Building a best-in-class security and compliance program requires expert leadership, but hiring a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and compliance team is a multi-million dollar commitment that's beyond the reach of most organizations. Without this expertise, businesses struggle with fragmented security efforts, compliance failures, and an inability to communicate risk effectively to leadership and stakeholders. This leadership gap leaves organizations vulnerable and unable to grow with confidence.
Total Assure's Managed GRC Services provide the solution. We offer Virtual CISO (vCISO) leadership and continuous compliance management at a fraction of the cost of building an internal team. Our seasoned executives become an integrated part of your organization, providing the strategic guidance, program management, and hands-on support needed to build and maintain a mature security posture. The key benefits are transformative: gain executive-level security leadership, maintain continuous compliance with ease, and free your team to focus on business growth.
Our Managed GRC Services provide more than advice—we provide active leadership and hands-on management of your security and compliance programs. We become your security team, integrated into your business.
Our methodology is a continuous, three-stage cycle:
We begin by embedding into your organization, learning your business model, risk tolerance, and strategic objectives. Your dedicated vCISO conducts a comprehensive review of your existing security posture and compliance obligations, then develops a strategic security roadmap aligned with your business goals. We establish governance structures, reporting rhythms, and success metrics.
Your vCISO actively manages your security program through regular engagement—attending leadership meetings, managing security initiatives, overseeing vendor relationships, and ensuring continuous compliance. We handle the day-to-day security operations, from policy updates and employee training to vendor risk assessments and compliance evidence collection. We become your voice of security in the organization.
Beyond operational management, we provide true executive leadership. Your vCISO reports to your board, communicates with auditors and customers, and represents your security posture to stakeholders. We translate technical risks into business language, help justify security investments, and ensure your security program enables rather than hinders business growth.
We leverage enterprise-grade GRC platforms to manage your compliance obligations, track security metrics, and maintain audit evidence. Our vCISOs bring best-in-class methodologies and frameworks, adapted to your specific business needs.
Typical engagement timeline:
Our Managed GRC Services provide comprehensive security leadership and compliance management, delivering enterprise capabilities at SMB-friendly costs.
The ROI for Managed GRC Services is immediate and substantial. For less than 20% of the cost of a full-time CISO and compliance team, you gain enterprise-level security leadership and continuous compliance management. This investment typically pays for itself through improved security posture, maintained compliance certifications, and the ability to win security-conscious customers.
A vCISO is an experienced security executive who serves as your organization's security leader on a fractional basis. Unlike consultants who provide advice and leave, a vCISO becomes an integrated part of your team, attending meetings, managing programs, and serving as your ongoing security leader.
Engagement levels vary based on your needs, typically ranging from 20-40 hours per month for most organizations. This includes regular on-site or virtual presence, continuous availability for urgent matters, and active program management. We scale the engagement to match your requirements and budget.
IT Directors focus on keeping technology running, while CISOs focus on managing risk and compliance. These are fundamentally different skill sets. A vCISO brings specialized security expertise, executive communication skills, and compliance knowledge that complement your IT team's technical capabilities.
Continuous Compliance means we actively manage your compliance programs year-round, not just during audit season. We maintain evidence, update policies, monitor controls, and ensure you're always audit-ready. This transforms compliance from an annual scramble into an efficient, ongoing process.
Our vCISOs are dedicated security professionals who spend their entire careers focused on security and compliance. We maintain memberships in professional organizations, attend industry conferences, and share knowledge across our team. This specialization ensures you benefit from the latest insights and best practices.
The effectiveness of a vCISO depends entirely on the quality and business acumen of the individual serving in that role. Our key differentiator is the caliber of our vCISOs. These aren't junior consultants with inflated titles—they're seasoned executives with decades of experience leading security programs at organizations of all sizes. They've sat in the CISO chair, reported to boards, managed incidents, and built successful programs.
Our vCISOs hold advanced certifications including CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control), and maintain active involvement in the security community. More importantly, they understand business, speaking the language of risk and value rather than just technology. With Total Assure, you get a true security executive who becomes a trusted part of your leadership team.
While Managed GRC provides leadership and oversight, these complementary services provide additional tactical support.
Many clients combine Managed GRC with our other services for comprehensive security program management.
Learn more about managed GRC, security program management, and continuous compliance.
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