Virtual CISO (vCISO) Retainer

The Problem

You need security leadership — not another full-time salary

A full-time CISO costs over $250,000 per year before benefits — that's over $20,000 per month for a single hire. For most organizations with 50 to 500 employees, that's not realistic. But the threats don't care about your headcount.

Without dedicated security leadership, decisions get made reactively. Vendors sell you tools you don't need. Compliance deadlines slip. Your board asks questions nobody can answer. And when an incident happens, there's no one at the helm.

How It Works

An experienced security executive — on retainer

Ridgepoint's vCISO retainer gives your organization a dedicated security leader who manages your program, advises on risk, coordinates with your IT team and vendors, and reports to your board. Two tiers based on the level of involvement your organization needs.

• Monthly strategy sessions and security program oversight
• Policy development, review, and maintenance
• Risk management and compliance guidance
• Vendor coordination and security tool oversight — vendor-neutral recommendations
• Board and executive security reporting
• Incident response oversight and coordination
• Quarterly risk dashboards with trends and recommendations
• Network Security Assessment included during onboarding (via Ridgepoint Scout Sensor)
• Cloud Security Posture Review included in first 30 days
• Vendor selection advisory included at no additional cost
• AI Governance Framework — AI usage policy, tool approval process, data classification for AI systems, and quarterly reviews of new AI tools employees adopt

Built for the long term

A vCISO retainer isn't a one-time engagement — it's an ongoing partnership. Ridgepoint becomes embedded in your organization's security decisions, vendor relationships, and compliance posture. As your business grows, your security program grows with it.

Every retainer includes onboarding assessments (network and cloud) so we start with a clear picture of where you stand. From there, we build and manage your security program month by month.

For organizations adopting AI tools, vCISO retainer clients receive a full AI Governance Framework built and maintained as part of their ongoing program — at no additional cost. This includes an AI usage policy, tool approval process, data classification for AI systems, and quarterly reviews of new AI tools.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions