Risk Advisory / vCISO
Executive security leadership, available by the engagement.
Most small and mid-market businesses can't justify a full-time CISO — but they also can't navigate a cyber insurance renewal, a SOC 2 audit, or an M&A due-diligence questionnaire without one. Our vCISO engagements give you executive security leadership, NIST-CSF aligned strategy, and board-ready reporting on a fractional basis.
What a vCISO engagement covers
Risk assessment
Initial security risk assessment mapped to NIST CSF. Documented current state, gap analysis, prioritized remediation roadmap — the foundation everything else builds on.
Strategy + roadmap
Multi-quarter security roadmap aligned to business priorities. What gets fixed when, what it costs, what it buys. Reviewed and adjusted quarterly.
Framework + compliance
Alignment to NIST CSF, CIS Controls, HIPAA Security Rule, PCI-DSS, CMMC, or SOC 2 depending on your reality. Evidence packages an auditor accepts.
Cyber insurance support
Renewal questionnaires answered, controls evidenced, broker negotiations supported. The difference between a $40k renewal and a $90k renewal is often paperwork.
Vendor + third-party risk
Review of critical vendor contracts and their security posture. SaaS risk register. Annual reviews of high-risk relationships.
Board + leadership reporting
Quarterly security report tailored to your board, executive team, or audit committee. Metrics, incidents, roadmap progress — in language they actually read.
How we operate
vCISO is an advisory engagement. We bring frameworks, templates, and the operational stack already proven by every other SAINT engagement.
Frequently asked
What's a typical vCISO engagement size?
Most engagements run 4–16 hours per month after an initial 30-60 day assessment phase. We size to your reality — a 50-person legal practice needs less than a 200-person healthcare clinic with CMMC ambitions.
Do I need to use SAINT for managed IT to engage a vCISO?
No. vCISO engagements stand alone. Many of our vCISO clients keep their existing MSP and bring us in for strategy, framework, and executive coverage.
Will you sign as our official CISO?
We can serve as your named CISO of record on attestations and contracts when needed. Engagement scope and authority are documented up front.
How does this help with cyber insurance?
Insurance brokers ask increasingly detailed questions every renewal. A vCISO answers them with evidence, negotiates the terms, and supports remediation when carriers require specific controls. Often saves more in premium than the engagement costs.
Ready to see where you stand?
A short call, an honest assessment, and a written plan. No pressure to switch providers if you’re already in good hands.