New ‘Virtual CISO’ service to help Scottish businesses protect themselves online
A new ‘virtual CISO’ – chief information security officer – service has been launched to help Scottish businesses protect themselves online.
Social enterprise Cyber & Fraud Centre Scotland launched the service in recognition of the fact that many businesses, particularly smaller ones, struggle to afford to a full-time cybersecurity professional.
The new ‘virtual’ service will offer those organisations senior-level cybersecurity leadership without the cost or commitment of a permanent hire.
The new service has been developed in response to growing demand from organisations seeking deeper, more strategic cybersecurity support as they navigate increasing regulatory pressures, customer expectations, and business volatility alongside a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
Many are investing in technical cyber security but continue to face challenges around governance, risk ownership, compliance, and long-term planning.
Without dedicated security leadership, businesses can struggle with reactive approaches to cyber resilience, gaps in accountability, and increased pressure during incidents, audits, or periods of rapid expansion.
Jude McCorry, CEO of Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, said: “We developed the vCISO service in direct response to feedback from clients who need strategic direction and expert guidance, but may not require – or be able to justify – a full-time CISO or traditional retainer model. Many organisations prefer a more flexible, project-based approach with clearly defined deliverables.
“Through our vCISO service, we provide the expertise, structure and strategic oversight needed to strengthen cyber resilience in a practical and sustainable way. Our clients and members also recognise that by working with us, they are helping to support Scotland’s wider cyber resilience ecosystem, enabling us to provide low or no-cost access to organisations that may otherwise struggle to afford it.”
Willie Fairhurst, board member of Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland and CEO of Fairhurst Consult, added: “The vCiso service will be a valuable addition to both our service offering and the support available to our clients. It will be particularly beneficial for smaller organisations that need assistance navigating regulatory requirements to secure funding, or that are looking to expand into markets beyond Scotland. We’re here to help organisations build the confidence and resilience they need to grow securely.”
The Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland’s vCISO service is designed to address those challenges by providing flexible, tailored access to experienced cyber security leadership.
With the service, organisations gain:
- Stronger governance, controls, and alignment with business objectives
- Clear visibility into risk, compliance requirements, and improvement priorities
- Guided support through audits, certifications, and customer security demands
- Consistent leadership that ties together technology, people, and processes
- Independent, expert-driven advice with no internal bias
The vCISO service offers flexible monthly, quarterly, and annual engagement options, with pricing based on the level of support required and the organisation’s size, maturity, and complexity. Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland is also exploring socially focused pricing models for charities, third sector organisations, and start-ups to help ensure cyber security does not become a barrier to growth or the responsible management of sensitive data.
The vCISO service has been designed to complement the Centre’s Cyber Advance programme – a year-long cyber improvement service focused on technical uplift, continuous improvement, and staff training. Both services follow a structured, phased approach, providing organisations with a cohesive combination of strategic cyber leadership and operational delivery. Together, they ensure recommendations are not only identified, but implemented effectively over time.
Source: Futurescot