Virtual CISO
With a UK Virtual CISO (vCISO) you get an expert cyber security leader for a fraction of the cost of a full-time CISO access to an extended team of technical experts like a Cyber Security Architect.
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What is a Virtual CISO?
A Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is a senior cyber security leader retained on a fractional (i.e. not full time 5 days per week) managed service basis.
They are provided by cyber security consultancies, designed to deliver specialist and flexible cyber security expertise and guidance, without the need to invest heavily in a full-time internal resource. This role is particularly valuable for organisations that may not have the need for a full-time CISO but still require cyber security leadership.
A UK Virtual CISO (vCISO) not only ensures regulatory compliance, technical assurance and response to cyber incidents, but through innovative risk management, they also provide you with a competitive advantage.
What's Included?
Cyber Maturity Assessment
We review your current cyber security posture against industry standards, define a target state and identify high-priority gaps.
Strategic Cyber Roadmap
We help define your security objectives, align them with business goals and map out a clear roadmap to enhance cyber resilience.
Compliance Frameworks
We provide expert advice on compliance to frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC2, NIST and Cyber Essentials, ensuring you remain compliant over time.
Architecture Reviews
A cyber security architect will provide recommendations on how you build technology and products, minimising risks across your infrastructure.
Incident Response
We develop and refine incident response plans – ensuring rapid containment, mitigation and lessons learned for future improvement.
Training & Awareness
We create targeted educational programmes, measure levels of awareness and help your staff secure themselves and your organisation.
Challenges Addressed by a Virtual CISO
Limited Funds
You’re dedicated to securing your business but don’t have the bottomless pockets that big enterprises do. A Chief Information Security Officer is a senior resource and if recruited full time, can be very expensive (£170,000+ salary plus taxes, benefits and overheads).
New To Cyber
You are just getting started on your cyber security journey and couldn’t fully utilise an in-house cyber security team even if you wanted to. You know you are immature and recognise you first need to establish a strategy and some foundational controls first and foremost.
Lack Of Expertise
You are not currently of a size where you have a mature and sizeable internal cyber security team. Small to medium sized businesses often cannot afford or attract a full-time CISO with extensive experience and expertise.
Independence
Often in SMBs, the people who are asked to secure IT assets are those who have built it. This poses a conflict of interest which can create risk. Avoid ‘marking your own homework’ and seek an objective evaluation of your current posture.
Unknown Strategic Direction
The cyber security requirements of each organisation are different based on how they operate, what data they process, the technology they use. It can be easy to waste time and resource travelling down the wrong path – you want to head off in the right strategic direction first time round.
Limiting Business Growth
You’re a growing company and winning new client contracts is becoming increasingly dependent on being able to evidence your compliance. As you win bigger and bigger clients, they have greater expectations for your cyber security. You don’t want immature cyber security to hold up your growth.
Limited Funds
You’re dedicated to securing your business but don’t have the bottomless pockets that big enterprises do. A Chief Information Security Officer is a senior resource and if recruited full time, can be very expensive (£170,000+ salary plus taxes, benefits and overheads).
New To Cyber
You are just getting started on your cyber security journey and couldn’t fully utilise an in-house cyber security team even if you wanted to. You know you are immature and recognise you first need to establish a strategy and some foundational controls first and foremost.
Lack Of Expertise
You are not currently of a size where you have a mature and sizeable internal cyber security team. Small to medium sized businesses often cannot afford or attract a full-time CISO with extensive experience and expertise.
Independence
Often in SMBs, the people who are asked to secure IT assets are those who have built it. This poses a conflict of interest which can create risk. Avoid ‘marking your own homework’ and seek an objective evaluation of your current posture.
Unknown Strategic Direction
The cyber security requirements of each organisation are different based on how they operate, what data they process, the technology they use. It can be easy to waste time and resource travelling down the wrong path – you want to head off in the right strategic direction first time round.
Limiting Business Growth
You’re a growing company and winning new client contracts is becoming increasingly dependent on being able to evidence your compliance. As you win bigger and bigger clients, they have greater expectations for your cyber security. You don’t want immature cyber security to hold up your growth.
