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.