Frequently Asked Questions

About vCISO Influencers & the vCISO Role

What is a vCISO influencer?

A vCISO influencer is a thought leader who shapes the evolving field of virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs). These experts share insights, best practices, and industry trends, helping organizations and professionals stay informed about cybersecurity leadership and fractional CISO services. Source

Why is the vCISO role becoming more popular?

The vCISO role is gaining popularity as companies face increasing cyber risks and may not be able to afford a full-time CISO. vCISOs offer fractional, expert-level cybersecurity leadership to multiple organizations, making strategic security accessible to SMEs and SMBs. Source

What types of organizations typically hire vCISOs?

SMEs, SMBs, MSPs, MSSPs, and consultancies often hire vCISOs to manage cybersecurity risks, set strategic policies, and ensure compliance without the cost of a full-time executive. Source

Who are some leading vCISO influencers to follow?

Notable vCISO influencers include Greg Schaffer, Dr. Eric Cole, Rob Black, Jim Tiller, Michelle Drolet, Chris Roberts, Joe Panettieri, Andrew Morgan, Steve Morgan, Naomi Buckwalter, William Birchett, and Donna Gallaher. Each brings unique expertise and perspectives to the vCISO field. Source

How can following vCISO influencers benefit cybersecurity professionals?

Following vCISO influencers helps professionals stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging threats, enabling them to make informed decisions and improve their cybersecurity strategies. Source

What are some common backgrounds of vCISO influencers?

vCISO influencers often come from MSPs, MSSPs, consultancies, pure cybersecurity backgrounds, and large accounting firms, reflecting the diverse expertise required for the role. Source

How is the definition of the vCISO role evolving?

The vCISO role is still evolving, with ongoing discussions among thought leaders about its scope, responsibilities, and best practices. Influencers contribute to shaping this definition through their content and community engagement. Source

What are the main responsibilities of a vCISO?

A vCISO is responsible for managing cybersecurity risks, setting strategic security policies, ensuring compliance, and providing expert guidance to organizations on a fractional basis. Source

Why do SMEs and SMBs prefer vCISO services?

SMEs and SMBs prefer vCISO services because they offer affordable access to high-level cybersecurity expertise without the cost of a full-time executive, helping them address growing cyber threats effectively. Source

How can I stay updated on new vCISO influencers?

Check back regularly on Cynomi's blog for updates to the list of vCISO influencers and follow industry news and social media channels for emerging thought leaders. Source

What are some recommended resources for learning about vCISO services?

Cynomi offers guides such as "Getting to YES: The Anti-Sales Guide to Closing New Cybersecurity Deals" and webinars featuring industry experts. These resources help professionals understand the vCISO role and best practices. Download Guide

What is the difference between a full-time CISO and a vCISO?

A full-time CISO is dedicated to one organization, while a vCISO provides fractional, expert-level cybersecurity leadership to multiple companies, making strategic security accessible to organizations with limited resources. Source

How do vCISO influencers contribute to the cybersecurity community?

vCISO influencers share thought leadership, practical advice, and industry updates through blogs, podcasts, webinars, and social media, helping professionals and organizations improve their cybersecurity posture. Source

What are some podcasts or blogs recommended by vCISO influencers?

Podcasts such as "The Virtual CISO Moment" by Greg Schaffer and blogs by Steve Morgan (Cybercrime Magazine) are recommended sources for vCISO insights and industry news. Source

How do vCISO influencers help organizations address cyber risks?

vCISO influencers provide expert guidance, share best practices, and offer actionable strategies for managing cyber risks, compliance, and incident response, helping organizations strengthen their security posture. Source

What are some industry events or conferences for vCISO professionals?

Events like Right of Boom, hosted by Andrew Morgan, and webinars featuring Cynomi and other vCISO experts are valuable for networking and learning about the latest trends in cybersecurity leadership. Source

How does Cynomi participate in the vCISO community?

Cynomi actively engages in the vCISO community by hosting webinars, publishing guides, and participating in industry events such as Right of Boom, supporting the growth and development of vCISO professionals. Source

What are some up-and-coming vCISO influencers to watch?

The field of vCISO influencers is rapidly growing, with new experts emerging regularly. Cynomi updates its list of recommended influencers to reflect the latest leaders in the space. Source

How do vCISO influencers impact cybersecurity best practices?

vCISO influencers shape cybersecurity best practices by sharing their experiences, research, and recommendations, helping organizations adopt effective strategies for risk management and compliance. Source

Features & Capabilities of Cynomi

What are the key features of Cynomi's platform?

Cynomi offers AI-driven automation, centralized multitenant management, compliance readiness across 30+ frameworks, embedded CISO-level expertise, branded reporting, scalability, and a security-first design. These features enable efficient, scalable, and high-impact cybersecurity service delivery. Source

How does Cynomi automate cybersecurity processes?

Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual processes, including risk assessments and compliance readiness, reducing operational overhead and enabling faster service delivery. Source

Which cybersecurity frameworks does Cynomi support?

Cynomi supports over 30 frameworks, including NIST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, and HIPAA, allowing tailored assessments for diverse client needs. Source

Does Cynomi offer API-level access and integrations?

Yes, Cynomi provides API-level access and integrates with scanners (NESSUS, Qualys, Cavelo, OpenVAS, Microsoft Secure Score), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), CI/CD tools, ticketing systems, and SIEMs. Source

How does Cynomi help with compliance readiness?

Cynomi automates compliance mapping, tracking, and reporting, supports over 30 frameworks, and provides branded, exportable reports to demonstrate progress and compliance gaps. Source

What technical documentation is available for Cynomi?

Cynomi provides compliance checklists, NIST templates, continuous compliance guides, framework-specific mapping documentation, and vendor risk assessment resources. CMMC Checklist, NIST Checklist, Continuous Compliance Guide

How does Cynomi ensure security and compliance?

Cynomi prioritizes security over mere compliance, linking assessment results directly to risk reduction. The platform supports compliance across 30+ frameworks and provides enhanced reporting for transparency. Source

What feedback have customers given about Cynomi's ease of use?

Customers praise Cynomi for its intuitive interface and accessibility for non-technical users. For example, James Oliverio (ideaBOX) found risk assessments effortless, and Steve Bowman (Model Technology Solutions) reported ramp-up time for new analysts reduced from four months to one. Testimonials

How does Cynomi help service providers scale their vCISO services?

Cynomi enables service providers to scale vCISO services without increasing resources by automating manual processes and standardizing workflows, ensuring sustainable growth and efficiency. Source

What measurable business outcomes have Cynomi customers achieved?

Customers report increased revenue, reduced operational costs, and improved compliance. For example, CompassMSP closed deals 5x faster, and ECI increased GRC service margins by 30% while cutting assessment times by 50%. Case Study

Pain Points & Problems Solved

What core problems does Cynomi solve for service providers?

Cynomi addresses time and budget constraints, manual processes, scalability issues, compliance and reporting complexities, lack of engagement tools, knowledge gaps, and consistency challenges by automating and standardizing cybersecurity workflows. Source

How does Cynomi address manual and spreadsheet-based workflows?

Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual tasks, eliminating inefficiencies and errors associated with spreadsheet-based workflows, and streamlining risk assessments and compliance readiness. Source

What pain points do Cynomi customers commonly express?

Customers often mention time and budget constraints, manual processes, scalability issues, compliance and reporting complexities, lack of engagement tools, knowledge gaps, and challenges maintaining consistency. Cynomi's automation and standardized workflows address these issues. Testimonials

How does Cynomi help junior team members deliver high-quality cybersecurity services?

Cynomi embeds CISO-level expertise and best practices into its platform, enabling junior team members to deliver high-quality work and accelerating ramp-up time. Source

How does Cynomi improve client engagement and trust?

Cynomi provides branded, exportable reports and centralized management tools, improving communication, transparency, and trust with clients. Source

Use Cases & Industries

Who can benefit from using Cynomi?

Cynomi is designed for MSPs, MSSPs, vCISOs, cybersecurity service providers, technology consultants, legal firms, and organizations in the defense sector seeking scalable, efficient cybersecurity and compliance solutions. Case Studies

What industries are represented in Cynomi's case studies?

Cynomi's case studies feature legal, cybersecurity service providers, technology consulting, managed service providers (MSPs), and the defense sector. Testimonials

Can Cynomi help MSPs onboard CMMC-focused clients?

Yes, Cynomi's CMMC Level 2 features help MSPs onboard CMMC-focused clients faster and deliver compliance-as-a-service. CMMC Checklist

What are some real-world use cases for Cynomi?

CyberSherpas transitioned to a subscription model, CA2 Security reduced risk assessment times by 40%, Arctiq cut assessment times by 60%, and CompassMSP closed deals five times faster using Cynomi. Case Studies

Competition & Comparison

How does Cynomi compare to Apptega?

Apptega serves both organizations and service providers, while Cynomi is purpose-built for MSPs, MSSPs, and vCISOs. Cynomi offers AI-driven automation, embedded CISO-level expertise, and supports 30+ frameworks, providing greater flexibility and ease of use. Source

How does Cynomi differ from ControlMap?

ControlMap requires moderate to high expertise and more manual setup, while Cynomi automates up to 80% of manual processes and embeds CISO-level expertise, allowing junior team members to deliver high-quality work. Source

How does Cynomi compare to Vanta?

