Why One-Size-Fits-All vCISO Security Programs Fall Short

When people talk about virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services, they tend to focus on access: access to strategic guidance, access to frameworks, access to a security expert at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. And those benefits are real. But what doesn’t get discussed enough is how these services are delivered—and how the delivery model shapes the value you actually receive.

To be fully transparent, we offer vCISO services, so we obviously have a stake in this conversation. But our perspective comes from watching how the landscape has evolved—and how the push for standardization and efficiency in vCISO programs can sometimes work against what clients really need.

Over time, we’ve become convinced of one thing: a meaningful security program isn’t just about the frameworks you follow or the tools you use. It’s about how well those things are adapted to the realities of your organization. And that kind of adaptation doesn’t come from templates—it comes from people who take the time to understand your business.

The Efficiency Trap: Why Templated vCISO Programs Fall Short

Let’s start with a hard truth: many cybersecurity providers build vCISO programs to optimize their own internal operations, not necessarily their clients' outcomes. We get why. Repeatable services are easier to deliver, more scalable, and more profitable. So they develop processes that minimize hands-on involvement. They standardize reports. They use the same policy library for every client. They automate assessments and reduce staff to the bare minimum.

That model might keep costs down—and in some cases, that’s what the client wants. But what we’ve seen, time and again, is that this approach often results in programs that are shallow, overly broad, and disconnected from what the organization actually needs.

We’ve seen clients receive risk assessments with issues that weren’t relevant to their industry. We've reviewed policies that look impressive until you realize they contradict the company’s actual technology stack. And we’ve been called in to clean up roadmaps that were delivered just for the sake of delivering something.

At best, these templated engagements offer basic compliance. At worst, they create a false sense of security—because what’s written down doesn’t reflect what’s actually in place.

Our Perspective: Customization Isn’t Optional—It’s Foundational

We’ve taken a different path with our vCISO model. It’s not necessarily the fastest way to scale a business. But it’s what we believe is necessary to do this work well.

From the start, we structure each vCISO engagement around the unique context of the organization. That means:

• Taking the time to understand the business model, risk tolerance, and internal dynamics
• Building a roadmap that accounts for operational and regulatory realities
• Prioritizing work based on what the organization is actually ready to implement
• Bringing in subject-matter experts when issues go beyond the scope of general security strategy

That last point is key. We don’t expect one person to be an expert in everything—and we don’t think you should have to settle for that either. If you’re working with complex third-party risk, we’ll bring in someone who has handled vendor due diligence at scale. If you’re dealing with cloud architecture or segmentation challenges, we’ll engage one of our security engineers. If PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2 are part of your compliance obligations, we’ll loop in our auditors.

We’ve had engagements where two or three of our team members participate regularly. It’s not always the most “efficient” use of resources, but it produces far better results.

Why the “Right” Security Program Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone

Cybersecurity programs don’t exist in a vacuum. They interact with business processes, culture, legacy systems, regulatory pressures, and budget realities. That’s why two organizations with the same framework—say, NIST CSF—can still have vastly different security programs.

It’s also why we resist the urge to over-standardize. Sure, we have templates and tools. But we treat them as starting points, not solutions.

One organization might need policies that are board-ready, supported by detailed reporting. Another might need help operationalizing a basic vulnerability management process. Some organizations are looking to survive their first audit. Others are trying to reduce their cyber insurance premiums. The difference isn’t just in the goal—it’s in how that goal can realistically be achieved, and in what order.

We spend a lot of time helping clients sort through those realities. What are the actual risks? What are the regulatory expectations? What’s the organization ready to fix today? What requires a longer-term approach?

It’s not the most templatable process—but it’s a valuable one.

A More Honest Model for Long-Term Security

We’re not here to say that every organization should use our approach. Some organizations just want a policy library and an annual risk assessment—and for them, the absolute lowest-cost provider may be the right fit.

But for companies looking to mature their security programs, respond to complex threats, or demonstrate credibility to stakeholders, we believe the deeper, more collaborative model makes a difference.

We also want to be honest about what that looks like. It might mean:

• Spending more time in the early stages to fully understand your environment
• Having multiple touchpoints each month, not just one check-in
• Iterating through drafts and revisions until a policy is actually useful
• Having frank conversations about what’s working and what’s not

That’s not because we want to make things more difficult—it’s because the problems we’re trying to solve are difficult. Pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone.

Final Thoughts: Ask the Right Questions

If you’re exploring vCISO services, we encourage you to ask providers the hard questions:

• How do you tailor your services to different clients?
• Will I have access to subject-matter experts, or just one resource?
• Are your deliverables customized, or templated?
• What does your roadmap process look like?
• How do you balance compliance with actual security improvements?

We’re biased, of course—we think our approach is the right one. But even if you don’t work with us, we believe every organization deserves a security partner who builds around your risk, not theirs.

If you'd like to talk about what that could look like in your environment, we’re happy to have the conversation. Contact us to learn how our adaptable, expert-led vCISO services can support your organization’s unique security and compliance goals.