What Our Clients Say
Benefits of a Virtual CISO
Not only do we have the most qualified Virtual CISO team in the UK, we provide technical resources to ensure you have all the skillsets needed to secure your company.
Much More Affordable
Hiring a full-time CISO with an average salary of circa. £170,000 with tax, benefits, training and other overheads will cost £255,000 per year. A virtual CISO costs £32,000 – £86,000 per year – 7.9 times more affordable.
Rapid Risk Reduction
Your Virtual CISO will enable you to reduce your cyber security risks significantly in a short amount of time. We develop a cyber strategy and roadmap which defines the path to not only build cyber security maturity but also rapidly reduce your risk.
Flexible & Scalable
Building an in-house cyber team not only limits you to the knowledge of those individuals, but they require ongoing training and you’re unable to scale back without making redundancies. CyPro’s Virtual CISO service can be flexed (up or down) as required.
Compliance Driven Revenue
We help you achieve cyber certifications (ISO27001, SOC2, Cyber Essentials, etc.) which will both help you onboard new clients quicker, and enable you to win bigger and bigger contracts.
Reduce Operating Costs
A virtual CISO service reduces your business insurance premiums, it saves on operational downtime of systems and avoids the cost of a data breach itself (currently at an average of £3.4 million).
Secure your business.
Elevate your security, accelerate your growth. We take care of cyber security for high-growth companies, at every stage of their journey.
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Case Study: UK Telecoms Provider
Client Challenge
Following a private equity buyout, a UK telecoms provider had grown rapidly, acquiring 5 businesses within 18 months.
The amalgamation of technologies, cultures and risk appetites left the client with a complex IT environment and a need to rapidly align the separate businesses to a common cyber security standard.
Our Approach
CyPro deployed our Virtual CISO service, implementing a blended team including expertise in the telecommunications sector:
- Senior Virtual CISO: Provided strategic cyber security leadership, helping to reassure senior stakeholders and define a strategy and roadmap that set them off on a path to success.
- Telco Security Architect: Technical resource who helped design and integrate secure systems across the merged entities.
- Regulations Expert: Ensuring on-going compliance with certifications and standards.
Our approach included:
- Policy & Standards: Defined foundational documentation to evidence security and privacy governance across the organisation.
- Cyber Maturity Assessment: Conducted across the entire business to evaluate current practices and identify strengths.
- Incident Response Plans: Should an incident occur, the client needed to be prepared on how to recover and so a cyber incident response plan and runbooks were created.
- Cyber Roadmap: A cyber maturity assessment identified control weaknesses that formed the creation of a 5 year cyber roadmap.
Value Delivered
Certifications
Obtained ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus in 4 months, enabling public sector procurement success.
Risk Reduction
Greatly reduced security risk, giving board members and investors confidence in operational practices.
Cultural Shift
Staff started proactively reporting security incidents, ensuring potential breaches were contained early.
Download Your Free Cyber Incident Response Plan.
Download our free cyber incident response plan (including Ransomware runbook) just in case the worst happens.
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Who Needs a Virtual CISO?
Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services offer businesses the strategic leadership of a seasoned security executive without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.
- SMBs With Limited Resources: Smaller businesses often cannot afford a dedicated cyber security team but still face serious threats. A Virtual CISO enables them to access high-quality security services and expertise affordably.
- Companies Experiencing Rapid Expansion: Organisations going through fast growth, mergers, or acquisitions need their security capabilities to scale in line with their commercial growth. A Virtual CISO helps businesses scale their security solutions as their operations grow.
- Industries Prone To Cyber Attacks: Sectors like finance, healthcare, and telecoms face frequent cyber threats and require continuous security measures. Virtual CISO’s provide robust, ongoing risk management and quick incident response capabilities.
- Firms Embracing Digital Innovation: Companies transitioning to cloud services or adopting new technologies can use a Virtual CISO service to ensure compliant integration with existing IT infrastructure. For example, an e-Commerce company expanding its suite of software products can establish a secure development process that ensures new products are secure from the outset.
- Businesses With Strict Compliance Obligations: Organisations subject to stringent regulatory requirements, such as the UK Data Protection Act, European GDPR or US HIPAA, can meet these standards with a vCISO, freeing internal resources to focus on core operational activities.
