Virtual CISO (vCISO) Services Without the $415K Cost
Get a seasoned Chief Information Security Officer on demand. Strategic leadership, board reporting, compliance oversight, and hands-on guidance — at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
$200K+
Annual Savings
15+ yrs
Avg Experience
48 hrs
Onboarding
24/7
Advisory Access
Starting at $5,000/month for part-time engagement•48-hour onboarding available
How Much Does a vCISO Cost?
Most vCISO firms charge $3,000–$12,000 per month for small and mid-market companies. PlatOps vCISO engagements start at $5,000/month for 20–40 hours, with Dedicated ($10,000/month) and Full-Time ($18,000/month) tiers for heavier compliance and leadership needs.
Typical vCISO retainer (SMB & mid-market)
$3K–$12K/mo
Heavily regulated or near-full-time engagements run $15K–$20K+ per month.
Hourly vCISO advisory
$200–$400/hr
Common for ad-hoc advice and retainer overages.
Full-time CISO, small & mid-market
$415K/yr
Average total compensation, before benefits and recruiting fees.
What drives vCISO pricing
- Hours per month: a few strategy sessions versus an embedded, weekly leader
- Compliance scope: one framework (SOC 2) costs less than SOC 2 plus HIPAA or ISO 27001 at once
- Audit timing: the build-out and audit months need more hours than steady-state maintenance
- Company size and environment complexity: users, cloud accounts, vendors, and locations
- Regulatory pressure: healthcare, finance, and payment data raise the bar for documentation
- Hands-on work: writing policies and answering security questionnaires versus advising only
See the PlatOps vCISO tiers below, or read what a virtual CISO is and when you need one.
Why Companies Hire a vCISO
Security leadership isn't optional anymore. Here's why smart companies are choosing virtual over full-time.
Security Leadership Gap
Most SMBs have no dedicated security leader. Board members and investors are asking tough questions you can't answer.
Full-Time CISO ≈ $415K
CISOs at small and mid-market companies average about $415K in total compensation (IANS & Artico Search, 2025), before benefits and recruiting fees. Most SMBs can't justify this spend.
Compliance Requirements
SOC 2, HIPAA, and enterprise customers demand someone accountable for security. You need a name on the org chart.
Board & Investor Pressure
Series A+ investors expect mature security programs. Your board wants quarterly security briefings from an expert.
Signs You Need a vCISO
If any of these sound familiar, it's time to talk to us.
Raising Series A or Beyond
Investors ask 'Who owns security?' and you don't have an answer.
Enterprise Customer Requirement
Your biggest prospect won't sign until you have security leadership.
SOC 2 or Compliance Mandate
You need someone to own the program and talk to auditors.
Board Asking Questions
Directors want quarterly security briefings from a professional.
CISO Just Left
Your security leader departed and you need immediate coverage.
Post-Breach Recovery
After an incident, you need leadership to rebuild trust and programs.
What Your vCISO Will Do
Comprehensive security leadership across strategy, compliance, and operations
Strategic Leadership
- Develop multi-year security strategy and roadmap
- Align security investments with business objectives
- Build security program maturity over time
- Define security architecture and standards
Board & Executive Reporting
- Quarterly board security briefings
- Executive risk dashboards
- Translate technical risks to business impact
- Security budget justification and ROI
Compliance Oversight
- SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001 program management
- Audit preparation and coordination
- Policy and procedure development
- Continuous compliance monitoring
Risk Management
- Enterprise risk assessments
- Third-party vendor evaluations
- Cyber insurance optimization
- Risk register maintenance
Team Development
- Security team hiring and mentorship
- Security awareness program design
- Training and skill development
- Career path guidance for security staff
Operational Guidance
- Incident response program development
- Security tool selection and implementation
- Vendor management and negotiations
- Security architecture reviews
Flexible Engagement Models
Scale your security leadership up or down based on your needs
Part-Time vCISO
20-40 hours/month
Starting at $5,000/month
Ideal for startups and small businesses needing strategic guidance
- Monthly security strategy sessions
- Quarterly board presentations
- Policy and procedure reviews
- Compliance program oversight
- Email and Slack access for questions
- Annual security roadmap
Best for
Startups, small businesses, pre-Series A
Dedicated vCISO
60-80 hours/month
Starting at $10,000/month
For growing companies with active security programs and compliance needs
- Everything in Part-Time, plus:
- Weekly strategy and operations meetings
- Active compliance program management
- Vendor security evaluations
- Security team mentorship
- Incident response planning
- Budget planning and optimization
Best for
Series A-C, mid-market, regulated industries
Full-Time vCISO
120+ hours/month
Starting at $18,000/month
Embedded security leadership for complex environments
- Everything in Dedicated, plus:
- Full-time equivalent engagement
- Daily availability and standups
- Deep integration with leadership team
- Multi-framework compliance
- M&A security due diligence
- Board seat participation
Best for
Enterprise, pre-IPO, M&A situations
vCISO vs. Full-Time CISO
See how a virtual CISO compares to hiring full-time
The ROI of a Virtual CISO
Why a vCISO is the smartest security investment for growing companies
Annual Cost: Full-Time CISO vs vCISO
IANS & Artico Search SMB CISO Report 2025; PlatOps pricing
vCISO FAQ
Related Services
Complement your vCISO engagement with these services
Get Your vCISO in 48 Hours
Executive security leadership without a full-time CISO's ~$415K cost. No commitment required.