[ VIRTUAL CISO ]
vCISO for Startups
Enterprise buyers are asking for SOC 2 reports. Investors are asking for security posture evidence at Series A and beyond. You don’t have six months to hire a CISO and build a security team. Our vCISO for Startups retainer gives you a senior security leader from day one — who understands seed-to-scale pressures and knows how to build security that grows with you.
Security that keeps pace with your growth stage
Enterprise security consultants build frameworks designed for 2,000-person organisations. Startups don’t need a 300-page ISMS on day one; they need the right controls in the right order, implemented fast enough that security never blocks a deal or delays a fundraise. Our vCISO for Startups approach is stage-aware: Seed companies get security foundations and basic hygiene; Series A companies get compliance readiness and investor-facing artefacts; Series B+ companies get a mature, auditable programme.
We work inside your existing stack — Notion, Linear, Slack, AWS, GCP. We don’t insist on enterprise GRC tools until you’re big enough to need them. Security questionnaires from enterprise prospects? We complete them. Data room security section for the next round? We own it. SOC 2 audit in six months? We prepare you.
Security from zero to audit-ready
Security Foundations
Identity & access management, MFA enforcement, endpoint policy, secrets management, cloud security baseline (AWS/GCP/Azure), incident response runbooks, and a documented security policy suite — the controls that auditors check first and that enterprise buyers demand upfront.
SOC 2 & ISO 27001 Prep
Gap analysis against SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria and/or ISO 27001 Annex A. Evidence collection guidance, control implementation support, and auditor coordination — designed to get you to a clean audit report as fast as your engineering team can close the gaps.
Investor Due Diligence Readiness
Security section of the data room, completed security questionnaires, pentest reports with remediation evidence, and an executive-facing security summary your lead investor can hand to their technical advisors. Built to pass Series A, B, and growth-stage due diligence.
Security Awareness Training
Onboarding security training for new hires, phishing simulation, and quarterly security all-hands. Completion records maintained for SOC 2 CC1.4 and ISO 27001 A.6.3. Your team builds good habits without you having to own the programme.
vCISO for Startups — Frequently Asked Questions
When does a startup need a vCISO?
A startup typically needs a vCISO when one or more of the following applies: enterprise prospects are sending security questionnaires; investors are asking about security posture or requiring SOC 2; you handle significant volumes of personal data subject to GDPR or HIPAA; you operate in a regulated sector (fintech, healthtech, legaltech, insurtech); or you’re approaching Series A and expect security due diligence in the data room. Startups are disproportionately targeted by phishing and supply-chain attacks — attackers know early-stage companies have weak controls and valuable data.
How much does vCISO for startups cost?
Our vCISO for Startups retainer starts from €2,000/month for seed and pre-Series A companies, and €2,500–€3,500/month for Series A companies with active SOC 2 or ISO 27001 obligations. Early-stage companies get a lighter retainer focused on security foundations and questionnaire support; later-stage companies get a fuller programme including board reporting and audit support. All retainers include on-call incident response leadership.
Can a vCISO help with Series A security due diligence?
Yes — this is one of the most common engagements we run for startups. A Series A security due diligence review typically covers: existence and quality of a security policy suite; evidence of access control and MFA enforcement; pentest history and remediation evidence; GDPR or data protection posture; incident response capability; and SOC 2 or ISO 27001 status. We build the security section of your data room, complete the technical questionnaires your lead investor sends, and prepare a one-page executive security summary for non-technical investors and board members.
How quickly can a startup get security compliant?
Security foundations (policy suite, access controls, cloud baseline, endpoint policy) can be in place within 4–8 weeks for a typical 20–50-person startup. SOC 2 Type I readiness takes 3–5 months from a standing start; Type II requires an additional 6–12-month observation period. ISO 27001 certification typically takes 5–9 months. The timeline depends heavily on your current posture and how fast your engineering team can close remediation items. Our gap analysis in week one gives you an accurate estimate before you commit to a compliance programme.
Security that doesn’t slow your growth
Tell us your stage, your next milestone, and what’s blocking your security programme — we’ll design a vCISO engagement that fits.
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