Why smart money is investing in CISO-as-a-service & what every leader must know?
Warren Atkinson
Cyber Community Connector | Podcast Host | Head of Information & Cyber Security Recruitment | ECS & GTM Team Builder
💻 Latest Episode: https://youtu.be/jvbgNDsaOpY?si=Ja47egJxFE6oJClF
I’ve spoken with over 250 security leaders and founders this year, working closely with startups, scale-ups, SMEs, and global enterprises. One thing is crystal clear: cyber security is no longer just an IT concern. It has become a core boardroom priority and a critical business risk. Imagine your organisation as a busy city, where every function depends on smooth, uninterrupted traffic flow. Cyber threats are the sudden roadblocks and accidents nobody anticipates and without expert CISO leadership at the helm, your business risks costly delays, operational chaos, and damage to its reputation. That’s why access to flexible, senior-level cyber expertise, without the cost of a full-time hire, is fast becoming a vital advantage for organisations competing in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.
Will you be attending?
Think of CISO-as-a-Service as having a world-class coach available whenever needed, guiding your team through complex challenges, spotting risks before they escalate, and helping you win trust with investors, customers, and regulators. Whether you’re a VC-backed startup, an established SME, or part of a larger enterprise portfolio, the smartest organisations understand that effective cyber leadership is more than technology. It’s a strategic, scalable capability that grows with your business ambitions. For CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, and board members wondering when and why to bring in fractional or external CISO support, this is your essential guide to turning cyber risk into business opportunity.
Share your thoughts: Could CISO-as-a-Service be the smartest move for your business?
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When does your business need external cyber leadership?
Knowing the right time to bring in external cyber leadership can be tricky but critical. Companies often realise they need fractional CISO support when facing rapid growth, evolving cyber threats, or new compliance demands. For startups and scale-ups funded by VC and PE, the pressure to prove cyber resilience to investors is immense, yet hiring a full-time, seasoned CISO can be cost-prohibitive. External CISOs offer on-demand expertise, helping businesses bridge skill gaps immediately without long hiring cycles or salary commitments.
In more mature SMEs and enterprises, an external or fractional CISO can act as an independent, objective lens over existing security strategies. They bring fresh perspectives and benchmark best practices across industries, helping to avoid blind spots. The business benefit? Faster, more confident decisions that directly reduce risk to your bottom line while enabling innovation and growth.
Curious to learn which skills are in demand, career pathways and recruitment tips?
CISO-as-a-Service vs Fractional Support vs Consultancy vs Big 4: What’s the difference?
Understanding the options available is key to picking the right fit. CISO-as-a-Service typically provides ongoing, flexible cyber leadership, integrating seamlessly with your existing team. Fractional CISO support is often a part-time engagement focused on specific strategic or operational needs. Consultancy, by contrast, tends to be project-based and more limited in scope, while Big 4 firms offer broad advisory but may lack the hands-on agility and cost-effectiveness many businesses require.
What truly sets CISO-as-a-Service apart is the ability to scale expertise up or down based on evolving risk profiles, market pressures, or regulatory changes. This model delivers deep, enterprise-grade experience without the overheads or delays of building an internal team. For CEOs and CFOs, this translates into precise, value-driven investments that align tightly with business goals, not just technical checkboxes.
What common business challenges does CISO-as-a-Service solve?
Cyber security today is a complex puzzle, touching every part of your organisation from finance to operations, legal, and procurement. Some of the biggest challenges businesses face include:
By addressing these challenges head-on, external CISOs act as trusted partners, enabling your business to thrive in an unpredictable landscape.
Did you hear about SECURE | CYBER CONNECT LIVE?
5 critical insights every C-Suite must know about external cyber leadership
If you want to hear how CISO-as-a-Service, fractional CISOs, and boutique consultancies have become the secret weapons of the top 1%, reach out. I’ll share what we’ve done, what we’ve seen, and the real hacks and tips that make all the difference.
Why join SECURE | CYBER CONNECT LIVE stream?
Why collaboration is key?
As cyber threats evolve, collaboration and diversity are essential for staying ahead. Communities & initiatives such as SECURE | CYBER CONNECT , SECURE | CYBER CONNECT Community & Podcast , YorkshireX , AI Tech UK , Digital Transformation EXPO (DTX) , International Cyber Expo , Nineteen Group , Cyber Leaders' Summit , Clarion Events , CyBlack , Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) , Join Momentum , Cyber London , and Yorkshire Cyber Security Cluster offer vital platforms for professionals to share insights and drive innovation.
Introducing Heather Lowrie
Heather is a 2024’s CISO of the Year, pulls back the curtain on AI deepfakes, cyber resilience, and the urgent battle to protect businesses, governments, and individuals from digital deception. With insider experience previously working across both public and private sectors, Heather reveals the most dangerous AI cyber threats no one is talking about and how community and real allyship could be our last line of defence.
Why This Episode is a Must-Watch & Value You’ll Gain:
We address the biggest cyber security myths, expose why mental health and burnout remain hidden crises, and explore the future of cyber leadership in a world dominated by AI disruption. Whether you want to learn how to spot deepfakes, defend your organisation from evolving AI attacks, or understand how UK cyber policy is failing frontline defenders - this episode is a must-watch for anyone serious about cyber security in 2025.
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We trust you also find value in our Earlier Sessions:
Want the truth about the Go-To-Market? Check out episode Fifty-Two
Want the inside scoop on founding the podcast and how to build your brand? Check out episode Fifty-One
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YOUR NEXT CAREER MOVE
Find your next challenge in Security Operations, Security Engineering, Security Analyst, IT Compliance or OT Security with organisation that lead the way. We have a number of open opportunities, that could be of value to those within your network.
We’re also proud to support a range of Go-To-Market, Sales, Customer Success and Marketing Leadership positions across the US and EMEA regions.
Curious to learn more, reach out the team at SECURE- Justin Jay Adamson & Warren Atkinson.
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Will you be joining us for SECURE | CYBER CONNECT LIVE on July 2nd
This unique monthly experience features two powerful back-to-back sessions:
Start with our public livestream on YouTube & LinkedIn, where industry leaders share real-time insights and inspiring stories.
Then, unlock exclusive access to our private F*K Ups panel on the community platform- an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation where experts share hard-earned lessons and advice you won’t hear anywhere else.
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A must read:
Reach Out to Warren Atkinson, Justin (Jay) Adamson to explore how we can collaboratively navigate the complexities of AI, Information & Cyber Security to build a safer digital future. We look forward to welcoming you!
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President @ R3 | Robust IT Infrastructures for Scaling Enterprises | Leading a $100M IT Revolution | Follow for Innovative IT Solutions 🎯
1moVery important to have a robust strategy right now Warren Atkinson. CISOs have a lot to offer but those can be big shoes to fill
Warren Atkinson shares five business challenges fractional CXO address. We’d be curious to hear from our network, where else is support needed and What challenges are you seeing right now?
An interesting read, and great resource for those unsure why and when their business would need external cyber leadership and much more. Where else have others seen success, in external partnering, without the big4 price tag?
Great insights. It’s very common for start-up, PE portfolio companies and even mid-market to not have a dedicated CISO on board, but most times they only require part time or fractional. This is where CISO-as-a-Service or Fractional CxO come into play.