Virtual chief information security officer (vCISO) services

Get expert security leadership without the full-time cost. Our vCISO services are delivered by experts with the experience needed to provide your business with all the elements of balanced security leadership. These are your trusted advisors, helping you to protect against evolving threats, ensure regulatory compliance, and communicate with your leadership and stakeholders. Gain the cybersecurity support you need, when you need it, from full-time resources to expertise-on-demand.

Strengthen your security posture today. Collaborate with experienced cybersecurity executives who can assess your programs and strategies, recommending balanced security measures and rationalizing your existing investments.

Stay ahead of cyber risks with proactive guidance. Our vCISO services can provide continuous support, identifying new or growing risks, curating threat intelligence, and improving or delivering crisis management, all keeping your organization aware and empowered in the face of emerging threats.

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Cybersecurity services trusted by 500+ organizations and growing!

NuHarbor’s advanced 24/7 monitoring and engineering expertise in managing security alerts, dashboards, and data integration, with world class customer service has created a true partnership with us as their team feels like an extension of ours. Working with NuHarbor, knowing our systems are being monitored and managed by their team of expert analysts, gives us confidence in our ability to respond to potential incidents. NuHarbor’s engineering expertise provides us with customized dashboards and regular updates, which keep us informed and empowered to make smarter security decisions. 
NuHarbor helped us identify the correct assets to monitor, then tuned our systems for maximum results. Now we only receive notifications for true positive alerts so my team can spend more time focusing on their objectives.
We’ve utilized NuHarbor for a few years now to conduct quarterly vulnerability assessments. Our usual policy is to change vendors every few years, but we’ve had such exceptional service from NuHarbor that we see no need to shop around. The reports we receive are comprehensive and prioritize remediation advice.
NuHarbor conducted a web application penetration test on a few of our edge applications. They discovered many configuration weaknesses including insecure direct object reference (IDOR). They notified us immediately and offered advice on how to fix it. Their skilled engineers provided step-by-step assistance and retested to ensure that this critical vulnerability was fixed.
Wifi. Yeah, that’s an unfamiliar animal to deal with. We hired NuHarbor to test the wireless networks we provide for our employees and customers to access store services. NuHarbor came onsite and set up their “toolkit” with antennas sticking out all around. They were able to set up a rogue access point, mimicking our access points, and users unknowingly logged on. NuHarbor initiated an evil twin attack to capture and inject packages into the network stream between user computers and other systems and then delivered findings so we could educate and curve our user behavior.
NuHarbor performed an external penetration test on our networks and alerted us to critical vulnerabilities. They let us know what the affected response might be from the host before they tried to exploit it. We were updated twice a day which was super helpful to me and my staff. They also provided great remedial guidance that helped us quickly correct vulnerabilities.
Our company outsources our web development. We asked NuHarbor to review the source code and check for insecure API calls. We were astonished at the findings they uncovered. It was an uneasy feeling knowing that the web developer we hired left so many security flaws in our code. I can’t say enough how comforting it was to have the NuHarbor team give us, and our partner, clear recommendations to fix our source code.
NuHarbor waged a phishing campaign against our employees by mirroring a realistic payroll website that we use in our company. The NuHarbor engineers captured several IT administrators’ credentials. With domain administrator access, they were able to compromise our whole domain within 20 minutes of starting the phishing campaign. We had the opportunity to show our leadership how pertinent it is to implement better user account practices, MFA, and improved user security awareness training and build the funds into our annual IT security budget.
NuHarbor performed an internal penetration test of our organization utilizing one of our legacy network protocols. They were able to gain administrative access and push malicious code to our network. Had this been a real attack, we could have lost everything.
NuHarbor assessments provide visibility into our third-party risk exposure. We don’t have the internal resources to conduct yearly assessments of our 40+ vendors. These valuable insights inform the decisions we make when choosing and managing partnerships.
NuHarbor has been instrumental to our SOC operations. Without their flexibility, expertise, and quick reaction, our small SOC team could not operate. NuHarbor continually engages with us at the operational and executive level. They’re always looking for new, creative solutions. Not only are they willing to think outside the box, they actually deliver.

Strategic vCISO leadership

Our vCISO services align security initiatives with your business goals, ensuring a proactive stance against today’s most advanced threats and driving long-term organizational resilience and success.