Who Doesn’t Need a vCISO?
- Businesses With Limited IT Infrastructure: Companies with minimal reliance on digital operations or those that do not process personal data may see little benefit in vCISO. For example, a small local butcher that operates offline and doesn’t store customer information might not require such cyber security services.
- Large Corporations With Established Security Departments: Organisations that have long invested in a mature in-house cyber security team, with advanced cyber security infrastructure may find vCISO surplus to requirement. For instance, a FTSE 100 company with a cyber security team of over 20 people likely has the resources and expertise to manage their security needs independently.
Our Approach
Our Virtual CISO service provides a blended team of cyber security experts to ensure you have the right skillsets covering cyber strategy, risk management, security operations, incident response and security culture.
Initial Discovery
We begin with a series of in-depth consultations to gain a clear understanding of your business goals, current security posture and unique technological requirements. This enables us to customise our Virtual CISO service and align our approach with your organisational objectives from the outset.
Structured Onboarding
We craft a detailed onboarding plan that outlines key steps, timelines and responsibilities. This introduces the core CyPro team members and the necessary tools to deliver the service. This structured approach ensures a seamless integration into your business operations.
Commence Service
We will mobilise and commence all sub-services within the Virtual CISO offering, namely: Governance & Cyber Strategy, Security Awareness & Training, Regulatory Compliance & Certification, Incident Response & Recovery and Security Enhancements.
Cyber Assessment
We conduct a cyber maturity assessment against a blended controls framework which includes Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, NIST and CIS18. This evaluates your current state, defines your current state and crafts a roadmap to transition you to your defined target state.
Risk Mitigation
Our team collaborates closely with your IT and operational staff to establish regular risk management and mitigation controls. We maintain regular tracking and provide monthly and quarterly reports to ensure comprehensive oversight and support, fostering a proactive security culture.
Implement New Controls
We continuously review and refine your security measures to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats. This includes regular assessments, penetration testing, updates to protocols, and the adoption of new technologies, ensuring your security framework remains robust and adaptive.
Continuous Improvement
We regularly review and update your security measures to ensure they remain effective against emerging threats. This includes periodic assessments, penetration tests and implementation of new technologies. This ensures you evolve with the threat landscape, maintaining high levels of protection at all times.
Scale & Grow
Our Virtual CISO service is designed to scale with your business. Whether you’re expanding geographically, increasing your workforce, or integrating new technologies, our services scale to meet your changing business requirements, ensuring continuous protection and support.
Secure your business.
Elevate your security, accelerate your growth. We take care of cyber security for high-growth companies, at every stage of their journey.
Get in Touch
Secure your business.
Elevate your security, accelerate your growth. We take care of cyber security for high-growth companies, at every stage of their journey.
Get in TouchYour Team
Jonny Pelter
Jonny is a Founding Partner at CyPro and executive group level CISO who has worked closely with the British intelligence agencies NCSC and GCHQ.
Originating from KPMG and Deloitte, Jonny has a wealth of experience across numerous sectors including technology, critical national infrastructure, financial services, oil & gas, insurance, betting, pharmaceuticals and utilities.
Jonny is a leading cyber security expert in the UK, having featured on national media for his professional commentary such as BBC News, iPlayer, Telegraph and Times Radio.
Additional Consultants
Jamie is the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Allianz Holdings, where he led cyber security strategy, operations, and delivery across Allianz UK’s financial services and insurance businesses, including Allianz Commercial, Petplan, and LV.
He provides cyber security advisory services to start-ups and high-growth businesses. In this capacity, he serves as an active board member at the Cyber Defence Alliance, a cyber advisor to CVC Capital Partners, and a member of several start-up advisory boards. He is also an established keynote speaker and event moderator.
He offers services such as vCISO, fractional CISO, board advisory, cyber advisory, keynote speaking, and event moderation, delivered on a modular basis to meet client needs.
James is a leading expert in the policy debates in data protection, he is regularly invited to address conferences in the UK and internationally. He specialises Data Protection Officer services and believes in making compliance part of business operations, not a legal tick box exercise.
He is also an Director in the Deloitte UK Privacy team and a Director at Deloitte Legal. At Deloitte he works directly on client delivery as well as contributing to the thought development in the area.
