Service

Virtual CISO

Strategic security leadership, hands-on execution. Board reporting, policy authoring, incident response, and program management — delivered as a fractional engagement that mobilizes in 5 days.

Most mid-market organizations don't need a full-time Chief Information Security Officer. They need the outcomes a CISO delivers — a documented security program, board-level reporting, regulatory compliance, cyber insurance optimization, and accountability when something goes wrong. Axiom Sovereign delivers those outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

What a Virtual CISO Actually Does

A Virtual CISO is not an advisor who sends you a report and leaves. At Axiom Sovereign, your vCISO builds and operates your security program — writing policies, configuring controls, managing vendor relationships, presenting to your board, and being accountable when an incident occurs. The distinction between advisory and execution is everything.

The average U.S. CISO earns $565,000 in total annual compensation (IANS Research & Artico Search, 2024). A Sovereign Advisory engagement at $6,500 to $9,000 per month delivers 20 to 28 hours of senior CISO-level attention monthly at 18 to 25% of that cost — and none of the recruiting, ramp, or retention overhead.

What You Receive

01
Technology Sovereignty Risk Assessment

Scored baseline across AI governance, regulatory exposure, and cybersecurity maturity. Delivered within 14 days of engagement start.

02
90-Day Remediation Roadmap

Prioritized action plan tied directly to assessment findings. Clear owners, timelines, and success criteria.

03
Security Policy Library

Core policies authored for your organization — Information Security, Incident Response, AI Acceptable Use, Vendor Risk, and more.

04
Risk Register

Documented risk register with severity ratings, current controls, owners, and remediation timelines. Reviewed quarterly.

05
Quarterly Board Report

Executive-level cybersecurity board report covering risk posture, compliance status, program highlights, and board action items.

06
Incident Response Plan

Documented IR plan with named roles, regulatory notification timelines, external vendor contacts, and tabletop exercise facilitation.

Engagement Tiers

Governance Essentials
$3,500–$5,000/mo

8–12 hrs/month. Risk assessment, core policy build, cyber insurance support, quarterly risk review. Best for organizations under 50 employees building from zero.

Technology Sovereign
$12,000–$18,000/mo

40–60 hrs/month. Multi-framework compliance, fractional DPO, government contract advisory, CMMC readiness, post-quantum assessment. Complex environments.

The Onboarding Process

1

Week 1 — Discovery

Review of your current environment, systems, vendors, policies, cyber insurance, and regulatory obligations. No recommendations yet — just an accurate picture.

2

Week 2 — Assessment and Findings

Technology Sovereignty Risk Assessment delivered and reviewed with your leadership team. Findings briefing with every scored control explained.

3

Week 3 — Roadmap and Quick Wins

90-day prioritized roadmap delivered. Immediate, low-cost quick wins executed. Program infrastructure established.

4

Week 4 — Program Launch

First advisory session. Risk register delivered. Policy development begins. Board reporting schedule confirmed. Engagement in steady-state operation.

Free Resources

Download these documents to understand what a vCISO engagement delivers, evaluate the financial case, and see the type of work product you receive.

Sample Deliverable · PDF
vCISO Quarterly Board Report — Sample

A fully populated sample quarterly board report with executive dashboard, risk register, compliance status, and board action items. See exactly what you receive each quarter.

Download Free →
Template · PDF
vCISO Engagement Letter Template

Complete engagement letter with scope table, deliverables matrix, fee structure, client responsibilities, and mutual obligations. Review with counsel before use.

Download Free →
Guide · PDF
Cyber Insurance Application Walkthrough

Every major carrier questionnaire question, what they are really asking, what the correct answer looks like, and the misrepresentation risk of getting it wrong.

Download Free →
Checklist · PDF
vCISO 30-Day Onboarding Checklist

Week-by-week breakdown of every activity, deliverable, and decision point in the first 30 days. Know exactly what you will have in hand at the end of month one.

Download Free →
Guide · PDF
vCISO vs. Full-Time CISO: CFO Decision Guide

Full cost model, engagement tier comparison, decision framework, and ROI calculator. $565K average CISO comp vs. fractional economics — the numbers tell the story.

Download Free →
Self-Assessment · PDF
Technology Sovereignty Risk Assessment

Scored self-assessment across AI vendor risk, regulatory exposure, and cybersecurity maturity. Know your baseline before your first engagement session.

Download Free →

Ready to Build Your Security Program?

Schedule a complimentary 30-minute Technology Sovereignty Discovery Call. No sales team, no obligation. We review your current posture and give you an honest assessment of what it would take to address your gaps.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call [email protected]
The Sovereign Brief

Monthly insights on AI governance, privacy law, and cybersecurity.

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