and it is now yielding results.

So the question you need to answer is, what niche will you dominate?

The demand for Virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs) has skyrocketed as organizations increasingly seek cybersecurity leadership on a flexible basis. For cybersecurity experts, the vCISO role is a rewarding opportunity to leverage technical expertise, leadership skills, and business acumen. However, transitioning to this role requires more than technical knowledge—it demands certifications, strategic thinking, and the ability to scale security solutions. 

Let’s explore the key certifications needed to succeed in this dynamic field.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Certifications

Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) 

Offered by EC-Council, the CCISO certification is designed for professionals aspiring to or currently occupying executive-level positions. This program focuses on management, governance, and strategic aspects of information security, equipping candidates with the skills needed to lead an organization’s security initiatives.

Why it’s important: Prepares you to oversee cybersecurity programs at a leadership level.

Where to get certified: ECI Council

Certified Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (CvCISO)

Provided by SecurityStudio, this certification sets the industry standard for vCISOs, offering a comprehensive framework tailored to virtual security leadership. With levels ranging from foundational to expert, this program accommodates professionals at every stage of their career.

Why it’s important: Establishes credibility in the emerging vCISO field with a structured, recognized certification.

Where to get certified: Security Studio

Thinking and Communicating Like a CISO

This course from The vCISO Academy focuses on developing the essential CISO mindset. It includes strategic thinking, executive communication, and leadership skills crucial for building trust with clients and driving business-aligned cybersecurity strategies.

Why it’s important: Equips you to navigate boardroom discussions and align security priorities with business objectives.

Where to get certified: The vCISO Academy

General Cybersecurity Leadership Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Administered by (ISC)², CISSP validates a deep understanding of operational and technical aspects of cybersecurity. This certification requires at least five years of experience in two or more of its eight domains, such as risk management, software development security, and asset security.

Why it’s important: Widely regarded as a benchmark for comprehensive cybersecurity expertise.

Where to get certified: ISC2

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Offered by ISACA, CISM emphasizes managing and aligning information security programs with business objectives. This certification is tailored for those overseeing enterprise-level security strategies and initiatives.

Why it’s important: Balances technical expertise with strategic governance, ideal for leadership roles.

Where to get certified: ISACA

Delivering vCISO Services

The vCISO Academy offers a course that dives into mastering the first 100 days of vCISO services. It covers avoiding common pitfalls and creating actionable plans to deliver value quickly.

Why it’s important: Provides actionable frameworks to launch your vCISO practice effectively.

Where to get certified: The vCISO Academy

Compliance and Governance Certifications

Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance (CGRC)

Previously known as CAP, CGRC by (ISC)² focuses on risk management, compliance frameworks, and governance. This certification is vital for vCISOs managing regulatory and compliance initiatives.

Why it’s important: Establishes expertise in ensuring organizations meet compliance obligations.

Where to get certified: ISC2

Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)

ISACA’s CGEIT certification is designed for professionals tasked with managing or advising on IT governance frameworks. It’s particularly valuable for aligning cybersecurity initiatives with broader enterprise goals.

Why it’s important: Demonstrates proficiency in integrating IT governance with business strategies.

Where to get certified: ISACA

Auditor/Assessor Certification

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) 

Also offered by ISACA, CISA focuses on auditing, monitoring, and assessing an organization’s IT systems. It’s a globally recognized certification for professionals involved in control and compliance.

Why it’s important: Enhances your ability to evaluate and improve IT security frameworks.

Where to get certified: ISACA

Tips for Choosing the Right vCISO Certification

Selecting the best certification for your journey as a vCISO depends on your current expertise, career goals, and the value the certification brings to your target market. However, here are some considerations that will help. 

• Assess your current expertise: Are you transitioning from a technical role, or do you already have leadership experience? This will help determine if you need foundational certifications (like CISSP or CISM) or more advanced, leadership-focused ones (like CCISO or CvCISO).
• Evaluate the issuing organization: Look for certifications from reputable and well-recognized bodies, such as ISACA, (ISC)², or EC-Council.
• Analyze the curriculum: Ensure the program covers the skills you need, whether it’s governance, compliance (like CGRC or CGEIT), risk management, or strategic communication (like Thinking and Communicating Like a CISO with the vCISO Academy or CCISO). Practical elements like case studies and real-world scenarios are a bonus.
• Consider industry recognition: Choose certifications like CISSP or CCISO that are widely acknowledged in the cybersecurity field and valued by potential clients or employers.
• Align with your career goals: Focus on certifications that support the specific vCISO services you plan to offer, such as compliance assessments (CGRC or CISA), risk management, or cybersecurity strategy (CISM, CCISO, or CvCISO).
• Weigh time and cost investment: Some certifications, like CISSP or CISM, are more intensive than others. Select one that balances the investment of time and money with the potential career payoff (like Delivering vCISO Services with the vCISO Academy).

Accelerate Your vCISO Journey Today

The path to becoming a vCISO is more accessible than ever with the wealth of certifications, training, and tools available. However, it takes more than credentials to succeed. A true vCISO combines technical acumen, strategic insight, and the ability to deliver measurable value to businesses.

For those ready to embrace this career path, Cynomi offers the ultimate free resource: The vCISO Academy. Designed to empower MSPs, MSSPs, security consultants, and CISOs to build and expand their vCISO skills and services. The academy provides actionable guidance, practical skills, and industry-leading tools and the trust to help you stand out in a competitive market. Explore the vCISO Academy and take the first step toward becoming a high-impact vCISO.

You’re in the business of keeping your clients safe, compliant, and ahead of the curve. But let’s be honest—compliance work can feel like wading through quicksand. Manually digging through frameworks, mapping controls one by one, and chasing down documentation for audits takes countless hours, often leading to missed opportunities to address more significant client priorities.

But compliance doesn’t have to be that hard. Companies using automation tools say it boosts efficiency, strengthens security, and helps build client confidence, as 75% report seeing clear benefits. In contrast, 76% of those relying on manual compliance processes find them a major drain on time and resources. As an MSP/MSSP, you, too, can leverage these advantages for your clients by using compliance automation software.

What is compliance automation software?

Compliance automation software is purpose-built to streamline the complex, repetitive tasks of meeting regulatory and industry standards. Instead of manually managing assessments, control mappings, and reports, these tools automate the process, enabling you to manage compliance efficiently and with greater precision.

Automation is especially valuable when managing clients with diverse compliance needs. For MSPs and MSSPs, this means you can confidently scale your compliance services to handle more clients without necessarily increasing team size.

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Types of Compliance Automation Software

• Cyber Risk Management Platforms help identify, assess, and track cybersecurity risks while aligning actions with regulatory requirements through centralized workflows.
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance Platforms centralize compliance management, enabling real-time tracking of policies, risks, and controls.
• Risk Assessment Platforms automate vulnerability detection and assessment, helping prioritize remediation efforts based on impact and urgency.
• Data Management Platforms organize and secure data to support privacy regulations and maintain records needed for audits.
• vCISO Platforms offer outsourced security management, often covering compliance tasks like assessments, audits, and defining IT policies.

Benefits of Compliance Automation Software

Manual compliance processes are clunky and leave room for costly mistakes and inefficiencies. Automation transforms how you approach compliance by addressing key pain points:

• Automation cuts through repetitive tasks like control mapping and report generation, reducing the time spent on assessments from days to hours.
• Enhanced productivity by handling compliance for more clients without overloading your team, allowing MSPs/MSSPs to grow business operations. 
• Leverage tools that handle complex frameworks and assessments for you to avoid spending money on specialized in-house compliance technology experts.
• Customizable frameworks and assessments allow you to deliver solutions that align with the specific needs of every client, regardless of their unique requirements.
• With global regulations becoming increasingly stringent, templates offer a head start in compliance management and meeting requirements like ISO 27001, SOC 2, or HIPAA.

Key Features to Look For in Compliance Automation Software

When evaluating compliance automation tools, look for the following capabilities:

• Automated Control Mapping: Instead of manually matching compliance frameworks to their associated controls, automated tools streamline the process by linking frameworks (like ISO 27001 or SOC 2) with actionable controls in your system.

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• Risk Assessment Tools: The right tools dig into client environments to uncover vulnerabilities, prioritizing what needs attention first. This feature targets your efforts and ensures critical risks are addressed without wasting time.
• Customizable Questionnaires: Compliance isn’t cookie-cutter. Customizable questionnaires let you zero in on industry specifics or unique client setups, exposing gaps that generic evaluations might miss.
• Continuous Monitoring and Alerts: Static compliance solutions only address what’s already happened. Continuous monitoring keeps you ahead of potential compliance issues by providing dynamic insights and alerts as risks or deviations occur. 

Top 10 Compliance Automation Software Solutions

1. Cynomi

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Cynomi is an AI-powered compliance platform built for MSPs and MSSPs. It enables efficient management of client compliance across frameworks like ISO 27001, CISv8, and SOC 2 through intelligent automation.

Main Features

• Proprietary AI-based compliance assessments covering ISO 27001, CISv8, and SOC 2.
• Automatically generates customized policies and strategic remediation plans for each client.
• Customized client-facing questionnaires to identify vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.
• Centralized dashboard for managing multiple client accounts and compliance status.
• Continuous tracking of cybersecurity posture and risk levels.
• Combines cybersecurity and compliance management in one solution.

Best For

MSPs/MSSPs seeking scalable, automated compliance solutions for multiple clients.

Price

Inquire for pricing. Free trial available. 

Review

“Cynomi is a great product to manage risk and compliance for SME companies. It combines the ability to manage policies against many compliance standards and regulations. It allows us to assign priorities to the tasks needed to fulfill a policy requirement. The user interface is very clean and easy to understand.”