For over 10 years James lead the BBC’s Information Policy and Compliance Department, in the BBC’s Legal section. There he oversaw the operation of the Corporation’s systems for compliance with the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. Before he left the BBC he led the development thinking around privacy and data governance for a future digital BBC, as it developed its big data capability. Additionally he provided expert advice on media and privacy and lobbying on the proposed EU GDPR.
James worked in broadcasting, mainly for the BBC, for over 30 years. Before joining the Legal Division he was a programme maker and spent much of his time in political journalism. He edited many of the BBC’s Political and Parliamentary programmes.
He has an MBA specialising in strategy. He is a member of: the International Association of Privacy Professionals (former European Advisor Board); the Strategic Planning Society (former Chairman); the Radio Academy (former Trustee); BAFTA. He is on the editorial board of Data Protection Law & Policy.
A highly experienced cyber security leader, currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Leonardo Hotels, where he oversees cyber security strategy, digital trust, and resilience. Previously, he held key security roles, including vCISO at Journee and Head of Digital Compliance at Data4Life, focusing on strengthening information security and regulatory compliance.
With a background spanning BDO UK, KPMG UK, and KPMG Hungary, he has worked extensively in cyber risk consulting, penetration testing, security assessments, and risk management for global organizations. His expertise includes security remediation, project management, and advisory roles across multiple industries.
With over 15 years of experience in cyber security, risk management, and digital security, he has built a strong track record of helping organisations navigate complex security challenges. His skills include cyber resilience, information security governance, and compliance, ensuring businesses remain secure in an evolving digital landscape.
Comparison: Virtual CISO vs Cyber Security as a Service
If deciding between a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) and Cyber Security as a Service (CSaaS), below is a comparison to help you determine which service is best for your organisation.
Virtual CISO
- A dedicated executive-level CISO.
- Cost-Effective – since you only purchase the capacity required, which can be used on demand and spread over the month.
- Flexible – easier than Full Time Employees (FTEs) to scale up/down in response to changes in demand & capacity.
- Operational Security – will leave some gaps in day-to-day operational security (as a vCISO is a senior executive level resource), such as security testing, alerting, vulnerability scanning, incident response, etc. which requires a broader technical team (see CSaaS – right).
- Who Is This Best For? Organisations who are in need of early strategic direction and/or have ample internal resources to implement and operate security controls.
Cyber Security as a Service
- Team of experienced cyber security professionals, led by a dedicated vCISO and including a Cyber Security Manager and Security Operations Manager.
- Highly Scalable – the service level can grow in line with yours without significant jumps in costs.
- Includes Security Monitoring & Alerting – monitoring and responding to suspicious events enables you to meet your 72hr reporting obligation to the ICO.
- Who Is This Best For? Organisations with limited internal capacity/resources that still seek to mature their security controls, reduce operational security risk and achieve security certification such as Cyber Essentials, SOC 2 or ISO 27001.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a virtual CISO do?
A Virtual CISO (vCISO) provides the same level of strategic cybersecurity leadership as an in-house Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) but on a flexible, scalable basis. This allows businesses to benefit from high-level security expertise without the expense of hiring a full-time executive.
Our vCISO services include:
Strategic Steer and Cyber Roadmap Management – Frequent, concise and plain english briefings to your board or executive on the state of cyber security, empowering informed decisions regarding risk and broader business strategy.
Subject Matter Expertise – Immediate, impartial and professional guidance on your specific cyber security challenges, such as managing a critical vulnerabilities like Log4j.
Incident Readiness & Response – Proactive planning and availability of seasoned cybersecurity leadership during significant cyber incidents, such as ransomware attacks, to ensure that you minimise business disruption, collate all required evidence for forensic analysis and recovery quickly from the cyber attack.
Compliance to Regulations – Expert assistance from subject matter experts in handling third-party security audits and regulatory compliance evaluations such as against GDPR, Data Protection Act, SOC2, Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001.
Immediate Risk Reduction – Creation and ongoing management of a cyber security risk remediation plan / roadmap with a designed to not only improve strategic cyber security maturity, but also rapidly reduce operational risk quickly and efficiently.
