Why Bedel Security vCISO Services?

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest risks banks and credit unions face today.

If you’re like most community banks and credit unions you’re committed to reducing cyber risk, but you’re not sure what the best approach for your institution is. You might not have the full picture of your risk, or if you do, you don’t know whether you should accept it, or spend money to try to mitigate it.

And just when it feels like you decide on a direction, circumstances change leading to frustration and uncertainty.

What is a CISO?

In national institutions, where resources seem almost unlimited, a full-time, in-house Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is the person who leads the charge to alleviate these frustrations.

They are the starting point for the proactive management and expertise needed to run a successful information security program.

They set the policies, provide oversight, and communicate with the management team on risk-based decisions in order to run the financial institutions’ (FIs) information security program in an efficient, effective way.

The CISO is one of the key components to an effective information security program, and an experienced one can range from $100K - $200K+ per year in salary.

The trouble is that not just national financial institutions are required to have an ISO or CISO, but every financial institution regardless of size and budget are required to have one.

IT & Operations- They make sure that your computers are working, software is up to date, and provide support to your end users. They also need to be the first to respond to a cyber incident.
Monitoring- These guys watch the firewall, SIEM, and other perimeter security alerts. They notify IT staff when something looks out of the ordinary.
CISO- This person works with the other 2 roles to manage and lead cybersecurity. They make suggestions to manage risk. The CISO helps to set policy, provides monitoring oversight, and is a resource in incident response.
Audit– The audit function tests the controls that have been designed and implemented to manage cyber risks. This includes general controls as well as technical assessments, like penetration testing.

Some institutions can keep all of these roles independent while still being 100% in-house. Other institutions find they need to outsource one or more of these roles to keep them all independent. There are a wide variety of possible combinations to best fit an institution’s needs. One of those possibilities is a virtual CISO or ISO.

What is a virtual CISO?

When some or all parts of the CISO role are outsourced, that’s what we refer to as a “Virtual CISO”. You may also hear it called CISO-as-a-service, outsourced CISO, or fractional CISO. Sometimes the term ISO is used instead of CISO. It’s a concept that is becoming more commonplace and there are a number of firms that offer this as a service.

A Virtual CISO provides benefits like quick program setup, access to high-level expertise, less turnover, scalability, and reduced management overhead.

Which is great, but we still have a problem...

The Common Problem with vCISO Services

The problem with many Virtual CISO or ISO offerings is that they are time-based, meaning that they are billed by the hour. The provider may tell you that you are getting a block of hours, or so many days per month, but the deliverables are vague, other than the time that they will spend on your organization.

You should seek a vCISO that offers defined outcomes and strategic support, helping them address the growing cybersecurity skills gap and maintain a clear, structured security program.

This solution brings more than just “a seat at the table”—it delivers peace of mind with measurable, consistent cybersecurity improvements.

Our Solution:
Bedel Security vCISO Services Powered by our Proprietary CySPOT™ Platform

With decades of cybersecurity experience in financial institutions and 9+ years of vCISO work in banks and credit unions nationwide, we've developed a tailored solution that sets the standard for excellence—our Virtual CISO services, powered by the proprietary CySPOT™ platform.

The CySPOT™ Platform is built specifically for Bedel Security’s experts to manage and enhance your institution’s Information Security Program. Unlike traditional GRC systems, CySPOT™ offers streamlined workflows, continuous tracking, and proactive security management to ensure your institution's security posture is always advancing. As cybersecurity evolves, CySPOT™ is regularly updated, keeping you ahead of the ever-changing landscape. This allows you to focus on being bankers instead of cybersecurity experts.

Our vCISO services are delivered to you with a high-touch, team approach, you get a dedicated vCISO Senior Advisor with a CISSP or equivalent certification and a dedicated vCISO Specialist, both ready to hit the ground running from day one.

Laser focus

We are dedicated to delivering vCISO services exclusively to community financial institutions.

Proven process

You get consistent, high-quality deliverables that have been examined and audited numerous times.

Efficient by design

You get your consistent, high-quality deliverables at an affordable cost.

High-touch service

You get a partner to work with. Not a login, not a checklist, but human beings who are there to answer your questions and help where you need it most.

Modular by design

You only pay for what you need and you can start making improvements immediately. Our modules are customizable to fit around other outside contractual services or in-house staff, and scalable to meet your changing needs.

High-level expertise

Every vCISO Senior Advisor on our staff has their CISM, CISSP, or equivalent certification.

Grouped by asset size

You get the essentials of what is appropriate for the size and complexity of your financial institution, rather than a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

Team approach

Each client is assigned both a vCISO Senior Advisor and a vCISO Specialist to work with.

You feel less impact if turnover occurs and get outside perspective on industry trends.

Straightforward pricing

Our proposals are transparent and easy to understand so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

Why Bedel Security vCISO Services?

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest risks banks and credit unions face today.

What is a CISO?

Where does a CISO fit into an Information Security Program?

Those 4 main roles are:

What is a virtual CISO?

The Common Problem with vCISO Services

After years of intention, we've made our services Repeatable., Efficient., Resilient., Customizable., Scalable., Affordable.

Our Solution:
Bedel Security vCISO Services Powered by our Proprietary CySPOT™ Platform