Let’s start with a simple truth: cyber security is no longer a luxury reserved for big business. Whether you’re running a growing company, a boutique firm, or managing a superyacht, you’re already a target. The question isn’t if you need cyber security leadership, it’s how to get the right level of support without overcommitting resources.
That’s where the Virtual CISO (vCISO) comes in. This guide will break down what a vCISO actually does, who it’s for, and why it might be one of the smartest decisions you make this year.
Gone are the days when you could "just install anti-virus software" and call it done. Today, cyber threats are more frequent, more sophisticated, and often come from directions you didn’t see coming: spoofed emails from known contacts, fake payment requests, and malware embedded in job applications.
At the same time, expectations are rising. Clients want to see cyber maturity. Insurers want evidence of risk controls. Regulators are introducing tighter standards across every industry. And if you’re in yachting or high-net-worth services? The risks multiply because you're often dealing with sensitive information.
A vCISO (Virtual Chief Information Security Officer) is an outsourced or fractional security expert who performs many of the same duties as a full-time CISO, but in a more flexible, scalable way.
They typically:
Act as your named cyber security lead (ideal for insurance, regulation, and credibility)
Conduct risk assessments and create practical improvement plans
Build cyber strategies aligned to your real-world operations
Help you respond to incidents or near-misses with calm, expert guidance
Train your team on what matters and what to avoid
Liaise with third-party vendors, tech teams, or compliance auditors on your behalf
In other words, they take ownership of cyber security in a way that gives you confidence and frees you up to focus on what you do best.
You might not need one if:
You have an internal team with a dedicated CISO and mature processes
You’re in a very low-risk industry with no customer data, financial transactions, or IT dependencies
But most growing businesses fall somewhere in between. Here are the scenarios where a vCISO makes perfect sense:
A phishing email. An unusual login alert. A payment request that turned out to be fake. If your heart skipped a beat, you know how high the stakes are.
Clients, insurers, or auditors want proof you take cyber seriously. But you don’t have policies, logs, or processes in place to confidently answer.
Scaling means new systems, more data, and wider attack surfaces. A vCISO helps you build secure foundations while you grow.
Yachting. Finance. Healthcare. Legal. If you're trusted with sensitive data or high-value operations, a strong cyber position is non-negotiable.
If your IT lead, office manager, or operations director is also “doing cyber,” you’re exposed. Cyber security deserves focused attention.
Let’s break it down into three phases:
Review your current setup (people, tech, data flows)
Identify gaps in basic hygiene and high-risk areas
Prioritise based on business impact, not just best practice
Define where you are today, and what ‘good’ looks like for your context
Outline steps to get there in plain English
Include both quick wins and longer-term changes
Stay on hand for decisions, audits, or incidents
Review and refine your cyber approach regularly
Keep you up-to-date with changing threats and requirements
This isn’t a tick-box exercise. It’s hands-on leadership, scaled to your size.
Hiring a vCISO doesn’t mean:
You’re now bulletproof
You never have to train your team
You can outsource all responsibility
Cyber security works best when leadership is embedded in your culture. A vCISO is your guide, not your replacement.
At AnchorPoint, we created our vCISO service because we kept seeing the same issues:
Businesses overwhelmed by jargon and fear
Yachts and high-value operations left exposed
Well-meaning suppliers offering off-the-shelf products without a plan
Our belief? Cyber security should feel useful and understandable. We help you:
Build a cyber plan you can actually use
Speak to your team in plain English
Improve steadily over time (without perfectionism)
And we don’t stop there. We offer:
Cyber health checks
No-pressure team briefings
Transparent pricing
Because trust is earned, not assumed.
Hiring a full-time CISO can cost £100,000+ per year.
Other vCISO providers start at £2,000 per month.
Anchorpoint's vCISO packages start at £100 per month and £375-850+ per month for tailored expert support.
For most of our clients, it’s about one to two day’s pay for an engineer or manager, but delivers year-round peace of mind.
Do we need to have technical people onboard to work with you?
No. We specialise in working with non-technical teams. We’ll speak plain English and guide you through every step.
Can you help us meet compliance requirements like NIST, NIS2 or ISO 27001?
Yes. We translate complex requirements into realistic steps and support you with documentation and evidence where needed.
What if we already work with an IT provider?
That’s great! We often act as the security partner who supports or challenges IT providers to ensure the business’ needs come first.
Can you support our yacht management company or family office too?
Absolutely. We work with vessels, businesses, and the professionals that serve them.
Cyber security is no longer a back-office task. It’s a board-level issue, a reputational risk, and a core part of modern operations.
A Virtual CISO gives you the leadership and clarity you need, without the cost or complexity of going it alone.
Whether you’re running a business, managing a vessel, or supporting others who do, Anchorpoint can help you navigate these waters with confidence.