Virtual CISO (VCISO) Services
Our experts help you to identify, quantify and manage your cyber security risks
Strengthen your cyber security with expert CISO guidance, proactive risk management and strategic leadership
In today's fast-evolving threat landscape, organisations face increasing pressure to protect sensitive data, comply with regulations, and respond to cyber threats. Yet, building a dedicated in-house cyber security team is a resource-intensive challenge. LRQA’s Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services offer a cost-effective solution, providing expert leadership and support to help you manage your cyber security risks without the burden of employing a full-time CISO.
Award-winning expertise
Our cyber security team continues to achieve multiple vendor certifications, highly respected industry accreditations and international accolades, demonstrating the breadth, depth and impact of their services.
Our Virtual CISO (VCISO) Services
Your Virtual CISO will align cyber security initiatives with your organisation’s programs and business objectives, ensuring that information assets and technologies are adequately protected. With our CISO services, we act as an extension of your team, a true partner committed to providing tailored solutions and services to safeguard your organisation.
Governance
We ensure that your cyber security practices align with industry standards and are informed and ready for new regulations.
Risk management
We identify vulnerabilities and high-risk areas and deliver actionable insights and recommendations for proactive threat management.
Third-party audits
We advise, review and conduct supplier audits for you to identify and review your current third-party assurance processes.
Incident response
We review your incident response procedures to design and conduct plausible simulated exercises and evaluate your performance.
Benefits of a Virtual CISO include:
• A cost-effective solution with no recruitment fees or full-time salary
• They can interface with technical and operational teams, the board and the wider business
• Coaching and mentoring of in-house teams
• Flexible service approach with the option to scale up and down on demand
• Access to other LRQA specialist resources, such as incident response and technical assurance
Why work with us?
Specialist expertise
Our cybersecurity experts hold multiple vendor certifications and accreditations as well as highly respected industry accreditations from CREST, the PCI SSC, ISC2, BCI, Chartered Institute of IT, and NCSC CHECK.
Industry leadership
We lead and shape industry on advisory boards and councils including the PCI SSC Global Executive Assessor Roundtable and CREST councils in the Americas, Asia, EMEA and the UK. We are certified by a range of governing bodies including the payment card industry and are approved as a Qualified Security Assessor.
Everywhere you are
Operating in over 55 countries, with more than 250 dedicated cyber security specialists and over 300 highly qualified information security auditors across the world, we can provide a local service with a globally consistent dedication to excellence.
Award winners
We have been recognised for the breadth and depth of our services – including the TEISS Award for Best Penetration Testing Service in 2024, Enterprise Threat Detection and Cloud Security awards at the Security Excellence Awards 2024 and the Stratus Award for Best Managed Cloud Security Service.
FAQs
What is a CISO?
The role of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is to align security initiatives with enterprise programs and business objectives, ensuring that information assets and technologies are adequately protected.
What are the typical activities of a virtual CISO?
A Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (VCISO) supports an organisation’s security by participating in governance forums and ensuring security requirements in new projects. They review and implement Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), provide risk management advice, and deliver security awareness training. The vCISO manages third-party risks, ensures compliance with standards like PCI DSS and ISO 27001, and develops security policies. Additionally, they coordinate technical assurance, advise on technology changes, and respond to third-party audit requirements.
The world leader in CREST accreditations
We are proud to be the only organisation in the world with a full suite of accreditations from The Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST).
Our team of consultants have achieved the highest accreditations for Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Incident Response services and Threat Intelligence. In addition, we were also the first organisation to be CREST accredited for our Security Operation Centre services.
