CISO-as-a-Service: the right choice for mid-sized organisations?

Information security has become a critical function in every organisation, but not all have the resources to hire a full-time CISO (Chief Information Security Officer). CISO-as-a-Service offers a flexible alternative that provides access to strategic security expertise without the fixed cost.

What does CISO-as-a-Service involve?

An external CISO works part-time with your organisation and takes responsibility for:

• Strategic advisory: Develop and anchor your information security strategy with senior management.
• The management system (ISMS): Establish and maintain your information security management system in accordance with ISO 27001.
• Risk management: Identify, analyse, and prioritise security risks.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with NIS2, GDPR, and industry-specific requirements.
• Incident management: Build processes for handling security incidents.
• Training: Raise security awareness across the organisation.

When is it the right choice?

CISO-as-a-Service is best suited for organisations that:

1. Lack internal security expertise: You need strategic leadership but do not have the volume for a full-time role.
2. Are in a growth phase: Requirements are growing faster than the organisation can recruit.
3. Fall under new regulations: NIS2 and the Cybersecurity Act require a responsible person, but the role does not need to be full-time.
4. Want an independent perspective: An external CISO can provide objective assessments free from internal politics.

Advantages compared to an in-house CISO

	In-house CISO	CISO-as-a-Service
Cost	SEK 80,000–120,000/month	SEK 25,000–50,000/month
Availability	Full-time	Contracted time + on-call
Breadth of experience	One industry	Multiple industries and frameworks
Time to hire	3–6 months	Days
Continuity	Risk upon resignation	Contractual backup

How we work

Verit’s CISO-as-a-Service model is built on three pillars:

1. Current state analysis: We map your existing security efforts and identify gaps.
2. Action plan: Together we prioritise measures based on risk and regulatory requirements.
3. Ongoing support: We participate in the management team, drive the security programme forward, and report to the board.

Summary

CISO-as-a-Service is not a compromise. It is a strategic choice that gives mid-sized organisations access to the same security expertise as large enterprises, at a fraction of the cost. With increasing regulatory requirements through NIS2 and the Cybersecurity Act, the need has never been greater.

Want to learn more about how a shared CISO can strengthen your organisation? Contact us for a complimentary review.