2. Sprinto

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Sprinto streamlines compliance management with automation and pre-built programs, making it easier for SMBs to meet frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

Main Features

• Automation-enabled compliance monitoring and evidence collection.
• Pre-built, auditor-grade programs for over twelve frameworks.
• Integration with cloud environments for real-time gap analysis.
• Audit-friendly dashboards for streamlined coordination.

Best For

Startups and mid-sized businesses that need efficient, low-touch compliance solutions.

Price

Pricing varies.

Review

“Sprinto’s ability to automate checks and give clear, real-time reports has saved us a lot of time and effort in managing device compliance.”

3. Vanta

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Vanta offers a trust management platform that automates compliance and supports over 35 frameworks.

Main Features

• Continuous monitoring of security controls for real-time compliance management.
• Automated evidence collection and streamlined audit preparation workflows.
• AI-powered questionnaires to speed up vendor security reviews.
• Pre-built integrations with platforms like AWS, Google Workspace, and Okta.

Best For

Companies seeking continuous SOC 2 compliance and streamlined audits.

Price

Three package options are available, starting at $16,100. Inquire for more pricing details.  

Review

“The policy builder is one of the best features of the service. There is a wide variety of different frameworks to choose from.”

4. Hyperproof

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Hyperproof is an enterprise-grade compliance and risk management platform trusted by organizations like Reddit and Veeva for managing multiple frameworks by centralizing workflows.

Main Features

• Centralized platform for compliance across frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and NIST.
• Risk register to prioritize, track, and mitigate vulnerabilities.
• Automated evidence collection with Hypersyncs, saving hours on audit prep.
• Seamless integration with task management tools like Jira and Asana.

Best For

MSPs managing multi-framework compliance for enterprise clients.

Price

Inquire for pricing. 

Review

“One of the aspects I appreciate most about Hyperproof is its ability to centralize and streamline compliance management.”

5. Centraleyes

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Centraleyes delivers a comprehensive compliance management solution with automation and dynamic dashboards for large-scale enterprises.

Main Features

• Automated mapping for over 70 frameworks, including ISO 27001, NIST, and GDPR.
• Real-time dashboards with compliance metrics and risk scoring.
• Built-in workflows for internal and third-party risk assessments.
• Executive-level reporting tailored to business impact and remediation priorities.

Best For

Enterprises tackling complex compliance and vendor risk.

Price

Inquire for pricing. 

Review

“Plethora of frameworks covering every flavor of GRC and third-party risk management. Easy-to-use, very flexible platform.”

6. Onspring

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Onspring offers a flexible GRC platform designed to streamline governance, risk, and compliance workflows while adapting to unique organizational needs.

Main Features

• Drag-and-drop tools for building and automating workflows without coding.
• Real-time dashboards for tracking compliance milestones and audit progress.
• Centralized audit and evidence management to simplify reporting and testing.
• Out-of-the-box modules for risk, compliance, and policy management that integrate with existing tools.

Best For

Businesses seeking customizable, no-code workflows for GRC needs.

Price

Inquire for pricing. 

Review

“I appreciate the customization available in Onspring. There is so much more you can do outside of the GRC function.”

7. OneTrust

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OneTrust helps clients manage data privacy, comply with regulations like GDPR and CCPA, and responsibly govern the use of artificial intelligence.

Main Features

• Tools to map, classify, and enforce policies across sensitive data sources.
• Automates DSARs, cookie compliance, and data subject rights processes.
• Automates the lifecycle of third-party management, from intake through monitoring.
• Enables compliant data collection with customizable consent and preference tracking.

Best For

Organizations handling large volumes of sensitive data.

Price

Inquire for pricing. 

Review

“The user interface has a clean and simple look. There are a lot of online help resources and the staff is professional and easy to work with.”

8. AuditBoard

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AuditBoard is purpose-built for SOX compliance and offers specialized tools to simplify audit processes for large organizations.

Main Features

• Automated evidence collection and organization through ERP integrations.
• Risk-based audit planning will focus efforts on high-priority areas.
• Streamlined workflows for SOX audits, from planning to reporting.
• Pre-configured templates tailored for SOX compliance requirements.

Best For

Mid-size and large enterprises subject to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance.

Price

Inquire for pricing.

Review

“It is flexible in terms of meeting the needs of our audit process but is clearly built by a team with a strong understanding of auditing.”

9. Apptega

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Apptega is designed for SMBs, providing intuitive tools to manage and track compliance for frameworks like CMMC, PCI-DSS, and more.

Main Features

• Pre-built roadmaps for quick implementation of frameworks like CMMC and PCI-DSS.
• Automated assessments with AI-driven gap analysis.
• Crosswalking to align controls across frameworks and avoid repetition.
• Visual dashboards for tracking compliance, tasks, and IT assets.

Best For

SMBs requiring straightforward compliance tools.

Price

Three pricing tiers (Starter, Advanced, and Premium). Inquire for specifics.

Review

“It allows us to manage more customers with its automated features, and I love the depth of reporting and numerous frameworks that [Apptega] supports.”

10. ZenGRC

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ZenGRC is a flexible GRC platform that streamlines compliance and risk management. It offers centralized tools to manage audits, risks, and vendors efficiently.

Main Features

• Pre-built templates for frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA.
• Centralized risk register to track, assess, and address risks in real-time.
• Automated evidence collection and task tracking for streamlined audit preparation.
• Customizable vendor questionnaires to evaluate third-party compliance.

Best For

Organizations looking for an intuitive platform that centralizes audits, risks, and vendor management.

Price

Inquire for pricing.

Review

“Zen is very user-friendly when conducting ISO 27001 audits for internal reviews.”

Deliver Real Value to Clients With Compliance Automation

Compliance automation has become a must-have for MSPs and MSSPs looking to deliver efficient, accurate, and scalable services. By taking over repetitive, time-intensive tasks, these automation tools free your team to focus on delivering real value to your clients. 

Cynomi takes the grind out of compliance assessments and transforms how MSPs and MSSPs approach compliance. Cynomi’s AI-powered platform builds each client’s cyber profile with guided questionnaires and quick scans that pinpoint critical vulnerabilities. Instead of juggling endless spreadsheets and manual mapping, Cynomi automatically links compliance controls, showing you exactly which tasks will make the biggest impact. It is compliance made smarter, faster, and way less frustrating.

Schedule your personal Cynomi demo today to see exactly how Cynomi can help you and your clients meet compliance goals.

As cybersecurity threats evolve in sophistication and scale, the role of the virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is set to undergo transformative growth. Experts predict that by 2025, demand for vCISO services will surge as businesses face mounting cyber threats, increasing compliance demands, and the need for strategic risk management. The role is expected to expand beyond traditional cybersecurity functions, incorporating advisory responsibilities in AI strategy, attack surface management, incident response planning, and other emerging technologies. 

These changes present a unique opportunity for service providers to position themselves as trusted advisors, offering tailored, strategic insights that help clients navigate the complex threat landscape while aligning with their business priorities.

This article explores predictions from leading voices in the vCISO field, shedding light on the future of these services,  the evolving needs of clients, and what service providers need to stay ahead.

1. Threats and regulations will increase & demand for vCISO services will surge – providing a prime opportunity for service providers to position themselves as trusted, strategic advisors

“Ransomware as a service has made it so a threat actor doesn’t need technical skills. They can sign up, get the tools, support, and even instructions on how to breach specific companies. It’s a whole industry now.” says Nett Lynch, CISO at Kraft & Kennedy and former vCISO at VC3.

Nett Lynch and Chris Cathers, CEO at Octellient, both predict significant changes in the cybersecurity landscape, driven by evolving threats and the increasing need for strategic leadership. Lynch highlights the growing complexity of threats, including the rise of ransomware-as-a-service and AI-enhanced attacks such as deepfake-based social engineering and phishing campaigns. She notes, “Supply chain attacks, fueled by advancements in AI, have surged, making this type of threat more prevalent and dangerous.” These challenges are compounded by the sheer scale of cybercrime, which has ballooned into a $9.5 trillion global economy—the world’s third-largest by GDP. With limited defenses against such advanced tactics, businesses face heightened anxiety, particularly when sensitive data or intellectual property is at stake. To address these challenges, Lynch emphasizes the critical role of vCISO services, stating, “In order to be an MSP that has that relationship and that trust, you need to have vCISO services in place so that you have an expert on your staff who is ready to have those conversations and will be trusted by the clients.”

All the experts interviewed anticipate growing demand for vCISO services due to rising cybersecurity threats, stricter compliance requirements, and the need for flexible executive-level expertise. Cathers emphasizes the field’s growth as mid-market organizations increasingly value strategic guidance, stating, “The landscape is going to continue to change… as that becomes more complex, organizations need somebody that’s going to simplify that message, help them understand exactly how to navigate that.” Jesse Miller of PowerPSA Consulting adds, “Everyone’s realizing that they need security strategy, and maybe they don’t call it a vCISO, but this type of service is what they’re looking for now.” Both experts see opportunities for MSPs to become trusted advisors in this evolving landscape.

From a compliance perspective, Chad Fullerton, VP of Information Security at ECI, anticipates a significant increase in demand for compliance services, fueled by evolving regulations. “If you look at the writing on the wall with Europe, if you look at things like DORA for operational resiliency and NIS2 for AI policies, it’s very, very likely that a lot of that comes to the U.S,” he explains. “Clients are going to realize, ‘Hey, I wasn’t required to do 100, 200, 300 hours of compliance work each year before, but now I am, and I don’t even know where to start.’ That’s where vCISO services come in.”

