Almost every enterprise has a CISO, but most small and growing businesses do not. That’s where a vCISO comes in. Acting as a virtual security leader, a vCISO provides governance, strategic direction, and decision-making support, helping organizations build and mature their security programs without the cost of a full-time executive. For growing teams, a vCISO fills a critical leadership gap and ensures security initiatives align with business goals.
Why Small Security Teams Rely on a vCISO
Every mature enterprise has a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), but smaller and growing businesses often do not. That doesn’t mean the role isn’t valuable, smaller teams face unique challenges that make hiring a full-time CISO difficult. A virtual CISO (vCISO) is an effective solution, providing executive-level guidance without the overhead of a full-time hire.
For small security teams, the intersection of a vCISO brings three key advantages:
- Understanding the CISO function: Why leadership in security governance is critical for all organizations.
- Addressing small-team challenges: How growing security teams face resource, expertise, and prioritization constraints.
- Gaining vCISO benefits: How a virtual CISO delivers strategic guidance, governance, and long-term program resilience.
Partnering with a trusted vCISO service allows organizations to enjoy the same strategic oversight as a traditional CISO, while focusing on governance, prioritization, and building a resilient security program.
What is a (v)CISO, and Why It Matters
As the “C” indicates, a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a member of the C-suite. A CISO is the executive responsible for all aspects of cybersecurity and compliance, overseeing planning, governance, risk assessments, and daily operations to protect an organization against growing cyber threats.
Filling this role requires deep expertise and extensive experience. Effective CISOs often bring decades of experience in security operations, risk management, compliance, and executive decision-making.
For many smaller or growing organizations, hiring a full-time CISO is challenging. Qualified candidates are rare, and the cost of recruitment, salaries, and retention can be significant, typically ranging from $250K to $700K annually.
This is why more small teams are turning to a vCISO. A virtual CISO provides senior-level cybersecurity leadership comparable to a full-time CISO but does so more affordably and efficiently, giving growing organizations the strategic guidance they need without the full-time overhead.
The CISO Gap in Smaller and Growing Businesses
CISOs are central to the success of large, established organizations. In 2023, there were about 32,000 CISOs worldwide, with the vast majority employed by enterprise firms. For example:
- 100% of Fortune 500 companies had a CISO or equivalent role, such as a Chief Security Officer (CSO).
- Most companies in the Global 2000 also had a CISO or equivalent.
Even with these numbers, smaller businesses are largely underserved. Of the estimated ~32 million small businesses in the U.S., very few have a dedicated CISO, despite employing around 47% of the U.S. workforce.
The importance of the CISO role has also grown over time. In 2018, only ~70% of Fortune 500 companies had a CISO, illustrating that the role has become essential rather than optional.
For smaller or newer businesses, the solution often lies in engaging a vCISO. A virtual CISO provides strategic leadership, governance, and guidance, giving growing organizations access to executive-level security expertise without the cost of a full-time hire
Challenges Facing Small Security Teams
Smaller businesses may lack a full-time CISO, but that doesn’t mean they are any less at risk. In fact, smaller teams often face the same security threats as large enterprises, but with fewer resources and less experience.
Cyberattacks are a growing concern for small businesses. According to a Mastercard survey on SMB threats:
- 46% of small businesses experienced a cyberattack.
- About 20% of these victims had to file for bankruptcy or close their business.
The challenges small security teams commonly face include:
- Tech stack vulnerabilities: Rapidly growing firms are constantly adding and adjusting software and hardware, creating more potential entry points for attackers.
- Cyberattack threats: Small businesses are targeted through hacking, social engineering, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), and other attack vectors.
- Experience gaps: Limited resources mean IT staff or other tech personnel often handle security tasks without dedicated security expertise.
Despite facing the same risks as larger organizations, small security teams often lack the dedicated leadership, strategic oversight, and governance needed to protect the business effectively. This is where a vCISO can make a critical difference, providing expert guidance, risk management, and security program oversight without the cost of a full-time executive.