Vanta is direct-to-business focused and best suited for in-house teams, with strong support for select frameworks. Cynomi is designed for service providers, offering multitenant management, scalability, and support for over 30 frameworks. Source

How does Cynomi differ from Secureframe?

Secureframe focuses on in-house compliance teams and requires significant expertise, with a compliance-first approach. Cynomi prioritizes security, links compliance gaps to security risks, and provides step-by-step, CISO-validated recommendations for easier adoption. Source

How does Cynomi compare to Drata?

Drata is premium-priced and best suited for experienced in-house teams, with onboarding taking up to two months. Cynomi offers rapid setup, pre-configured automation flows, and embedded expertise for teams with limited cybersecurity backgrounds. Source

How does Cynomi differ from RealCISO?

RealCISO has limited scope and lacks scanning capabilities. Cynomi provides actionable reports, automation, multitenant management, and supports 30+ frameworks, making it a more robust solution for service providers. Source

Support & Implementation

What is the typical implementation timeframe for Cynomi?

Cynomi is optimized for fast deployment with pre-configured automation flows, enabling rapid onboarding and service delivery compared to competitors that may require up to two months for setup. Source

How can I access Cynomi's support and resources?

You can access Cynomi's support and resources through their website, including guides, webinars, case studies, compliance checklists, and technical documentation. Resource Center

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Getting to YES: The Anti-Sales Guide to Closing New Cybersecurity Deals

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Top 12 vCISO Influencers You Need To Be Following

Rotem-Shemesh
Rotem Shemesh Publication date: 22 January, 2023
vCISO Community
Top 12 vCISO Influencers You Need To Be Following

What is a vCISO influencer?

The Virtual CISO or “vCISO” concept has been gaining traction of late, as companies face unprecedented cyber risks. Hiring a full-time CISO is not always feasible, and so vCISOs – a fractional model where an external CISO provides services to a number of companies – have become extremely popular. 

The vCISO role is still evolving, with the definition of this role or service still being finalized or agreed upon. There are many perspectives, thoughts, and thought leaders in this space that are contributing to this role. As such, it’s critical to be in the loop and ensure you’re up to date, following the opinion leaders who shape this field.

These are the people worth following in order to keep yourself up-to-date about this increasingly important topic. 

The vCISO

Before we jump in, here is a quick primer on vCISOs:

Cyber attacks are increasing. Not a day goes by without a headline about some company experiencing a ransomware attack, data breach, or some other form of cyber strike. This makes sense; why rob a bank, when a cybercriminal can generate a massive payday, without taking their fingers off a keyboard?

Add in nationalistic and government-sponsored attacks, and the cyber landscape looks daunting indeed.

Large enterprises can afford a full-time Chief Information Security Officer, or CISO, to manage these risks and set out strategic policies to ensure that the company stays protected.

For SMEs and SMBs however, it’s not so easy. Thus vCISOs, or virtual CISOs, become fractional CISOs for multiple companies. Of late, many service providers such as MSPs, MSSPs, and consultants, have begun offering vCISO services. 

With that intro out of the way, let’s jump into our top vCISO influencers!

1. Greg Schaffer

LinkedIn: Greg Schaffer, vCISO, Author, Podcaster
Twitter: @newtnoise
Podcast: The Virtual CISO Moment podcast

Greg is the driver behind vCISO Services, LLC, as well as The Virtual CISO Moment podcast. With 33 years of experience in information technology and security, including over 15 years at the CISO level, Greg is an industry expert and is delighted to share his knowledge with the community.

2. Dr. Eric Cole

LinkedIn: Dr. Eric Cole, Cybersecurity Expert
Twitter: @drericcole
Personal websites: http://www.secureanchor.com/

Dr. Eric Cole is a cybersecurity expert who has been helping businesses improve their cybersecurity for over 30 years. He’s the CEO and Founder at Secure Anchor Consulting, the author of “Cyber Crisis,” a SANS Institute faculty Fellow and course author, and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. He often posts value-adding content including fascinating articles and infographics and provides vCISO training.

3. Rob Black

LinkedIn: Rob Black, Virtual CISO to SaaS companies, building cyber programs. | vCISO | Fractional CISO | SOC 2 | Cybersecurity Consulting
Twitter: @IoTSecurityGuy
Personal website: http://www.fractionalCISO.com

Rob is a leading social media expert when it comes to vCISOs, and also focuses on founders to help them tell their cybersecurity story to enable sales. Rob has participated in many Podcasts, Webinars and other events as a thought leader and discussing issues pertinent to vCISOs, as well as general cybersecurity issues. He is the founder and CEO of Fractional CISO, which specializes in vCISO services.