Donna Gallaher, President & CEO of New Oceans Enterprises, emphasizes the shift among smaller businesses, stating, “I think we are going to start seeing more small businesses understanding that they need a security program. A lot of them used to think, ‘We’re too small to care about,’ but now they realize they could be used as a vector to get to bigger companies. This is where vCISO services really come in—helping them understand and build a program that aligns with their risk and business goals.”

2. Attack service management and incident response will become increasingly central to vCISO programs – and service providers should capitalize on this

“Attack surface management (ASM) is becoming top-of-mind for several verticals, so I think this is a good add-on or transition for MSPs that are offering vCISO services and security. Bringing ASM to their repertoire can help them move upstream into that mid-market type of clientele,” says Jesse Miller, Founder of PowerPSA Consulting and creator of the PowerGRYD vCISO System, a community and operations blueprint that helps vCISOs scale their revenue.

Miller adds, “there’s a much larger appetite now for incident response planning, tabletop exercises, and actually testing your incident response plans.” Organizations are not only looking to have risk assessments done but are also increasingly prioritizing actionable response plans, rigorous testing of these plans, and preparedness for potential cyber incidents. 

For Miller, “productizing those types of offerings—like incident response planning and attack surface management—and positioning them as bespoke options is an easy way for MSPs to get entry points into clients.” Miller shares that offering services like incident response planning or attack surface management at an entry-level price (or even bundled) acts as a loss leader. While these may not generate substantial profits directly, they can establish trust and relationships with clients, opening the door for larger engagements, such as vCISO services, remediation projects, and full IT security management, bringing major profits.

Chad Fullerton echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of proactive security measures. “Security services are always evolving,” he says. “Vulnerability management, remediation, and penetration testing are becoming critical as organizations face increased compliance obligations.” He foresees the rise of automated penetration testing tools, enabling less experienced teams to deliver high-quality results and further transforming the industry. These enhanced capabilities will allow MSPs and MSSPs to address vulnerabilities effectively and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

3. Greater client awareness and distinction between technical and strategic vCISO services

When it comes to changes in client expectations, Greg Schaffer, Principal and Advisory CISO at at vCISO Services, LLC, says, “Clients are getting smarter, they’re realizing that providers must match their requirements and therefore they will seek out the right type of security provider for their specific needs. They’re seeing that not all vCISO providers are the same, just as there’s a difference between a family dentist and an orthodontist.”

Greg predicts that the vCISO field will evolve to offer more clarity and segmentation, driven by increasing client awareness of their specific needs. This growing understanding could lead to a clearer distinction between traditional vCISOs, who focus on risk management, and technical roles, which he suggests might eventually be labeled as “virtual ISOs (Information Security Officers), more focused on the first line of defense, the technical side.” 

Greg notes that the virtual CISO market has become “muddied,” as it now includes both former CISOs offering strategic services and providers focused on technical tasks. He believes this shift will benefit the industry, making services more targeted and accessible. “You’re going to see more business on the virtual CISO side, whatever it’s called, because both are needed,” he explains, adding that this segmentation will likely make the market more cost-efficient for businesses who understand the level of expertise they need. “The cost of a virtual CISO, a true risk management executive, is going to be more than a virtual CISO who’s more on the technical side.”

4. vCISO services will expand beyond cybersecurity to strategic risk and AI

Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of CA2 Security, predicts that the vCISO role will expand beyond cybersecurity to include broader responsibilities in strategic risk management and emerging technologies like AI. He sees AI as both an opportunity and a risk, explaining, “AI is still…an educational opportunity,” and his company has begun offering AI readiness assessments tailored to business goals. 

Carlos highlights the need for vCISOs to guide clients not just in cybersecurity risk but in strategic decisions across industries. For example, in insurance, this might involve guiding risk decisions on processes and broader compliance issues in the underwriting risks or claims workflow, while in law firms, it could mean addressing risk scenarios for growths and M&A. “I’ve always been educating companies about risk in general,” Carlos says, highlighting the growing need for vCISOs to lead these conversations and align cybersecurity with overarching business strategies. These shifts, Carlos argues, will require vCISOs to be “very creative” and deeply attuned to both organizational needs and industry-specific challenges.

5. There will be a major shift in the role and perception of CISOs – and opportunities for vCISOs

While earlier predictions highlighted the growth of vCISO services as a response to escalating threats and stricter compliance regulations, Donna Gallaher, President & CEO of New Oceans Enterprises, adds a compelling new perspective: the rising demand for impartial and unbiased security evaluations. She explains that corporate boards and investors are increasingly pressuring organizations to obtain transparent insights into their cybersecurity programs—something that is difficult to achieve within traditional corporate structures.

According to Donna, “CISOs are going to need to operate more like independent accounting firms or general counsel—external, trusted advisors, separate from the organizations they advise.” For these reasons and more, she predicts that vCISOs will see an exodus from the enterprise space by full time CISOs to join their ranks. This trend will occur because corporate boards and investors will increase pressure for enterprise CISOs to provide unbiased evaluations of cyber risk that cannot be done from inside the current organizational structures. 

“I’ve already seen some organizations create CISO positions that report directly to the board, and outside the authority of the CEO and direct reports, to get the real picture of the security program,” Donna says. From the CISOs perspective, the change will be welcomed for their own professional growth and development but it will be a steep learning curve for these executives as they learn to build and scale their businesses.  We will also see more boards of directors open up board seats for security experts provided they have the requisite corporate governance experience. Donna predicts, “If you only have technical skills, you’re going to be in trouble. In the near future vCISOs will need to get much better at corporate governance and gain experience in sales, marketing, accounting and other business skills to be successful.”

What’s next?

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, so too will the role of the vCISO. By 2025, vCISO services will be integral to addressing increasingly complex threats, meeting stringent compliance requirements, and aligning cybersecurity strategies with broader business objectives. The insights shared by industry leaders highlight the growing demand for vCISOs to not only manage technical risks but also provide strategic advisory services in areas like AI readiness, attack surface management, and incident response planning.

For service providers, these changes present a significant opportunity to position themselves as trusted advisors and partners in navigating this dynamic environment. The ability to adapt, innovate, and anticipate client needs—whether through productizing services, offering tailored solutions, or building expertise in emerging areas—will be critical to thriving in this space. As vCISO services mature, their value will extend far beyond traditional cybersecurity, influencing key business decisions and shaping the future of enterprise risk management.

Ultimately, the vCISO of 2025 will not only protect organizations but empower them to leverage cybersecurity as a strategic advantage, ensuring resilience and growth in an era of heightened uncertainty. 

On any given day, MSPs/MSSPs manage several clients. One client wants rapid security updates, another is dealing with strict industry-specific regulations, and yet another has sensitive data at risk. It’s a constant juggling act, with new regulatory changes and cyber threats left, right, and center. Missing something isn’t just costly in terms of fines—it’s about your clients losing the trust they’ve worked hard to build.

Thomson Reuters is reporting “regulatory fragmentation” due to the rise of AI and eCommerce fraud for 2024. As a result of headline news like this, different regions are starting to implement varying regulations in response to new technologies and fraud challenges. As a result, MSP/MSSP clients must navigate an increasingly complex compliance landscape, which is where compliance risk management best practices can help.

Compliance Risk Management 101: What It Is and Why It Matters

Compliance risk management is foundational to gaining visibility over cybersecurity risks and compliance failings. It offers insight into vulnerabilities and supports the creation of targeted strategies.

The goal for MSPs/MSSPs is straightforward yet challenging: ensure your clients’ organizations follow all relevant laws, standards, and internal policies. Effective compliance risk management protects against looming consequences like financial penalties, shields client reputations, and keeps operations running smoothly. For MSPs/MSSPs and their clients alike, it’s about maintaining trust, meeting requirements, and ensuring business continuity.

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5 Steps to Conduct Compliance Risk Management Assessments

A solid risk assessment is at the heart of any effective compliance risk management program. Risk assessments help MSPs/MSSPs identify weak spots and build a framework for clients to meet regulatory requirements. Conducting compliance risk management assessments boils down to five key steps. 

1. Define Scope and Objectives: Start by determining which compliance frameworks are relevant to your client’s industry, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. You can also open conversations to understand the client’s specific business activities, data processing practices, and locations, as these factors influence which regulations apply.
2. Risk Identification and Analysis: Identify potential risks through strategies like vulnerability scans, security policy reviews, employee interviews, and risk assessments. 
3. Risk Evaluation: Quantify risks in terms of the likelihood and potential business impact. 
4. Prioritize and Mitigate Risks: Address the highest-impact risks first. For example, prioritize vulnerabilities that expose personal health information (PHI) over less critical issues. 
5. Use a vCISO Platform: To maximize efficiency, MSPs/MSSPs can use a vCISO platform to automate compliance assessments. For example, Cynomi speeds up the risk assessment process from days to hours by automating it with easy-to-complete custom-made questionnaires and automatic compliance mapping.

5 Best Practices for Compliance Risk Management Processes

Compliance risk management is a process of guiding clients to be proactive, not reactive. Frameworks and best practices offer a structured way to handle threats, and risk assessments bring focus by pinpointing vulnerabilities and their impact. MSPs/MSSPs need structure and strategy to manage compliance risks effectively for clients. 

1. Adopt a Framework

MSPs/MSSPs can rely on structured frameworks like ISO 27001 or NIST to manage compliance risks effectively, ensuring data security best practices and consistent compliance success across all clients. Some tasks MSPs/MSSPs might follow under these frameworks include implementing regular audits and using performance metrics to measure adherence. 

