Strategic Resilience

Security leadership without a full-time CISO.

An experienced CISO who steers your security strategy. Flexible, cost-effective and directly deployable.

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What is CISO as a Service?

CISO as a Service delivers an experienced security leader who steers your security strategy, without the cost and commitment of a full-time position. The CISO functions as your Chief Information Security Officer: responsible for security strategy, risk management, compliance, incident management and communication to the board and regulators. Flexible deployment from a few days per month.

About this service

Every organisation needs security leadership

Not every organisation needs a full-time CISO, but every organisation needs security leadership. CISO as a Service delivers an experienced security leader who steers your security programme, without the costs and commitment of a permanent position.

The deployment is flexible: from a few days per month for strategic direction to several days per week during intensive periods such as a compliance programme, incident or audit. The CISO integrates into your organisation, learns your business and builds a long-term relationship.

A CISO as a Service from DEFION brings not only management experience but also technical depth. It is not a consultant who presents frameworks, but a leader who understands what is technically at stake and can translate that into strategic decisions.

The Problem

You have security responsibilities without security leadership

NIS2 holds directors personally liable. Regulators expect demonstrable governance. Yet many mid-sized organisations lack the security leadership needed to navigate this landscape.

  • Security decisions are made by the IT manager alongside operational responsibilities, without the strategic overview a CISO brings.
  • The board lacks a trusted security advisor who can translate technical risks into board-level language and informed decisions.
  • Compliance programmes, vendor management and incident governance fall between the cracks because no one owns the security programme end-to-end.
Scope

What the CISO as a Service covers

  • Security strategy and roadmap
  • Risk management and risk assessment
  • Compliance management (NIS2, DORA, ISO 27001)
  • Security policy and standards
  • Vendor and supplier security management
  • Incident management governance
  • Board reporting and communication
  • Security awareness programme
  • Budget and resource planning
  • Security architecture review
Our Approach

How DEFION delivers CISO as a Service

01

Onboarding

Getting to know the organisation, stakeholders, existing measures and challenges. Building relationships with IT, management and board.

02

Security assessment

Quick assessment of the current security posture to identify the most urgent priorities and quick wins.

03

Strategy development

Building the security strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.

04

Programme execution

Ongoing steering of the security programme: compliance, vendor management, awareness and incident governance.

05

Board reporting

Regular reporting to the board on security risks, compliance progress and incidents in board-level language.

06

Quarterly review

Quarterly evaluation and adjustment of the strategy based on results, new threats and organisational changes.

What You Receive

Deliverables

  • Security strategy and roadmap
  • Periodic board presentations on security posture and risks
  • Security policy and standards documentation
  • Risk management reporting
  • Compliance progress reporting (NIS2, DORA, ISO 27001)
  • Incident coordination and reporting
  • Flexible capacity scaling during intensive periods
For Whom

Suitable for

  • Mid-sized organisations without their own CISO
  • Companies that need to temporarily fill a CISO position (departure, growth)
  • Organisations that need strategic security direction alongside operational IT
  • Companies that need to fulfil NIS2 board-level responsibility requirements
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

How many days per month is the CISO available?
Flexible, aligned with your needs. Typically 2 to 8 days per month. During intensive periods such as compliance programmes or incidents, capacity can be scaled up.
Does this replace our IT manager?
No. A CISO operates at strategic level and complements the IT manager. The IT manager focuses on operations; the CISO on security governance and risk management.
How quickly is the CISO operational?
After an onboarding of 2 to 4 weeks the CISO knows your organisation and is operational. In acute situations engagement can start immediately.
Can the CISO attend board meetings?
Yes. That is a core part of the role. The CISO reports to the board on security risks, progress and incidents.
What if we later hire our own CISO?
The CISO as a Service supports the transition: knowledge transfer, documentation and optionally coaching of the new CISO.
NIS2 Readiness Assessment

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Cyber Security Assessment

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Security Compliance Services

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Ready to put security leadership in place?

Tell us what you need. We scope the right engagement and start within days.

Get in touch 24/7 Incident Hotline