4. Jim Tiller

LinkedIn: Jim Tiller, Executive | CISO | Security Strategy | Business Leader | Cybersecurity Author | Patent Holder

Jim is an internationally recognized cybersecurity authority, with over 25 years of cyber risk management, and security technology experience. This experience enables him to understand both the C-Suite and Board-level perspectives, as well as deep technical areas. In his current position, he leads the vCISO practice of Harvey Nash Group, This passion comes through in Jim’s social media activity, with thought-provoking articles and opinions.

5. Michelle Drolet

​​LinkedIn: Michelle Drolet, Operationalizing Cyber Security by building security solutions that safeguard your most critical assets.
Twitter: @Michelledrolet2
Website: http://www.towerwall.com/

Michelle speaks about cyber risks, compliance issues, as well as making cybersecurity accessible to all. She is a sought-after speaker, and panelist, and is a regular contributor to leading online publications such as Forbes Technology Council, Wired.com, and IDG CSO Online.

6. Chris Roberts

​​LinkedIn: Chris Roberts, CISO, Senior Director, Researcher, and Hacker
Twitter @Sidragon1

Chris is humorous, knowledgeable, and engaging. Check out his featured content to start, and follow him for his ongoing thoughts and opinions. You won’t regret it.

7. Joe Panettieri 

​​LinkedIn: Joe Panettieri, Angel Investor, Tech Media Entrepreneur
Twitter: @joepanettieri
Personal website: http://www.channelangels.com/

Joe is an angel investor, a tech media entrepreneur, and, as he puts it, an “alleged” MSSP & MSP market expert. As an editorial director and co-founder of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, he is central to shaping the perspective on the vCISO role. Approaching the vCISO world from the investor perspective, and with incredible inside knowledge, Joe’s posts are super informative.

8. Andrew Morgan

​​LinkedIn: Andrew Morgan, Founder at The Cyber Nation
Website: https://thecybernation.com/

Andrew is the founder of The Cyber Nation, and the host of The Cyber Call. He is focused on the nexus of MSPs, MSSPs, and security, and brings strong industry experience together with a balanced perspective incorporating other business areas such as sales, professional services, data centers, the software industry, and Software as a Service (SaaS). He hosts a podcast called The Cybercast which covers different security controls and is built especially for MSPs, MSSPs, and IT Practitioners, and is the founder of Right of Boom, an MSP-focused cybersecurity conference – which Cynomi will take part in this year, and we’d love to see you there.

9. Steve Morgan

​​LinkedIn: Steve Morgan
Twitter: @CybersecuritySF
Websites: www.cybersecurityventures.com (Company), www.cybercrimemagazine.com (Blog)

Steve is the founder of Cybersecurity Ventures, the Editor-in-Chief at Cybercrime Magazine, and the Executive Producer at Cybercrime Radio. He’s also written or co-authored fascinating articles and books such as “Hacker’s Movie Guide: The Complete List of Hacker & Cybersecurity Movies” and “Women Know Cyber: 100 Fascinating Females Fighting Cybercrime.” Very worthwhile to follow and learn from.

10. Naomi Buckwalter

​​LinkedIn: Naomi Buckwalter, Information Security Leader | Nonprofit Director | Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Learning Instructor
Website: https://www.cybersecuritygatebreakers.org/

Naomi is a LinkedIn Learning instructor and presents the course, “Building The Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals.” Her non-profit venture Cyber Security Gate Breakers was founded in order to close a demand gap in cyber security. She is an inspiring vCISO, a cybersecurity career adviser, and a mentor for people around the world. Her passion is helping people get into cybersecurity.

11. William Birchett

LinkedIn: William Birchett, CCISO, CISSP, CISM, CISA
Twitter: @wbirchett

William Birchett is the president of Logos Systems, and the founder of the vCISO network. With a background in novel technologies, network and security operations, and global relationship management, Birchett posts thought-provoking content around cybersecurity awareness, learning, and the emerging vCISO landscape.

12. Donna Gallaher

​​LinkedIn: Donna Gallaher
Twitter: @donnacgallaher
Website: http://www.newoceansenterprises.com/

Donna is a vCISO, a Board advisor, and a fractional cyber security and data privacy risk advisor. Donna posts fascinating thoughts and opinions, expert advice, and a whole lot more.

vCISO influencers: the list is growing

The field of vCISO influencers is diverse, and thought leaders come from various disciplines including MSPs, MSSPs, consultancies, service providers, pure cybersecurity backgrounds, and even large accounting firms.

Following vCISO influencers is a great way to stay abreast of industry trends, opportunities, and best practices.

While these are some of the leading vCISO influencers right now, there are many up-and-coming vCISO influencers who are incredible, and definitely worth following.

We’ll be updating this list, so make sure to check back in soon.

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