Types of Compliance Risk Management Frameworks

• ISO 27001: A globally recognized standard for managing information security risks, helping organizations protect their valuable data and systems through a systematic approach. ISO is also developing new frameworks such as ISO 42001 in line with new topics of conversation in the compliance space like AI. 

• HIPAA: A US law that safeguards patient health information by setting strict rules for how healthcare providers and related businesses handle sensitive medical data.

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework: A voluntary set of guidelines and best practices that companies can follow to improve their cybersecurity posture and manage risks effectively.

• SOC2: A framework that enables businesses to prove that they handle customer data securely and responsibly. 

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2. Automate Compliance Tasks

Scaling compliance operations is challenging, especially with a growing client base with diverse needs. Automation makes compliance activities manageable by reducing human error, keeping operations efficient, and ensuring MSPs/MSSPs stay ahead of regulatory demands for clients. 

You can also turn to automation compliance platforms and solutions like vCISOs and GRC software to offload tasks like risk assessments, compliance gap analysis, and reporting. With automation as a copilot, MSPs/MSSPs can streamline the delivery of compliance risk management to each client. 

3. Focus on High-Risk Areas

Not all risks are created equal; MSPs/MSSPs must support clients by prioritizing high-risk areas that pose the greatest threats. You could start by creating a risk assessment table that quantifies risks based on the likelihood and severity of the impact. 

Once high-risk areas are identified—such as unencrypted customer data or outdated software—it’s time to act. Deploying safeguards like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and endpoint protection can mitigate these vulnerabilities and support compliance risk management efforts by helping your client prove they are focused on closing compliance gaps. 

4. Employee Training and Awareness

Compliance isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a people problem. Studies show that human error accounts for 74% of data breaches, making employee awareness a crucial component of compliance risk management strategies. For MSPs/MSSPs, this means advising clients on the importance of training—and emphasizing that it doesn’t need to be boring! 

Gamified learning modules, interactive workshops, or role-based scenarios like phishing awareness training can help clients keep employees focused on the training and maximize the positive impact of the cyber training. For example, an MSP/MSSP serving financial clients could encourage them to host quarterly role-playing workshops to keep staff updated on SEC regulations. 

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5. Document Everything

For MSPs/MSSPs, maintaining detailed compliance records not only prepares clients for audits but also provides a defensible position if issues arise. Automated tools like Cynomi’s vCISO platform help you generate and maintain compliance logs effortlessly, ensuring no critical details are missed.

Let’s pretend we have a GDPR audit on our hands. An MSP/MSSP equipped with automated documentation tools can provide regulators with a complete record of compliance activities, showcasing the client’s due diligence and avoiding penalties. By taking the lead in documentation, MSPs/MSSPs position themselves as trusted partners in their clients’ compliance journeys.

Automate and Accelerate the Delivery of Compliance Risk Management Tasks with Cynomi 

Compliance risk management is not just about adhering to legal requirements—it’s about proactively mitigating risks that can threaten an organization’s very existence. With increased regulatory demands and a rapidly evolving threat landscape, the complexity of compliance has grown significantly—too much for some clients to handle alone without the support of an MSP/MSSP.

Cynomi can dramatically reduce the manual work in conducting compliance and risk assessments for multiple clients, speeding up the process from days to hours. Cynomi’s vCISO platform tailors the relevant questionnaires and scans to automatically build each client’s cyber profile, using guided questionnaires and express scans to uncover critical vulnerabilities. Cynomi automates compliance mapping and links activities to their impact on compliance adherence, saving manual work and precious time.

Ready to simplify compliance? Book a demo to explore how Cynomi can streamline your compliance processes, reduce manual work, and enhance security for your clients. 

The Zero Trust approach has become increasingly popular in cybersecurity, especially for MSPs and MSSPs seeking to strengthen their clients’ security posture. As remote work becomes widespread, securing only the network perimeter is no longer enough. Today’s complex security landscape requires a broader, more adaptive approach to safeguarding assets wherever they are. The core of Zero Trust is the mantra “never trust, always verify,” highlighting continuous verification, limiting privilege, and operating under the assumption that a breach may occur any moment. For MSPs and MSSPs, incorporating zero trust not only fortifies client security but also differentiates their services, showing clients that they are at the forefront of cybersecurity best practices. 

In a recent webinar, William Birchett, Founder of the vCISO Network and President of Logos Systems, and David Primor, CEO of Cynomi, explored why zero trust is essential for offering cybersecurity services and how MSPs and MSSPs can implement it to enhance client security. In this blog, we expand on their insights and provide additional context and practical details to help you put their advice into action.

Below are 5 questions covered on Zero Trust.

1. What advantages does Zero Trust offer over legacy security approaches?

In a traditional security model, systems operated like a castle with a moat and walls. The perimeter (moat) and firewall (walls) created a single line of defense, and once inside, everything was trusted. Security followed the principle of “trust but verify,” assuming that anything within the network was safe.

However, modern cyberattacks have exposed vulnerabilities in this approach. Threat actors who breach the perimeter can often move freely and undetected within the network, meaning even internal devices and systems may be compromised.

The Zero Trust approach revolutionizes this by eliminating inherent trust at all levels of access. Instead of assuming safety within the network, Zero Trust implements continuous verification for every user, device, and action. Think of it as a castle where each room has its own security checkpoint. Even after entering the castle, you must provide credentials and a valid purpose to access each room, with every room potentially requiring a different “passport” or credential.

This “never trust, always verify” approach ensures strict security controls at every access point, protecting the network from both external and internal threats. With Zero Trust, nothing is trusted by default—verification is constant and comprehensive. This granular, inside-out approach to security makes it far more effective at addressing modern threats like ransomware, phishing, and insider attacks, making it a superior choice for today’s complex cybersecurity landscape.

2. When Did the Zero Trust Philosophy First Emerge? 

Zero Trust originated 10 to 15 years ago, pioneered by John Kindervag, a former analyst at Forrester. Kindervag introduced the term and concept of the Zero Trust model in his 2010 report, No More Chewy Centers: Introducing The Zero Trust Model Of Information Security, by examining how implicit trust within networks was frequently exploited in cyberattacks. Through extensive research and consultations with CISOs and industry leaders, he established the principles that have since become a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity.

As Will shares, in the past few years, zero trust has gained significant traction. As technology has advanced, the ability to verify identities has significantly improved. Previously, identity checks on firewall traffic were limited, perhaps only possible through VPN connections. But with today’s technology, identity verification and traffic security are now integrated, allowing components like routers, firewalls, and IDS/IPS systems to work seamlessly together.

This evolution has introduced new security frameworks, such as Secure Service Edge (SSE) and Software-Defined Perimeters (SDP), enabling the application of Zero Trust policies across systems. As a result, security measures have progressed well beyond traditional models, allowing for more sophisticated and adaptable protection.

3. How Does Zero Trust Work in Cybersecurity?

Zero Trust is not a single product; it’s a philosophy—a shift from traditional security models to a modern approach that redefines how the attack surface is protected.  Rather than protecting just the perimeter, zero trust focuses on creating “protect surfaces” around every asset, whether it’s a web server, database, SaaS application, or API. Each asset is safeguarded individually, with security designed from the inside out rather than the outside in. By establishing these “protect surfaces”, Zero Trust minimizes exposure and limits potential attack vectors.

This inside-out strategy offers greater control and resilience. Even if an attacker breaches one area, they face stringent controls at every next step, reducing the likelihood of widespread compromise and improving overall security posture.

For MSPs and MSSPs, implementing Zero Trust not only strengthens client security but also sets their services apart, demonstrating a commitment to leading-edge cybersecurity practices.

Implementing zero trust as part of their cybersecurity services involves focusing on several core elements:

• Identity Verification – Rather than assuming that users within a network are trustworthy, zero trust requires ongoing identity verification. Techniques such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and continuous behavior monitoring are essential.
• Network Segmentation – In a zero-trust model, the network is divided into smaller segments, with access controlled and limited to specific users and tasks. This prevents unauthorized lateral movement within the network, containing potential threats.
• Least Privilege Access – Access should be restricted to only what a user or device needs to fulfill its role. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access and helps prevent malicious insiders or compromised accounts from causing widespread damage.
• Continuous Monitoring and Logging – Zero trust relies on real-time monitoring of network activity. Anomalies can signal potential threats, allowing for immediate response. This proactive approach is essential for MSPs and MSSPs guiding their clients through modern cybersecurity challenges.

4. Is Zero Trust Meant Only for Access or Does it Apply to Everything?

Zero Trust is a comprehensive cybersecurity mindset that applies across all areas of cybersecurity – not just access. Over the past two decades, attacks have exploited various forms of implicit trust. Zero Trust is built on the principle of constant verification—trust is granted only when all security checks are thoroughly in place. For instance, an email that includes the recipient’s name might seem trustworthy and prompt a quick click, yet that trust is vulnerable to exploitation through phishing attacks, which rose by 58% in 2023. A recent example in February 2024 illustrates this risk: Pepco Group, a leading European retailer, suffered a €15.5 million loss in a sophisticated phishing attack where fraudsters mimicked legitimate employee emails to deceive finance staff into transferring funds.Zero trust eliminates the negative consequences of not being prepared by requiring continuous verification. It’s a philosophy that involves everyone in the organization—from the CISO or security provider strengthening the organization’s defenses to employees who must learn to question the trustworthiness of emails and other communications.. As William Birchett shares, even if someone claims to be from IT or an MSP, employees should verify their identity through other channels before trusting requests like credential resets.

