We’ve all heard it a million times: the growing demand for robust cybersecurity in the face of growing cyber threats is undeniable. Around the world, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly being targeted by cyberattacks, but they often lack the resources for dedicated chief information security officers (CISOs). This gap is fueling the growth of the virtual CISO (vCISO) model, which offers a cost-effective solution and gives SMBs access to strategic security leadership.
For MSPs and MSSPs, this shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity. More than 94% of service providers recognize a growing need for vCISO services, but more than 25% of providers say they lack the cybersecurity and compliance knowledge needed to provide vCISO services.
This gap is exactly why vCISO Academy was created — to provide service providers with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this evolving world.
The vCISO Academy is a free professional learning platform is designed to provide service providers with the knowledge and training they need to build and grow their vCISO offerings, helping them better serve their customers and strengthen their cybersecurity resilience.
Growing demand for vCISO services
Demand for vCISO services has grown in recent years, driven by the increasing frequency and complexity of cyberattacks on small and medium-sized businesses. The most recent vCISO polling status (2024), who surveyed 200 senior security executives, showed that 94% service providers see the demand for vCISOs services and 98% service providers that do not currently offer vCISO services plan to introduce them in the foreseeable future. This underscores the critical importance of vCISO services for MSPs and MSSPs, not only as a way to meet growing demand, but also to remain competitive in a market where cybersecurity has become a business imperative.
Lack of experience in providing vCISO services
While the market for vCISO services is expanding rapidly, many MPSs and MSSPs struggle to offer these services due to a lack of in-house expertise and resources. In fact, more than 25% of service providers report that they do not have the necessary expertise to offer comprehensive vCISO services.
Service providers are often hesitant to offer vCISO services due to the complexity of the role, which requires a combination of technical expertise, regulatory knowledge and business strategy alignment. In addition, they face challenges such as resource constraints, uncertainty about whether the necessary staff or budget will be available, and concerns about scaling services without undue strain.
The vCISO Academy was created to help MSPs and MSSPs address these challenges. It provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap that simplifies the process, allowing service providers to start and expand their vCISO offerings with confidence.
How the vCISO Academy fills this critical gap
The vCISO Academy provides hands-on, hands-on training designed to equip service providers with the training and knowledge they need to develop and scale vCISO offerings.
Key features of the academy include:
- Expert guidance from industry experts sharing their practical knowledge and experience across a wide range of core vCISO functions, including risk and compliance assessment, cybersecurity strategy development, and effective risk communication to executives.
- Self-study allows you to access videos, tools and resources anytime, anywhere.
- Interactive platform which contains exercises and real-world examples to reinforce understanding.
The Academy empowers MSPs and MSSPs to not only confidently offer vCISO services, but also create new revenue streams, improve customer relationships, and ensure their customers’ cybersecurity resilience.
Empowering MSPs and MSSPs to accelerate their vCISO journey
By addressing the knowledge gap and providing structured, accessible training, the vCISO Academy enables service providers to:
- Expand your view: The vCISO Academy provides a deeper understanding of what it means to be a vCISO with specialized training to address the cybersecurity gap. By helping equip professionals with vCISO expertise, the Academy helps fill a critical gap in the industry, ensuring businesses have access to the security leadership they need.
- Expanding opportunities for professional growth: The vCISO Academy is designed to advance the careers of professionals by developing their vCISO skills, positioning them as trusted advisors and making them invaluable to their clients. Courses are created by industry experts who share practical knowledge and real-world experience.
- Profitably expand services and strengthen customer relationships: For MSPs and MSSPs, adding vCISO services is a strategic move that opens up new revenue streams and strengthens customer relationships.
With the vCISO Academy, MSPs and MSSPs are better positioned to take advantage of new opportunities in the vCISO market while meeting the critical security needs of small and medium businesses.
Start your vCISO journey with the vCISO Academy
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, the vCISO role is becoming a cornerstone of success for MSPs and MSSPs. The vCISO Academy offers an invaluable resource to help service providers gain the experience they need to succeed in this competitive space. Whether you’re building your vCISO services or planning to expand, vCISO Academy offers the tools, knowledge, and support you need to grow your business and serve your customers more effectively.
Start your journey with a visit vCISO Academy today and take the first step toward expanding your cybersecurity services and driving business growth. Together, we can ensure that businesses of all sizes have access to the cybersecurity leadership they need to stay safe.
