vCISO services · Virtual CISO for UK SMEs
vCISO services for UK SMEs: security leadership without the full-time cost.
A vCISO (virtual Chief Information Security Officer) is a senior security leader who works with your business part-time. Ours helps you win contracts that demand strong security, pass Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001, satisfy insurers and give your board a clear plan, for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
- Answer customer security questionnaires with confidence
- A board-ready security roadmap
- Certification without the stress
- One senior expert who owns security for you
Trusted by UK businesses like yours
What leadership teams say about working with our vCISO.
“Our clients were asking increasingly detailed questions about our cyber security, and we didn’t have the internal expertise to answer them confidently.”
Clear security governance and support with client questionnaires
Jonathan P.Managing Director · Financial Services, 27 staff“We needed someone to take ownership of our security strategy without the cost of employing a full-time security director. The vCISO approach made sense for us.”
Dedicated security leadership without a full-time hire
Amanda K.Chief Operating Officer · Legal Services, 38 staff“We had security policies and various tools, but no clear direction. Having expert guidance helped us understand our priorities and what we needed to improve.”
Structured cyber security roadmap and governance introduced
Richard H.Managing Director · Healthcare, 42 staff
Certifications & partnerships
Are any of these holding your business back?
These are the moments when SMEs realise they need senior security leadership.
A customer questionnaire you can't answer
Big clients and tenders now demand evidence of strong security before they sign.
You need Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001
But nobody has the time or expertise to lead it.
Nobody owns cyber security
It falls between the MD, finance and your IT provider, so it never really gets done.
You don't know what to fix first
Plenty of advice, no clear priorities and no plan your board can sign off.
What our vCISO service delivers for you
Senior expertise focused on the outcomes that matter to your customers, your board and your insurer.
Answer customer questionnaires with confidence
We complete security questionnaires and supplier reviews with you, so you stop losing time, and deals.
A clear, board-ready security roadmap
Know exactly what to fix first, what it costs and when it will be done.
Pass Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001
We lead you through certification, from gap analysis to audit day.
Policies that people actually follow
Practical, plain-English policies written for how your business really works.
Cyber risk your board understands
Regular reports that turn technical risk into business decisions.
A plan for when things go wrong
Incident response plans and tabletop exercises, so everyone knows their role.
Suppliers you can trust
We review the security of the suppliers who hold your data or access your systems.
Lower insurance premiums
Better answers on insurer questionnaires can mean better cover at a better price.
Full-time CISO vs vCISO vs doing nothing
Most SMEs can't justify a full-time security executive, but can't afford to leave security to chance either. A vCISO gives you the expertise you need, when you need it.
Get My Free Snapshot| What you get | Doing nothing | Full-time CISO | Be Tech Secure vCISO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior security leadership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Security roadmap and board reporting | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 support | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flexible as your needs change | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | Lost deals and risk | Six-figure salary | Scoped to your size |
How our vCISO service works
Clear priorities from the first month, and steady progress you can report on.
- 1AssessWe review your risks, maturity and obligations.
- 2PlanYou get a prioritised, board-ready roadmap.
- 3LeadWe drive delivery with your team and IT provider.
- 4ReportRegular updates show your risk going down.
Senior security leadership, scoped to your business
Every engagement is tailored to your size, goals and budget. Already have an IT provider? Our vCISO works alongside them. Need hands-on protection too? Pair it with Fortify 360 or awareness training.
- A fixed, clear proposal after your strategy call
- Flexible days per month as your needs change
- Independent oversight of your IT provider
- No obligation
- Takes 2 minutes
- Senior consultant review
Let's build your security roadmap
Get your free security maturity snapshot, or book a 30-minute strategy call with a senior consultant.
- No obligation
- UK-based consultants
- Tailored to your size
vCISO services: frequently asked questions
Last reviewed October 2026 by the Be Tech Secure security team
A vCISO (virtual Chief Information Security Officer) is an experienced security leader who works with your business part-time or on demand. They set your security strategy, manage risk and compliance, and report to your board, without the cost of a full-time hire.
A full-time CISO typically costs a six-figure salary plus benefits. A vCISO gives you the same senior expertise for the time you actually need, which for most SMEs is a few days a month.
It depends on your size, your compliance goals and how much time you need each month, so every engagement is scoped to you. Start with a free security maturity snapshot and strategy call, and we will give you a clear, fixed proposal.
Yes. Most of our vCISO clients are SMEs that need senior security leadership to win contracts, meet compliance requirements or satisfy insurers, but cannot justify a full-time hire.
We start with a risk and maturity assessment, agree your priorities with leadership, then deliver a practical security roadmap. Quick wins and urgent gaps are tackled straight away, alongside the policies and evidence customers and auditors ask for.
Yes. We complete security sections of tenders and supplier questionnaires, and help you answer insurer questions accurately, which can improve cover and premiums.
Yes. We lead gap analysis, policy writing, implementation and audit preparation for both, and keep you compliant afterwards.
A vCISO provides leadership, strategy and compliance. Fortify 360 provides the hands-on protection, monitoring and IT support. Many clients use both: the vCISO sets the direction and Fortify 360 delivers it.
Yes. Our vCISO works alongside your IT provider or internal team, giving them clear priorities and independent oversight.
Not sure if you need a vCISO?
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