The goal is to reduce risky trust relationships across the board, enhancing security at every level of interaction. By adopting a Zero Trust approach, you uphold the highest service standards, ensuring robust security for your clients.

5. How can MSPs and MSSPS Adjust Current Tools to Align with a Zero Trust Approach? 

Network traffic is a good example of how MSPs and MSSPs can adjust current firewall tools to align with a zero trust approach. Traditionally, firewall rules were set up based on source and destination addresses and specific ports. Now, with a zero trust approach, service providers can adjust these rules to add checks on the user’s identity and the application being used.

Instead of just setting rules for IP addresses and ports, zero trust firewalls now include user validation. For instance, a firewall rule might only allow remote desktop access on a domain-joined machine if the user belongs to a specific group. This approach doesn’t only stop at port-based rules; it also checks user and application permissions, adding validation at higher layers and ensuring that access is tightly controlled.

As William shares, you can start small with zero trust—it doesn’t require a complete redesign. Begin by applying it to just one application to see the impact. An example of this could be when working with AI responses, adding an additional step to verify their accuracy. By implementing these additional verification layers, MSPs and MSSPs can use existing tools to enforce zero trust principles effectively.

As the zero-trust approach gains popularity, MSPs and MSSPs have a clear path to better secure their clients and offer advanced and reliable cybersecurity services. By guiding clients through incremental steps, such as starting with a single application or implementing identity checks on critical assets, service providers can help clients adopt zero trust with ease and confidence.

There’s nothing wrong with getting a little help. Cyber threats, compliance requirements, and the shortage of InfoSec professionals mean businesses seek external assistance with their cybersecurity challenges. After all, it’s easier to fight the menace of cyber risk with experienced combat veterans at your side, and this support often comes from managed cybersecurity service providers.

The demand for managed cyber security services is also evident in market size projections. According to these projections, the global managed security services market is projected to grow at a 15.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between now and 2030.

The Role of a Managed Cybersecurity Service Provider

An MSSP is a third-party provider that delivers outsourced monitoring and management of security devices and systems. Typically, MSSPs offer various services and products that help unload work from in-house InfoSec teams and reduce the number of personnel a business must onboard to maintain an acceptable cybersecurity posture and comply with applicable regulations. 

Depending on the client’s requirements, MSSPs traditionally offer intrusion detection, risk assessment, vulnerability management, and endpoint security.

Managed Service Provider (MSP) vs Managed Cybersecurity Service Provider (MSSP)

MSPs and MSSPs offer similar services but differ in their focus and expertise. An MSP typically provides general connectivity and IT services, including SaaS platforms and backup and recovery services, to deliver the connectivity and support necessary to mitigate the business impact of cybersecurity initiatives. An MSSP, on the other hand, is focused primarily on securing and protecting the data, applications, and endpoint devices in the organization.

The difference between MSPs and MSSPs is apparent in the unique expertise of their workforce, the type of operations center they use (NOC vs SOC), their tech stack, and their overall business goals.

It’s worth noting that while there is a distinction in the definition of the two types of service offerings, MSPs often expand their portfolios to include managed cybersecurity services as well.

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What services do managed cybersecurity service providers offer?

Managed cybersecurity service providers usually model their offerings according to the specific needs of clients in the region or industry and the expertise and skills of the MSSP staff of cybersecurity professionals. That said, there are some services that you are likely to find in the portfolio of most MSSPs:

• Cyber risk assessments are one of the most important services for understanding the threat landscape and the risk to a client in a way that informs decision-makers in monetary terms.
• Managed detection and response (MDR) includes security event detection, alerting, remediation, and sometimes proactive threat hunting and security testing to prevent potential cyberattacks.
• Vulnerability management entails ongoing identification, assessment, documentation, prioritization, and remediation of security vulnerabilities across the client’s systems.
• Identity and access management are designed to ensure that only authorized persons and systems get access to data and applications they should. MSSPs often aid companies in setting up as well as testing their data and service access policies.

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6 Tips for Evaluating Managed Cybersecurity Service Providers

Different MSSPs offer varying services and contracts and specialize in specific industries or regulatory requirements. Before you choose an MSSP that will serve your cybersecurity needs and support your in-house teams, there are a few considerations to take into account.

1. Assess MSSP Experience in Your Industry

Ensure that the MSSP you choose has relevant experience in your industry and a proven track record of understanding the specific cybersecurity challenges and compliance requirements. Verify they have deep industry knowledge and a history of working with clients in similar market conditions. Also, check that they stay up-to-date on new and upcoming threats and regulations as well as innovations in the world of cybersecurity tooling and technologies.

2. Scrutinize the Service Offering, Infrastructure, and Tech Stack

Carefully and meticulously examine the range of managed services the MSSP offers to ensure they can deliver the solutions to support your organization’s security posture and align with your cybersecurity needs and requirements. Look for MSSPs that provide a comprehensive suite of services, including tools and solutions like vulnerability management, proactive security monitoring, incident detection and response, risk assessments, and compliance monitoring, to name a few.

Pay special attention to the MSSP toolkit and infrastructure, including their security operations center (SOC) technologies, operational methodologies, and processes. Familiarize yourself with the systems they have in place, the applications they employ for collaboration with customers, and how these can interface with your organization’s existing cybersecurity and IT stacks.

One key benefit of hiring an MSSP is their ability to combine services and solutions into a cohesive suite that mitigates threats relevant to your organization. Seek out the MSSPs that excel in seeing “the big picture” and can aid in bridging the gaps you may not even be aware of in your organizational security posture.

3. Prioritize Scalability and Flexibility

The business environment, regulatory demands, and business growth all affect organizations’ cybersecurity requirements. This means that the MSSP you hire should be able to adapt and adjust your cybersecurity strategy, increasing or shrinking security coverage as needed and optimizing resource allocation and service costs.

4. Emphasize Responsiveness and SLAs

Cyber attacks and security breaches cannot be scheduled, so it’s important to thoroughly assess the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and customer support responsiveness and availability. Make sure that these align with your business and compliance requirements, such as incident response times, communication protocols, regular updates, and collaboration protocols with the organization’s in-house InfoSec teams. 

In addition, check what measures the MSSP employs to ensure that security measures are adequately maintained, updated, and adjusted as business needs shift.

5. Ensure Compliance and Look for Certifications

A big motivation for utilizing MSSPs is the need for regulatory compliance. If your business operates in a highly regulated field, be sure to evaluate the MSSP’s compliance service offerings closely to ensure that they align with your current and future compliance needs.

In addition, it’s important to remember that an MSSP, while tasked with securing an organization’s information systems, is still a third-party service provider and should be treated as such when performing due diligence. Look for compliance certifications (like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR) to ensure the MSSP follows strict security standards when handling your business’s sensitive information and mission-critical applications.

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6. Check Positioning and Reviews in Relevant Directories

As with any product or service you employ, checking a vendor’s track record and reputation is important before you make any decision. When seeking out reputable and trustworthy managed cybersecurity service providers, be sure to get references from their current and past clients, plus online testimonials. Check specialized collections of MSSPs, like The vCISO Directory. These will help you evaluate the reliability, service quality, and services you can expect from the MSSP you’re researching.

Scalable MSSP Operations and Enhanced Service Delivery with Cynomi

If you are looking for an MSSP

An MSSP is, first and foremost, a trusted advisor on all things cybersecurity and should work closely with your in-house teams to align cybersecurity investments with business goals. A lot of research is needed to find the right fit, as you must evaluate numerous criteria, from industry experience to responsiveness and tech stack compatibility. 

That said, hiring an MSSP that genuinely cares about enhancing the security posture of your business without overloading your in-house teams is often the only way to deal with the increasing risk of catastrophic cyber breaches and growing compliance demands.

If you are an MSSP

To attract and retain clients, you must clearly demonstrate the value of your offering and adjust swiftly to their shifting demands. With Cynomi’s vCISO platform, you can do both and easily scale operations without expanding your existing in-house expertise and resources.

Using Cynomi for risk assessment services differentiates your MSSP from competitors—our platform helps you demonstrate the clear value of your services in response to the client’s security and compliance gaps. Build an effective, tailor-made cybersecurity strategy for each client in a fraction of the time.

Discover how Cynomi’s vCISO platform can help you close gaps in your clients’ security postures.

Cybersecurity compliance isn’t just a set of rules—it’s a moving target that keeps changing just when you think you’re catching up. Frameworks like NIST 800-171 may seem like an overwhelming addition to your existing compliance repertoire, but they’re crucial. One misstep can lead to millions in damages, lost contracts, or even legal trouble. 

By 2025, cybercrime damages are expected to hit $10.5 trillion. That’s not just a number—it’s our reality. Ignoring compliance today isn’t just risky; it’s like leaving the door wide open for financial catastrophe. In the U.S., the average cost of a data breach stands at $9.36 million, making it the most expensive country to suffer a breach.

MSPs/MSSPs are constantly working to keep clients secure. Understanding the mysteries and intricacies of NIST 800-171 compliance is essential so you can confidently guide your clients through this challenging process.

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What is NIST 800-171 compliance, and what’s it for?

NIST 800-171 is the standard that defines how non-federal entities should protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It’s like the rulebook on keeping sensitive government-related data safe when it’s being handled outside the government.

NIST 800-171 isn’t just for your big-time defense clients either. Small to medium businesses, subcontractors, and anyone in a supply chain handling CUI (think about all those companies dealing with government contracts) have a seat at this table.

While compliance is ultimately the responsibility of businesses, MSPs/MSSPs possess the specialized knowledge of security controls and best practices needed for NIST 800-171 compliance, putting you in a unique position to guide clients through the complexities of the framework. Compliance with NIST 800-171 isn’t as simple as ticking a box—it’s about systematically helping your clients secure their environments to protect CUI.