  • Develop a tailored, balanced, cybersecurity strategy. We create a comprehensive security plan that supports your business objectives and adapts to evolving threats, ensuring your organization stays protected.
  • Assess and enhance your security program. NuHarbor experts evaluate your existing security measures, identifying gaps, overspending, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Boost security awareness company-wide. Our experts share best practices for improving security awareness and understanding, whether among your employees, partners, or executives. We provide training for known threats, support for cybersecurity investments, and intelligence on the changing threat landscape.
  • Plan for the future with strategic roadmaps. Our experts design multi-year cybersecurity roadmaps, outlining critical initiatives, measures, and required resources to help you identify, realize, and promote, your long-term security objectives.
  • Establish security reporting and priorities with executive leaders. We provide regular, actionable reports that present technical cybersecurity concerns in a business-relevant context, promoting cybersecurity concerns to executive challengesngess.

 

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Risk management services

Our virtual CISO advisors helps you identify, assess, and mitigate potential threats, ensuring your organization remains resilient in the face of evolving cyber risks.

  • Perform thorough risk assessments. We conduct detailed evaluations of your cybersecurity landscape, identifying vulnerabilities and prioritizing remediation based on severity and impact.
  • Leverage continuous threat intelligence. Stay proactive with ongoing monitoring and intelligence gathering that keeps your organization ahead of emerging threats and risks.
  • Develop effective incident response plans. We create and maintain robust response strategies to minimize damage and downtime during security incidents, ensuring quick and efficient action.
  • Manage third-party risks with confidence. Our team evaluates your vendors and partners to ensure their security protocols align with your organization’s standards, reducing external vulnerabilities.
  • Conduct business impact analyses. Understand how different cyber threats could affect your operations and prioritize mitigation efforts to ensure business continuity and resilience.

 

Compliance management services

our CISO as a service helps organizations navigate complex regulations, ensuring continuous adherence while mitigating risks associated with non-compliance.

  • Perform comprehensive compliance audits. We conduct in-depth audits to ensure alignment with key regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and others, identifying gaps and addressing issues proactively.
  • Develop tailored compliance programs. NuHarbor designs and implements customized compliance programs to meet industry-specific requirements, ensuring your organization stays compliant year-round.
  • Deliver targeted compliance training. Our specialized training programs educate your team on regulatory obligations and best practices, building a culture of compliance across your organization.
  • Prepare and submit regulatory reports. We assist with preparing accurate and timely regulatory reports, ensuring you meet submission deadlines and avoid costly penalties.
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Policy development

We develop, implement, and maintain cybersecurity policies that align with your business objectives and regulatory needs, ensuring your organization stays secure and compliant.

  • Create tailored security policies. We design and implement customized policies that cover all aspects of cybersecurity, aligning with both organizational goals and compliance requirements.
  • Regularly review and update policies. Our team conducts consistent reviews to ensure your policies stay current with evolving industry standards, regulations, and emerging threats.
  • Deliver employee training on policies. We provide thorough training programs to ensure your employees fully understand and comply with your security policies, minimizing the risk of breaches.
  • Manage acceptable use policies (AUP). We craft and maintain clear AUPs that define appropriate use of company resources, helping to prevent misuse and reduce security vulnerabilities.
  • Develop robust data protection policies. Our team creates policies that safeguard sensitive data through encryption, access control, and secure data handling procedures, mitigating the risk of data breaches.
  • Enhance your governance with vCISO leadership. NuHarbor’s vCISO services ensure strategic oversight of your security policies, aligning them with your business goals and adapting to the evolving threat landscape.

Audit readiness

We ensure your organization is fully prepared for external audits, streamlining the process and minimizing the risk of non-compliance findings.

  • Conduct pre-audit assessments. We perform thorough assessments to identify potential gaps and prepare your organization for upcoming security audits, reducing the likelihood of non-compliance.
  • Manage and coordinate the audit process. NuHarbor serves as the primary liaison between your internal teams and external auditors, ensuring a seamless and efficient audit experience.
  • Prepare audit documentation and evidence. We organize and compile all necessary documentation and evidence, ensuring compliance and security measures are thoroughly documented for audit success.
  • Create post-audit remediation plans. Our team develops actionable remediation plans to address any audit findings, helping your organization resolve weaknesses and ensure continuous compliance.
  • Drive continuous improvement. Using audit feedback, we implement strategies that enhance your security posture and improve ongoing compliance efforts.
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Our methodology for ensuring relevance and value

Our tailored methodology ensures that your organization receives the highest level of protection and strategic guidance. Here are some of our steps to deliver unique vCISO advice and collaboration:

  • Initial assessment: We often begin with a thorough assessment of your current cybersecurity posture. This includes a detailed review of your policies, procedures, and technology infrastructure. We identify vulnerabilities, assess risk levels, look for both overspending and underspending, all to understand your specific security state.
  • Strategic planning: Based on the initial assessment, we develop a customized cybersecurity strategy that aligns with your business objectives. This strategy includes detailed recommendations for improving your security posture, addressing identified vulnerabilities, and preparing for future threats.
  • Implementation: Our team works closely with your internal stakeholders to implement the recommended security measures, as well as suggesting metrics, reporting cadence, and audiences. This also includes deploying advanced security technologies, updating policies and procedures, and conducting training sessions to ensure your team is equipped to handle emerging threats.
  • Continuous monitoring: Because cybersecurity is an ongoing challenge, we provide 24/7 monitoring and management of your security environment to ensure continuous protection. Our vCISO services include regular threat assessments, vulnerability scans, and compliance checks to keep your organization secure and compliant.
  • Reporting: Transparency and communication are key components of our methodology. We provide regular reports and conduct periodic reviews to keep you informed of your cybersecurity status and the effectiveness of implemented measures. This allows us to make necessary adjustments and continuously improve your security posture.

Meet Jack Danahy

Jack Danahy is the Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations at NuHarbor Security. He leads our advisory and vCISO services and is committed to simplifying and strengthening cybersecurity for organizations of all sizes.
 
In his words: "I joined NuHarbor because I knew this company could fundamentally change the expectations of the cybersecurity market, and organizations can now expect an adaptive and comprehensive, partner for cybersecurity.”
 
Jack's extensive cybersecurity background and impressive credentials make him a highly sought-after strategic advisor within the security community. Jack's credentials include:

A few of Jack's credentials:

  • Pioneering work on cybersecurity in the late 1980’s on securing early networked/distributed computing at HP
  • Founder of three security software companies that were acquired by Watchguard Technologies, IBM, and Alert Logic
  • Former director of advanced security service delivery across North America for IBM
  • Holder of 12 patents for security innovations
  • Frequent writer, interview subject, and public speaker on all areas of cybersecurity
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Frequently asked questions

A Virtual CISO provides executive-level cybersecurity leadership without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire. NuHarbor’s vCISO service is built for execution, not slideware. We focus on turning risk into prioritized action, aligning security to business objectives, and helping teams make defensible decisions with limited resources.

Our vCISO service is ideal for organizations that need senior security leadership but do not require or cannot justify a full-time CISO. This includes mid-market companies, regulated organizations, public sector entities, and security teams that need strategic guidance, board-level communication, or help operationalizing security programs.

NuHarbor vCISOs act as an extension of your leadership team. We translate technical risk into business impact, prepare executive and board-level reporting, and help leaders understand tradeoffs across risk, budget, and operational reality. The goal is clarity, confidence, and alignment at the executive level.

A NuHarbor vCISO commonly supports security strategy development, risk assessments, roadmap creation, regulatory readiness, third-party risk programs, incident preparedness, and security program maturity improvement. We also help prioritize tooling, staffing, and managed services based on real-world risk.

Assessments and compliance projects provide a snapshot in time. A Virtual CISO provides ongoing leadership. NuHarbor’s vCISO service helps you act on findings, adjust priorities as the business changes, and continuously improve your security posture rather than delivering a report and walking away.

Yes. Our vCISO model is collaborative by design. We work with internal teams to set direction, remove blockers, and ensure security initiatives are realistic and achievable. The intent is to enable your team, not replace it.

We apply a risk-based approach grounded in real attack patterns and business impact. NuHarbor helps clients focus on the controls and initiatives that reduce the most risk per dollar spent. This ensures security investments are defensible, measurable, and aligned to actual threats.

Success is measured by improved decision-making, reduced risk exposure, clearer security priorities, and stronger alignment between security and the business. We focus on progress you can explain to leadership, auditors, and stakeholders, not just technical outputs.

NuHarbor vCISO engagements typically begin with a focused onboarding and discovery phase to understand your environment, risks, and objectives. From there, we move quickly into execution and advisory support without long ramp-up timelines.

Explore comprehensive cybersecurity protection today.

  1. Consult with an expert

    Talk to one of our cybersecurity experts so we can better understand your needs and how we can help.

  2. Agree on a plan

    Based on your objectives we’ll create a tailored plan to meet your cybersecurity needs.

  3. Start maximizing your protection

    Experience peace of mind knowing what matters most is secure.

Consult with an expert