Benefits of a vCISO for Smaller Security Teams
For smaller security teams that need a CISO but lack the resources to hire one full-time, a vCISO (or fractional CISO) is an ideal solution. Even organizations that could afford a traditional CISO often find a vCISO more efficient and cost-effective—especially outside the largest enterprise environments.
The true value of a vCISO lies in the leadership, perspective, and expertise they bring, not just the employment model. Key benefits include:
- Cost savings: A vCISO is more affordable than hiring a full-time CISO. Organizations also avoid the additional expenses of recruitment, retention, and high turnover risk.
- Flexible, as-needed support: vCISOs provide guidance when you need it most, allowing multiple experts to step in during critical moments.
- Access to broader expertise: Unlike a single executive, a vCISO team brings diverse experience across industries and security disciplines, giving your organization insights from multiple perspectives.
- Pay for what you use: Organizations can scale support up or down depending on needs, saving money on services that aren’t constantly required.
By leveraging a vCISO, smaller security teams gain executive-level leadership, strategic guidance, and governance oversight, without the full-time cost or commitment of a traditional CISO.
The Importance of Governance and Leadership
Effective cybersecurity depends on top-down leadership and organizational buy-in, whether a company has a dozen employees or tens of thousands. For smaller or newer organizations, establishing strong governance early is critical, habits that maintain security long-term should start from day one.
A vCISO provides this executive-level guidance, ensuring that policies, procedures, and security controls are effective across the organization. They also help teams stay aware of their roles in maintaining security and compliance.
Perhaps most importantly, a vCISO supports smaller teams during crises and cyberattacks. In organizations with less collective experience, it’s easy to overreact or misprioritize when risks emerge. A seasoned vCISO brings decades of expertise, helping teams mitigate threats, prioritize actions, and minimize damage while maintaining business continuity.
Even for small companies with experienced leadership, a vCISO provides objective decision-making, strategic oversight, and impartial guidance, approximating the senior-level leadership of a traditional CISO without the full-time cost.
Planning and Future-Proofing Security Operations
As companies grow, their security needs scale non-linearly. More assets, employees, and processes bring new risks, while regulatory and operational demands increase. A vCISO helps organizations navigate these challenges, providing leadership that ensures growth is both secure and sustainable.
Cyber Security Tribe (CST) analyzed this pattern of non-linear cybersecurity growth, particularly for B2B SaaS organizations, and identified four stages of security maturity:
- Surviving: Security is ad hoc, with controls installed haphazardly. A vCISO helps prevent critical early mistakes and establishes foundational governance.
- Formalizing: Growing organizations face increased regulatory and client demands. A vCISO organizes processes, mitigates inefficiency, and ensures compliance.
- Maturing: Organizations require stable, enterprise-level solutions for internal and external users. A vCISO provides comprehensive management and oversight.
- Leading: Top-performing firms set industry trends and must maintain robust governance. While a full-time CISO may be considered, a vCISO can still provide strategic leadership efficiently.
By engaging a vCISO at any stage, smaller organizations can future-proof their security operations, ensuring they are prepared for the increasing complexity and stakes that come with scale.
Rethink Your Cybersecurity Governance with a vCISO
Top-performing organizations know the value of having a CISO in place. Strong governance and leadership are essential for keeping security programs effective, regardless of company size.
For many smaller or growing teams, hiring a full-time CISO isn’t realistic. That’s where a vCISO comes in. vCISO solutions provide executive-level leadership, strategic guidance, and governance oversight, often at a fraction of the cost of a traditional CISO.
At RSI Security, we’ve helped countless organizations optimize security governance through our vCISO program and related services. We understand the challenges small security teams face and know that investing in disciplined, expert guidance upfront unlocks the freedom to grow securely.
Ready to strengthen your security program? Contact RSI Security today to learn how a vCISO can provide the leadership, expertise, and compliance support your organization needs to thrive