How much does a vCISO mandate cost?

A vCISO mandate runs with a minimum term of 12 months, cancellable monthly thereafter. We discuss terms in the initial consultation.

What does a vCISO do?

A Virtual CISO provides strategic security leadership on a part-time basis: security strategy, risk management, board communication, vendor oversight, and audit preparation.

What is the difference between a vCISO and a full-time CISO?

A full-time CISO costs a six-figure annual salary plus recruiting and onboarding. A vCISO delivers strategic security leadership at a fraction of that — no headcount, no ramp-up time.

Who is a vCISO mandate suitable for?

For SMEs and growing companies that need CISO-level output but lack the full-time budget — especially in regulated industries or ahead of funding rounds.

vCISO Mandate

Strategic security leadership. Without a full-time CISO.

Monthly strategy syncs. Quarterly board decks. Ongoing risk management. All on a subscription basis.

Request Mandate →View services

CISO role open. Regulation tightening. Board awaiting answers.

Your company is growing. New regulations (NIS2, DORA, ISO 27001) create compliance obligations. Clients and partners demand structured security documentation.

A full-time CISO costs a six-figure annual salary plus recruiting – and is difficult to find. External consultants bill by the hour without providing strategic continuity.

What's missing: strategic security leadership that is immediately available – at enterprise CISO level, on predictable terms.

Your CISO. On a subscription basis.

Woodlands' vCISO Mandate delivers strategic security leadership as a predictable mandate with defined deliverables — a 12-month minimum term, monthly cancellation thereafter. You receive board-ready reporting, structured risk management and continuous compliance documentation.

No recruiting. No onboarding. Operational from month one.

Process

Structured. Continuous. Board-ready.

1
Month 1
Onboarding
Setting up the risk registry, baseline assessment, security stack audit, prioritisation of the top 5 risks.
2
Monthly
Strategy Sync
60-minute management call. Risk status, open actions, strategic decisions.
3
Ongoing
Vendor & Operations
1–2 vendor reviews per month. Slack support via a prioritised channel with defined response times. Ad-hoc consulting on security decisions.
4
Every 90 days
Board Briefing
Quarterly security status report for the board and supervisory board. Documented compliance posture.

Month 1

Onboarding

Setting up the risk registry, baseline assessment, security stack audit, prioritisation of the top 5 risks.

Monthly

Strategy Sync

60-minute management call. Risk status, open actions, strategic decisions.

Ongoing

Vendor & Operations

1–2 vendor reviews per month. Slack support via a prioritised channel with defined response times. Ad-hoc consulting on security decisions.

Every 90 days

Board Briefing

Quarterly security status report for the board and supervisory board. Documented compliance posture.

Scope of delivery

What you receive.

Quarterly Board Deck (professional risk report in a fixed template)

Risk Registry (continuously maintained with measure tracking)

Vendor Risk Assessments (structured evaluation of critical suppliers)

Incident Advisory (advisory support and coordination of external forensics)

Compliance Documentation (ongoing maintenance of evidence documentation)

Why Woodlands

The difference that matters.

vs. Full-Time CISO

Predictable annual costs instead of an executive salary plus recruiting. Immediately operational.

vs. Freelancer

Standardised operating system, not an individual. Board-ready reporting included.

Unique

Productized vCISO: defined deliverables, clear timelines, no hourly billing.

Investment

Transparent fixed prices.

Foundation

Up to 100 employees

Monthly strategy sync (60 min.)
Quarterly board deck
Risk registry
2 vendor assessments per quarter
Slack support (prioritised channel with defined response times)
Incident advisory

Schedule Consultation

Recommended

Professional

100–300 employees

Everything from Foundation
Bi-weekly management touchpoint
4 vendor assessments per quarter
Compliance documentation
Custom security policies

Schedule Consultation

Enterprise

300+ or regulated environment

Everything from Professional
Weekly touchpoint
Unlimited vendor assessments
Regulatory filing support
Multi-framework compliance

Schedule Consultation

Minimum term: 12 months. Monthly cancellation thereafter.

INITIAL CONSULTATION

Is a vCISO the right setup for your company?

Book an initial consultation — 20 minutes. Confidential. No obligation.

Book initial consultation

Related Services

Many clients combine multiple services – for maximum impact.

AI GovernanceDeploy AI with structured governance — vendor-neutral.

Velocity M&A Security AuditM&A cyber due diligence — pre-LOI ready, at a fixed price.

“Strategic security leadership is not a luxury for corporations. It is the foundation for sustainable growth.”

Growth needs security. Not someday – now.

Whether you face a transaction, need a certification or want to professionalise your security strategy – Woodlands delivers predictable results at boutique speed.

Schedule Initial Consultation →

20 minutes. Confidential. No obligation.