Security lead on retainer (virtual CISO)
A virtual CISO is a senior security lead who works for you part-time. Firms that need a security owner, but not a full-time chief information security officer (CISO), use one to run risk, policies, vendors and incidents. You get a named lead, a security plan and plain reports to your board.
Who asks for it, and what it shows them
The questions people ask you, and what this answers.
- Board and shareholders“Is security governed at the right level?”The Cyber Security Agency says security trade-off decisions must be made at board and top management level, not left to IT.Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), read 12 Oct 2026
- Insurers“Who is responsible for security in your company?”Insurer proposal forms ask how many staff work in cyber and information security roles.MSIG Insurance (Singapore) Pte Ltd, read 12 Oct 2026
The Cyber Security Agency (30 June 2026) reported 165 ransomware cases in 2025 and said SMEs were disproportionately affected because of lower cybersecurity maturity and limited resources.
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), read 12 Oct 2026What you get
- A named security lead who owns cyber risk with you
- A risk register and a 12-month security plan
- Policies, vendor checks and access reviews kept on schedule
- An incident response plan, and a lead who steps in on incidents
- Board reports in plain English, with progress and next steps
- A security plan agreed with your board
- Quarterly reports on progress and open risks
82% of PDPC enforcement cases in 2023–2024 began with a cyber incident. PDPC, Apr 2025.
How it works
- You
Tell us your systems, vendors, obligations and what your board or clients ask for.
- Us
We assess risk, set the plan and run it with your team and IT vendors.
- Result
Your business has a security owner, a plan and reports your board can act on.
Common questions
What does a virtual CISO do?
The job of a chief information security officer, part-time: owns the risk register, sets security policy, checks vendors, prepares for incidents and audits, and reports to management. Technical teams get governance aligned to ISO/IEC 27001 or the Cyber Trust mark.
Virtual CISO or full-time hire?
A full-time CISO suits large or regulated firms with constant security work. Many small and mid-sized firms need senior judgement a few days a month. A virtual CISO gives you that judgement, and you can scale the days up or down.
How is a virtual CISO priced?
By scope: systems and sites, vendors, the standards you must meet and how many days a month you need. You get a fixed-fee proposal after a short scoping call. Tell us your scope in 5 minutes and you get a fixed-fee proposal within 2 working days: Scope your project
Does a virtual CISO help with the PDPA?
Yes. The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) requires reasonable security for personal data, and the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) penalises organisations that fall short. A security lead makes that protection someone’s job.
Latest PDPC case on this topic · 2026-08-05 · Construction, engineering and manufacturing · Voluntary undertaking
Relying on an IT vendor does not remove your responsibility: know how your servers are secured and maintained, and check the vendor is doing it.
Read the PDPC decision of 5 August 2026, on pdpc.gov.sg (opens in a new tab)Compliance is black and white. Your business isn’t.
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Download a one-page brief for your management or board (PDF, 68 KB)