What is Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)?

Controlled Unclassified Information, or CUI, is sensitive data that isn’t quite top-secret but still demands a very high level of protection, such as:

• Health records
• Research and engineering data
• Process sheets and manuals
• Law enforcement records

It could include anything from blueprints to internal communications—basically, if the government doesn’t want it widely accessible but it’s also not classified, it’s CUI.

Source

Top NIST 800-171 Requirements You Need to Know

Let’s dive into some of the top NIST 800-171 requirements MSPs/MSSPs should know about, and how you can describe them contextually to your clients. 

1. Access Control (AC)

Your client needs to limit who has access to CUI in their organization. It sounds basic, but this control forms the foundation of security. It means defining roles, setting permissions, and ensuring that only those who need access get access.

2. Awareness and Training (AT)

Humans are the weakest link, right? This control is all about ensuring everyone—from the interns to the CEO—knows how to handle CUI properly. Regular training on phishing scams, best practices, and incident response can mean the difference between a small issue and a full-blown disaster for your clients.

3. Audit and Accountability (AU)

Audit logs are like your client’s network surveillance cameras, tracking who accessed what, when, and for how long. Like a good detective story, these logs help piece together what happens if something goes wrong. 

4. Configuration Management (CM)

Configuration management means your clients should keep systems documented and secure. There should be no ad-hoc changes or one-off settings that someone decided were a good idea at the time—everything needs to be standardized and tracked. Controlled environments are secure environments.

5. Incident Response (IR)

Having an incident response plan means your client isn’t scrambling when things hit crisis mode. It means knowing what steps to take, who to inform, and how to minimize damage.

6. Media Protection (MP)

Sensitive information doesn’t just live in the cloud. It’s on USB drives, hard copies, and sometimes even handwritten notes. Media protection is about ensuring all these forms of CUI are protected and properly destroyed when no longer needed.

7. System and Communications Protection (SC)

This NIST 800-171 requirement is about ensuring that systems communicate securely. Encryption, secure protocols, and network segmentation all play a part in protecting information from falling into the wrong hands during transmission.

8. Physical Protection (PE)

Digital security is vital, but your clients can’t forget about physical security. If anyone can walk in and plug a device into their network, all their fancy cyber defenses become useless. Physical protection includes locked doors, restricted access areas, and proper visitor monitoring.

Source

The Essential NIST 800-171 Compliance Checklist

1. Identify Your CUI

You can’t protect what you don’t know exists. Start by identifying every piece of CUI in your environment. 

• Conduct a comprehensive data inventory to locate all CUI within your organization.
• Use data classification tools to tag and monitor CUI to ensure proper handling and protection throughout its lifecycle.
• Assign a dedicated team or individual responsible for maintaining an updated inventory of all CUI, ensuring constant tracking and safeguarding against unauthorized access.

2. Categorize and Prioritize Your Security Needs

Not all data is created equal. Categorize CUI based on sensitivity and prioritize protection for high-risk areas, which helps clients focus resources effectively.

• Classify CUI based on sensitivity, risk, and business impact to prioritize security measures effectively.
• Develop a matrix that identifies the most critical data assets and assign tiered security controls for each level.
• Conduct regular risk assessments to update the categorization as the nature of the data and threat landscape evolves.

3. Control Physical Access

Clients must protect the physical areas where CUI is stored or processed, which means keeping unauthorized personnel out of restricted areas, locking servers, and generally minimizing any risk of physical breach.

• Implement access controls such as biometric systems, keycard entry, or security guards for sensitive areas.
• Ensure all visitors are logged and escorted at all times within secure areas.
• Conduct periodic reviews of physical security measures, ensuring all equipment is functional and personnel are trained in emergency protocols.

4. Establish Baseline Configurations

A baseline configuration provides a secure starting point for all systems and software. It means configuring systems so they are secure by default and ensuring any changes follow a strict process.

• Define standard security configurations for all IT systems, ensuring they meet NIST 800-171 security requirements.
• Use automated tools to enforce baseline configurations and identify any deviations.
• Regularly audit configurations to confirm compliance with baseline standards, updating them as new threats emerge.

5. Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit

Data encryption is crucial. Ensure that any CUI is encrypted both when stored and while being transferred. This helps protect against both physical theft (like lost drives) and cyber threats (such as intercepted communications).

• Deploy end-to-end encryption for data stored on devices and servers as well as data transmitted across networks.
• Use industry-standard encryption protocols such as AES-256 for data at rest and TLS 1.2 or higher for data in transit.
• Periodically test encryption configurations and update encryption methods as needed to address emerging vulnerabilities.

Source

6. Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training

Phishing attacks are still one of the easiest ways for attackers to get in. Regular security awareness training reduces human error and keeps everyone vigilant. Make this a continuous process, not just an annual checkbox.

• Develop phishing simulations to test employee readiness and conduct follow-up training on weak spots.
• Incorporate hands-on workshops and scenarios to better prepare employees for real-world cyber threats.
• Track and report employee progress through training modules, ensuring regular updates and refreshers to maintain vigilance.

7. Implement a Risk Management Process

Risk management means regularly assessing your environment for weaknesses and addressing them before an attacker can exploit them. Vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and patch management all fall under this umbrella.

• Create a vulnerability management program that includes regular penetration testing and vulnerability scans.
• Prioritize risk mitigation based on potential impact and likelihood, ensuring critical vulnerabilities are addressed first.
• Maintain an up-to-date risk register to document risks, mitigations, and responsible parties for easy review and accountability.

8. Create an Incident Response Plan

When the unexpected happens, being prepared saves time and money. An incident response plan outlines how to react, contain, and recover from an incident—with as little fallout as possible. Rehearse it regularly so that everyone knows their role.

• Develop detailed playbooks for various incident types (e.g., ransomware, phishing, data breach).
• Schedule routine incident response drills and tabletop exercises to test and refine the response plan.
• Ensure key personnel and stakeholders are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities with up-to-date contact information readily available.

Source

9. Maintain Audit Logs

Track and log every access to systems and CUI. These logs provide valuable information for forensic analysis in case of an incident and help prove compliance during assessments. Make sure they’re monitored and that access to logs is restricted.

• Implement a centralized logging solution that aggregates and secures audit logs from all systems and devices handling CUI.
• Set up automated workflows and alerts for suspicious activity detected in the logs, ensuring quick response to potential breaches.
• Regularly review and archive logs according to retention policies, ensuring they are available for both security investigations and compliance audits.

10. Secure Your Supply Chain

Your security is only as strong as the weakest link in your supply chain. Vet suppliers and ensure they meet NIST 800-171 requirements as well. Encourage your clients to include cybersecurity clauses in supplier agreements.

• Conduct third-party risk assessments to ensure all suppliers adhere to NIST 800-171 standards.
• Include clauses in contracts that enforce cybersecurity requirements and penalties for non-compliance.
• Continuously monitor suppliers for security incidents or changes in their security posture, addressing risks proactively.

Start Your Path to Compliance

Compliance isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s a continuous journey that evolves as regulations change, technology advances, and threats emerge. For MSP/MSSPs, offering NIST 800-171 compliance support is more than a value-add; it’s about protecting the business and ensuring clients keep those federal contracts coming.

Cynomi’s vCISO platform is built to simplify compliance for MSPs/MSSPs, taking the manual, time-consuming work out of compliance assessments. Whether it’s mapping controls or generating policies, Cynomi helps you focus on the bigger picture—keeping clients compliant and secure while freeing you up to focus on strategic growth.

Ready to see how Cynomi can make compliance easier for you and your clients? Schedule a demo today.

vCISO services are rapidly gaining traction among MSPs and MSSPs for their high-margin potential. While CISOs are in high demand, their expertise is scarce, which is why organizations often turn to vCISO services to bridge the gap to ensure they maintain robust security measures. Offering flexible, outsourced cybersecurity leadership that delivers significant value at a lower cost, a vCISO can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect sensitive information.

Not only do vCISOs help fill a growing need for organizations in need of strategic cyber services, but for service providers they provide differentiation and profit opportunities. These include recurring consulting revenues, upselling services as a result of newly discovered security gaps, and other highly-requested services. For MSPs and MSSPs, transitioning to offer comprehensive vCISO services is a strategic move that offers profit and efficiency if done right. However, transitioning to offering full-fledged vCISO services can be challenging. 

Explore the full guide to master comprehensive vCISO services, and keep reading to gain top tips to make the transition seamless and profitable. 

What is a vCISO? 

Organizations increasingly face complex and evolving cybersecurity challenges but often lack the in-house expertise to tackle these issues. A vCISO provides the critical leadership needed to navigate these risks and strengthen cyber resilience. Whether it’s to address a shortage of skilled security professionals or to ensure robust cybersecurity strategies, a vCISO offers expert guidance tailored to the unique needs of the business. 

A vCISO offers flexible, high quality cybersecurity leadership on a part-time or contract basis, bringing specialized expertise that can be challenging to find in-house, to ensure an organization’s cyber resilience. Instead of hiring a full-time CISO, businesses can subscribe to vCISO services for expert C-level cyber-assistance. vCISOs help prevent breaches, reduce risks, and mitigate attack consequences by building comprehensive cybersecurity programs.

Why  More and More MSPs and MSSPs are offering vCISO services:

• They enable service providers to effectively meet their clients’ increasing demand for proactive cyber resilience, aligning their services with the growing market need
• They offer the potential to grow recurring revenues by expanding into a new customer base with strategic services 
• They help service providers differentiate themselves 
• They are an excellent vehicle from which to upsell additional cybersecurity services to existing customers who identify security gaps as a result of these offerings
• Those offering the complete range of vCISO services can charge a lot more while delivering highly valued services that earn word of mout

What do vCISO services include?