Cyber Training & Awareness – Creative training, communications, and table-top exercises / cyber simulations designed to enhance information security awareness among staff, contractors and third parties.
Your UK Virtual CISO can of course provide a wealth of other services not included on this standard list – if you’d like to find out the art of the possible, please contact us and you’ll be able to chat to one of our practice partners who will discuss your options with you.
- Am I assigned a dedicated Virtual CISO?
Yes. Unlike many providers who rotate security consultants across multiple clients, we assign a dedicated vCISO to work closely with your team.
Your vCISO will:
• Develop a deep understanding of your business and security requirements.
• Provide tailored security strategies aligned with your industry and regulatory needs.
• Act as an ongoing security advisor, offering continuous risk management and compliance support.This approach ensures continuity, personalised guidance, and a proactive security strategy that evolves with your business.
- Is it possible to have a CISO based on-site?
Absolutely. While a Virtual CISO service is primarily remote, we offer the option for on-site presence depending on your organisation’s needs.
Typically, our vCISOs spend one day per month on-site, but this can be adjusted to meet your requirements. This is particularly valuable for:
• Chairing Information Security Committees and presenting to executives or board members.
• Conducting hands-on security audits, training sessions, or compliance workshops.
• Facilitating security incident response and crisis management exercises.Our hybrid model ensures businesses get the best of both worlds—the cost-effectiveness of remote support with the option for on-site expertise when needed.
- Virtual CISO Pricing - How much does a vCISO cost?
The cost of a vCISO service varies depending on your organisation’s size, complexity, and level of support required.
At CyPro, our UK Virtual CISO service typically costs between £2,500 and £6,000 per month, making it a cost-effective alternative to hiring a full-time in-house CISO, which can cost £100,000+ annually.
Key factors that affect pricing include:
• Scope of responsibilities – Whether you need high-level strategy, hands-on security management, or regulatory compliance support.
• Organisation size and risk profile – Larger businesses with high compliance and cybersecurity demands may require more extensive vCISO engagement.
• Level of on-site presence required – Additional in-person meetings, security audits, or training sessions may affect costs.We provide customised vCISO packages tailored to your exact security needs and budget, ensuring you get maximum value from your cybersecurity investment.
- Do I legally require a Virtual CISO?
No, hiring a Virtual CISO is not a strict legal requirement under UK or global regulations. However, many businesses struggle to meet regulatory compliance without one.
Regulations like GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and the UK Data Protection Act require organisations to implement robust cybersecurity leadership, policies, and risk management. While they do not explicitly mandate a CISO role, regulators such as the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) expect businesses to have an accountable security leader.
Organisations with no clear cybersecurity leadership are often viewed less favourably during regulatory investigations and post-breach audits. Having a vCISO in place demonstrates due diligence, reducing liability in case of a security incident.
If your business needs expert guidance to manage cybersecurity risks and regulatory compliance, a vCISO provides the strategic oversight you need without the commitment of a full-time hire.
- What is the best vCISO service?
The best vCISO service depends on your organisation’s size, industry, and security requirements.
For Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) in the UK, CyPro is the only UK provider of tailored vCISO services, offering:
• Custom cybersecurity leadership designed for SMBs and growing enterprises.
• Affordable, scalable solutions that adapt to your changing security needs.
• Expert guidance on compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001, GDPR, and Cyber Essentials.If you are a larger business or enterprise, checkout this helpful vCISO guide here.
- Is a Fractional CISO and Virtual CISO the same?
While the terms “Fractional CISO” and “Virtual CISO” are often used interchangeably, they could refer to slightly different service models in cyber security leadership.
Historically, a Fractional CISO is a part-time Chief Information Security Officer who works with your organisation on a regular, ongoing basis. This individual is integrated into your team and provides strategic and operational leadership, typically on a part-time schedule that fits your needs.
A Virtual CISO (vCISO), on the other hand, historically provides cybersecurity leadership remotely on a much later basis. This role can be either part-time or full-time and offers flexible, scalable support depending on your organisation’s requirements.
The vCISO can assist with strategic planning, compliance, incident response, and other key cybersecurity functions, often without the need for an on-site presence.
However, today these terms are basically referring to the same thing – a fractional CISO and virtual CISO for all intents and purposes are the same.
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