A customer questionnaire you cannot answer
Larger clients and tenders now demand evidence of strong security before they sign.
Virtual CISO for startups, scaleups and SMEs
Security leadership without the full-time cost.
A Virtual CISO is a senior security leader who works with your business part-time. We help you win deals that demand strong security, prepare for ISO 27001 and customer reviews, and give leadership a clear plan, without hiring a full-time CISO before the role is justified.
Answer customer security questionnaires with confidence
A board-ready security roadmap
Certification without the stress
One senior expert who owns security with you
- No obligation
- EU-based team
- Scoped to your stage
100% free2 minutesReviewed by a senior consultant
Free security maturity snapshot
Answer 5 quick questions and get your top three security priorities.
Step 1 of 5
Do customers or partners send you security questionnaires?
Are any of these holding your business back?
These are the moments when growing companies realise they need senior security leadership.
You need ISO 27001 or another framework
But nobody has the time or expertise to lead the work.
Nobody owns cyber security
It falls between the founder, finance, and your IT provider, so it never really gets done.
You do not know what to fix first
Plenty of advice, no clear priorities, and no plan leadership can sign off.
What our Virtual CISO service delivers
Senior expertise focused on the outcomes that matter to your customers, your board, and your next deal.
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 ISO 27001 and related reviews
We lead gap analysis, policy work, evidence, and audit preparation.
Policies people actually follow
Practical, plain-language policies written for how your business really works.
Cyber risk leadership 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 suppliers who hold your data or access your systems.
Stronger insurance and diligence answers
Better answers on insurer and investor questionnaires can improve cover and confidence.
Full-time CISO vs Virtual CISO vs doing nothing
Most growing companies cannot justify a full-time security executive, but cannot afford to leave security to chance either.
| What you get | Doing nothing | Full-time CISO | Boxfish Labs Virtual CISO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior security leadership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Security roadmap and board reporting | No | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 and customer-review support | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flexible as your needs change | No | No | Yes |
| Cost | Lost deals and risk | Six-figure salary | Scoped to your stage |
How our Virtual CISO service works
Clear priorities from the first month, and steady progress you can report on.
01
Assess
We review your risks, maturity, and obligations.
02
Plan
You get a prioritised, board-ready roadmap.
03
Lead
We drive delivery with your team and IT providers.
04
Report
Regular 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 Virtual CISO works alongside them.
- A clear proposal after your discovery call
- Flexible hours per month as your needs change
- Independent oversight of your IT and security vendors
Let's build your security roadmap
Get your free security maturity snapshot, or book a short discovery call with a senior consultant.
- No obligation
- Takes 2 minutes
- Senior consultant review
Virtual CISO: frequently asked questions
A Virtual CISO is an experienced security leader who works with your organisation part-time. They set strategy, manage risk and compliance, and guide the programme without a full-time CISO hire.
A full-time CISO typically costs a six-figure salary plus benefits. A Virtual CISO gives you the same senior expertise for the time you actually need, which for most growing companies is a few days a month.
It depends on your size, compliance goals, and how much time you need each month. Start with the free maturity snapshot and a discovery call, and we will propose a scoped retainer.
Yes. Most of our Virtual CISO clients need senior security leadership to win contracts, meet compliance requirements, or satisfy insurers and investors, but cannot justify a full-time hire yet.
We start with a risk and maturity assessment, agree priorities with leadership, then deliver a practical security roadmap. Quick wins and urgent gaps are tackled straight away alongside the longer programme.
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, and keep the programme workable afterwards.
Yes. Our Virtual CISO works alongside your IT provider or internal team, giving them clear priorities and independent oversight.