While vCISO service offerings can vary widely from client to client, here is a list of minimum services to offer: 

Risk Assessment & Management 

• Initial Risk Assessment: Most vCISO engagements begin with a risk assessment to understand the organization’s current cybersecurity posture.
• Ongoing Risk Management: This involves identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing risks based on the organization’s risk appetite and managing ongoing risk and remediation.
• Comprehensive Asset Management: Effective risk management aligns with business goals and requires identifying all systems, endpoints, and users to discover threats such as unpatched systems, weak passwords, and misconfigurations.

Strategy setting

• Developing Strategies: A thorough risk assessment enables the development of effective strategies to counter current and future threats.
• Aligning with Business Priorities: Cybersecurity strategies must align with business priorities and financial realities, setting a roadmap for short-term, mid-term, and long-term actions.
• Guiding Policy Creation: This roadmap guides policy creation for all employees and IT professionals, helping the organization address critical threats and tackle immediate cybersecurity issues.

Protection

• Implementing Controls: vCISOs must be proactive in remediating threats by implementing controls such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), strong password policies, firewalls, and anti-virus software.
• Protecting Assets: They also protect endpoints, data, networks, and emails through tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) and email protection, as well as practices like vulnerability scanning and patch management.

Continuity planning

• Disaster Recovery (DR): Goes beyond backups, incorporating alternative data centers and infrastructure to ensure swift recovery from disruptions.
• Business Continuity (BC): Includes organizational and human elements, such as drills and personnel relocation plans, to ensure comprehensive preparedness.
• Guidance on BC and DR: The vCISO provides guidance on BC, DR, data protection, retention, archiving, and disposal.

Training & Security Awareness

• Comprehensive Training: Cybersecurity training should cover employee and executive security awareness, as well as advanced training for technical personnel.
• Partnering with Vendors: Partnering with a vendor for security awareness training, including phishing simulation tests, helps assess and improve employee resilience against malicious URLs and attachments.
• Continuous Improvement: IT and security personnel should undergo regular training and certification in threat detection, access management, and vulnerability management.

Compliance and Governance

• Aligning to Large Organization Needs: Large organizations impose their compliance frameworks and standards on any vendor they are selecting.
• Adhering to Standards: SMBs are often asked to show evidence they can fulfill applicable regulations and security frameworks like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO, CIS, NIST, and SOC 2.
• Avoiding Disruptions: vCISO providers can help SMBs align to these requirements and avoid significant disruptions in terms of time, money, and resources.

Incident response

• Initial Response: vCISOs manage the initial response to cyberattacks within the first 24-48 hours.
• Developing Plans: After addressing immediate threats, they develop a cybersecurity incident response plan, assign roles within the IT and cybersecurity teams, and engage third parties for remediation and recovery.
• Regular Drills: Regular incident response drills and table-top exercises are crucial for preparedness.

Third-party management

• Managing Risks: vCISOs manage security risks posed by third parties, including supply chain partners, SaaS vendors, and cloud providers.
• Defining Privileges: They ensure these connections do not become breach points by defining narrow access privileges and requiring multi-factor authentication for login.

Communication

• Strategic Direction: vCISOs manage and set the strategic direction for cybersecurity, including planning, execution, technology implementation, and policy setting.
• Alignment and Coordination: They ensure alignment between security and IT, coordinate teams, and integrate services smoothly.
• Effective Communication: A full-fledged vCISO understands the business mission, and risk appetite, and communicates effectively with top management and the board.
  

Providing holistic vCISO services

Each of the elements discussed offers significant value to customers and is necessary for providing effective and efficient cybersecurity. But, how can you scale your vCISO services when as mentioned earlier, qualified CISOs are few and far between at a high cost? 

The answer: cyber security management platforms. vCISO platforms, like Cynomi, can take the MSPs and MSSPs from where they are currently, to being able to cover all aspects of vCISO services without additional resources.

To explore how you can enhance your service offerings, download our comprehensive guide and discover the steps to transition to a more robust vCISO service delivery. Understanding the essential functions of a vCISO, recognizing the upsell potential, and leveraging platforms like Cynomi will allow MSPs and MSSPs to scale their vCISO offerings efficiently and profitably.

Ready to elevate your cybersecurity services? Book a demo and discover how Cynomi can transform your vCISO offerings.

Congratulations on your decision to bring in a vCISO! With the recent new risks and regulations, a vCISO will help you, as a business owner or IT member, secure your operations and ensure you meet compliance regulations.

However, the journey to finding the right vCISO might be daunting. Many organizations don’t have the time or resources to properly evaluate a large number of vCISOs. This is where this blog post can help.

Below, you will find a list of questions to ask potential vCISO vendors. The list covers a wide range of topics, from security and compliance to experience to the right tools and the team. The answers to these questions can help you determine whether the vCISO you’re assessing is the right choice. In many cases, there is no right or wrong answer, there are answers that are right for your business needs.

How to use this checklist:

1. Review the questions and highlight the ones that are relevant for you.
2. When evaluating vCISO vendors, ask them these questions and take notes. You can also record the call and get a transcript and initial analysis with AI.
3. Analyze their responses after the interview. It’s recommended to do so with someone who wasn’t on the call with you. This will provide new perspectives and can help highlight issues you didn’t notice initially.
4. Provide a score and written evaluation based on the analysis.
5. When looking at your vCISO vendor shortlist, incorporate the score and evaluation into your considerations.

The Importance of Choosing the Right vCISO Vendor

A vCISO provides strategic security direction, develops security policies and ensures compliance with regulations. With businesses dealing with more third-party risks, regulations and insurability issues than ever, choosing the right vCISO is a top priority. Your vCISO will determine how well you can handle and manage these pressing security and compliance issues.

But a good vCISO goes beyond security expertise. vCISOs are business leaders. They communicate with management, provide insights into security investments and the threat landscape and suggest resilience planning that aligns with your business objectives. That’s why a good vCISO brings the expertise and tools that can integrate into your organization’s culture and operational cadence, elevating your business as a whole.

You should be able to see this impact in a few months time. Since you shouldn’t be looking to replace your vCISO every few months, this makes choosing the right one all the more important.

The vCISO Evaluation Checklist

Industry Experience

Cybersecurity challenges and regulatory requirements vary significantly across sectors. Each industry faces unique threats and has distinct compliance requirements. For example, finance service companies are subject to stringent regulations like PCI DSS. Attacks are usually non-complex and they deal with a relatively large number of insider threats. Healthcare companies, on the other hand, need to comply with HIPAA in the US and often face ransomware attacks.

A vCISO with deep knowledge in your specific sector brings an understanding of these unique requirements and knows how to handle them effectively. In addition, a vCISO with relevant industry experience will have a network of contacts, resources and practices that can be leveraged for your benefit and offer a competitive edge.

Questions to ask:

1. How many years of experience do you have in my industry?
2. Which types of customers have you worked with? Ask about company size, architecture, business model, technologies used, geographical presence, decision-making structure and more.
3. What types of threats have you dealt with?
4. Which compliance regulations are you familiar with?
5. Which customer names, case studies and references can you share?

Services Scope

A vCISO’s services scope can range greatly. Services can include strategic planning, risk assessment, compliance management, policy creation, incident response, training, hands-on technical implementation and more.

Discussing the services scope helps you understand a) what their abilities and limitations are and b) whether their expertise aligns with your organization’s specific needs. Setting clear expectations will help you ensure your investment is directed towards services that are beneficial for your organization’s cybersecurity strategy.

Questions to ask:

1. What services do you provide? What services don’t you provide?
2. How do you address dynamic needs? Let’s say I need a new service you don’t offer, how will you respond?
3. What’s your business model? For example, comprehensive ongoing security services end-to-end, managed services of a limited scope, a basic retainer + additional service hours for extra services, etc.
4. Will you start with a security and compliance assessment of my organization? How does that work?
5. How do you build and manage the security plan?
6. To which frameworks will you map my network and plan?
7. How do you address any future scalability needs I might have?
8. What can I expect from you in the first 100 days?
9. Which part of the plan do you execute yourself? And what parts need to be executed by our team?

Communication and Processes

Cybersecurity policies, risks and recommendations need to be understood and acted upon by all stakeholders in your company, from IT to the boardroom. Clear and effective communication and standardized processes ensure all relevant stakeholders are always in the loop, understand the complex technical issues in their own terms and have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Questions to ask:

1. How does communication take place? This includes the tools and the channels.
2. How often can we expect to get updates and information from you?
3. How do you ensure processes are structured, standardized and communicated effectively?

Reporting

Reporting provides a clear and single pane of glass of the organization’s security and compliance posture. They ensure everyone is aligned and allow for monitoring and measuring the security activity. These findings can be used for making informed decisions, for auditing and to track progress. Therefore, they should be always accessible and understandable to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Questions to ask:

1. Which reporting methods do you use? Is there a platform where we can always see the reports?
2. How often are reports updated and shared?
3. Which metrics do you use to measure progress and success?
4. What’s the scope of the report? Which of the following does it cover: security posture, vulnerabilities, compliance readiness status by framework, tasks and remediation plan status?

Compliance

Meeting regulatory requirements and standards is a fundamental aspect of cybersecurity management. This includes understanding which policies, controls and practices need to be implemented, how to implement them and how to easily adapt to future changes in the regulatory environment. Effective compliance management under a vCISO’s guidance ensures the organization avoids fines and sanctions and builds trust with customers, partners and regulators.

Questions to ask:

1. Which regulations do I need to be compliant with?
2. How will you ensure I’m compliant with these regulations?
3. How do you perform compliance assessments? Which tools and processes do you use?
4. How will you report my compliance status to me?
5. How do you create and implement compliance policies?
6. Do you assist with auditing?
7. Do you track new compliance regulations?
8. How will you prepare the organizations for upcoming regulations like NIS2?

Technologies and Platforms

The technological foundation the vCISO uses will directly impact your organization’s ability to defend against current and emerging cyber threats. A vCISO who leans towards innovative solutions will better manage your security and compliance posture, while offering more advanced solutions to deal with risks and threats.

vCISO platforms also allow for visibility and reporting, giving you peace of mind since you can always see your current status and progress. They also support scalability, which means the vCISO will be able to answer your future and evolving needs, and not just your current ones.

Questions to ask:

1. Which technologies and platforms do you use to provide vCISO solutions?
2. Are these solutions user-friendly? Will I be able to easily use and understand them myself?
3. Do you use SaaS platforms, so I can also easily access and stay up-to-date?
4. Which platform do you use as a single-source-of-truth for tracking and communicating security progress?

Contracts

Contracts establish a clear, mutual understanding of the engagement’s terms, conditions and expectations. They outline the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, confidentiality obligations, fees and the mechanisms for handling changes in scope or unforeseen cybersecurity challenges. Make sure contracts are clearly written and signed beforehand, to avoid legal consequences and misunderstandings as much as possible.

Questions to ask:

1. How much do services cost?
2. What’s the payment or business model? For example, a fixed monthly fee, an annual fee, a basic retainer with service hours, etc.
3. What are my obligations? What are yours?
4. What are the terms for ending services?
5. Who owns the data created during the relationship?

It’s recommended to consult with your legal advisors when building and signing the contract.

Get to Know the Team

Cybersecurity is a broad field that requires a range of skills, from technical expertise in areas like network security and incident response to strategic skills in risk management and compliance. A vCISO supported by a diverse and skilled team can ensure that all aspects of your organization’s security needs are addressed.

Questions to ask:

1. How many employees do you have?
2. What’s their experience – skill set and years in the field?
3. Which tools do you use to improve their capabilities and bridge knowledge gaps?
4. Who’s my point of contact?
5. What happens if the individual vCISO I’m in touch with is away or leaves the company. Who is in charge?

Conclusion

Choosing the right vCISO is a strategic decision for your business. A good vCISO provides security and compliance peace of mind, while integrating with your business operations. This checklist can serve you and help you find a vCISO that is knowledgeable in your industry and brings in the right tools and team. By following the structured approach and questions provided, you will be able to make an informed decision, ensuring their investment in a vCISO adds significant value to your cybersecurity posture and business strategy.

See how Cynomi can help you and your vCISO enhance security services at scale. Click here.

Title: 9 vCISO Influencers You Need to Be Following in 2024 

By now, many MSSPs and MSPs are familiar with the vCISO role. It’s projected that by the end of 2024, 84% of these providers will offer vCISO services. 

This emerging field of ‘virtual CISO’ is changing constantly. The vCISO role is still in the process of rapid evolution, and a consensus on its definition or scope is yet to be finalized.  

With growing demands for vCISOs, a variety of market definitions were created and some confusion about a vCISOs responsibilities. One should keep up to date on trends, requirements, frameworks, and best practices. The guidance and insights provided by influential vCISOs can be invaluable.  

There are many knowledge influencers in the space you should know about. A year ago, Cynomi compiled a list of the top vCISO influencers who we think you should be following. Today, we’ve updated this list with additional professionals who we see as thought leaders worth following.  

If you’re already offering vCISO services or considering initiating this activity anytime soon, we recommend you follow at least one vCISO influencer on social media to stay well-informed. We hope this list will help you find that person. 

9 vCISO influencers to follow:

1. Mike Miller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesportfolio/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikemillercyber 

Mike has over 25 years of experience as a CISO specializing in GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), PCI, Defensive (SOC / Intrusion Detection) and Offensive Security (Penetration Testing), and Incident Response. Mike is a true thought leader in the vCISO space – in addition to speaking at conferences and giving interviews on cybersecurity, he owns a newsletter addressing the latest cybersecurity topics and shares from his experience as a vCISO daily on social media.  

2. Mike Wilkes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclectiqus/ 

Mike is a seasoned Chief Information Security Officer known for his work with companies like SecurityScorecard, ASCAP, Marvel, AQR Capital, and Sony, among others. Being nominated by the World Economic Forum as a technology pioneer in 2020 and the author of a book for Cisco Press in 2002, Mike is a featured speaker at technology conferences and is a professor at NYU teaching cybersecurity courses. He is recently focused on vCISO service and posts value-adding content.

 3. Laura Louthan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralouthan/overlay/about-this-profile/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraLouthan 

Laura is a vCISO with more than 15 years’ experience in global security operations, IT architecture and data management. Following a variety of roles including heading information security for a large retailer, Laura founded her own cybersecurity consulting firm in 2017, Angel Cybersecurity, which is dedicated to helping small and medium business discover their potential to secure their critical information assets. She specializes in Compliance (with a unique focus on PCI), audit and assessment, and risk management. In addition to participating as a speaker in industry events and podcasts, Laura also gives online courses on LinkedIn Learning.  

4. Jesse Miller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/secopswarrior/ 

Jesse Miller, an accomplished cybersecurity executive and expert has a track record of fortifying organizations against cyber threats, is a prominent thought leader in the vCISO space. 

Jesse leverages his deep operational and leadership experience from roles as CISO and vCISO to spearhead PowerPSA Consulting. His firm is dedicated to assisting MSPs in developing robust, full-spectrum security programs. Jesse’s guidance enables these firms to achieve their fullest potential, ensuring they deliver superior cybersecurity and risk management services to their clients.  

His wealth of experience and commitment to staying ahead of industry trends make him a trusted advisor and a sought-after expert. Jesse constantly shares vCISO best practices and expert advice on social media. Check out his LinkedIn profile.  

5. Gina Yacone
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginayacone/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gina_yacone  

Currently leading the information security sector for Trace3 in Denver, Colorado, Gina Yacone stands out as an influencer in the cybersecurity landscape and specifically in the vCISO space. 

Gina is a seasoned cybersecurity consultant and vCISO, with vast experience working with various industries and sectors to assess their risks, design their security programs, and deploy their security technologies. In addition to being an esteemed speaker, investor, board member and advisor, Gina actively engages in the cybersecurity community through her roles on the boards of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) North Carolina and other local organizations, reflecting her commitment to leadership and development in the field. She is frequently seen on conference stages, having delivered insightful presentations on information security at over 50 events. 

6. Allan Alford
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanalford/
Personal website: https://allanalford.com/

A distinguished vCISO leader, brings over two decades of cybersecurity expertise to the forefront and CISO experience from various industries. His journey, evolving from hands-on practitioner to visionary strategist, showcases a unique blend of technical acumen and strategic insight. Recognized for his dynamic leadership, Alford’s influence extends through engaging social media, teaching, presenting at conferences, and publishing insightful blogs, making him a trusted guide in navigating the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. He also owns The Cyber Ranch Podcast where he hosts friends and experts from the cybersecurity community for eye opening discussions.  

7. Carlota Sage
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlotasage/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlotasage 

Carlota Sage is the Founder and Community CISO of Pocket CISO, a company that has a community CISO approach to security advisory services to early-stage start-ups and small organizations. Carlota has been instrumental in establishing cybersecurity and compliance frameworks for many organizations, typically ranging from 50 to 150 employees. She is a vCISO since 2021, with vast experience in IT and Support Operations beforehand.  

8. Wes Spencer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesspencer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wes_spencer 

Wes is a technology innovator and cybersecurity expert with national recognition. He served as a senior executive and advisor of various firms including Fortune 500 and is the co-founder of multiple cybersecurity companies. Wes is very active in the MSP community and is the co-host of the CyberCall with over 5,000 MSP weekly listeners.  

In addition to being a cyber executive, keynote speaker, and innovator, Wes is known by many as their YouTuber in the cyber space. Wes is currently VP of cybersecurity strategy at CyberFOX and founder of Empath.  

Wes won numerous awards including the 2020 Cybersecurity Educator of the Year by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Pro Publica, Dark Reading, and many other outlets. 

Follow Wes’s YouTube page: youtube.com/wesspencer 

9. Alexandre Blanc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandre-blanc-cyber-security-88569022/  

Alexandre Blanc is an international speaker, an active participant in the cybersecurity community and a well-recognized cybersecurity influencer. Alexandre is actively involved in the defining of new technological standards and participates in discussions with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

Recognized among the Top 30 Security Experts on LinkedIn in 2023 by Media Sonar and honored by the European Risk Policy Institute for significant contributions to global knowledge sharing in cybersecurity, Alexandre stands at the forefront of cyber risk expertise.  

In his last role, Alexandre was the strategic and security advisor at VARS Corporation, a leading Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP).  

Looking into the future  

The realm of vCISO influencers is characterized by diversity, with thought leaders emerging from different sectors such as MSPs, MSSPs, consultancies, VARs, pure cybersecurity backgrounds, compliance and even large accounting firms. 

Keeping an eye on vCISO influencers provides an excellent means to stay informed about industry trends, potential opportunities, and best practices. 

Although the mentioned influencers stand out in the vCISO landscape, there are numerous emerging figures with remarkable insights that deserve attention.  We’ll be refreshing this list periodically, so be sure to revisit for updates soon.