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In recent years, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) have been facing mounting pressure from all sides. What was once a purely technical role has evolved into a high-stakes business leadership position, where burnout and personal liability are becoming growing concerns. With the complexities of cybersecurity continuing to expand and increase in scope, more CISOs are finding themselves choosing flexibility over a traditional full-time role. This shift towards consulting, particularly virtual CISO (vCISO) positions, is a trend that has been accelerating — but will it continue?
The Growing Demand for Virtual CISOs: A Shift in Cybersecurity Leadership
The role of the CISO has become more than just about securing an organization’s infrastructure; it has morphed into one of the most challenging positions in business today. The complexities of modern cybersecurity, coupled with personal accountability and regulatory pressures, have led to a growing sense of burnout among those in the position. High-profile cases like those of former Uber CISO Joseph Sullivan and SolarWinds’ Timothy Brown, who faced legal repercussions for breaches under their watch, have left many questioning the viability of the role.
As a result, many CISOs are turning to virtual CISO (vCISO) consulting gigs, where they can work across multiple companies, reduce personal liability, and regain control over their work-life balance. This has led to a significant drop in job satisfaction among full-time CISOs. According to a recent IANS Research report, CISO job satisfaction fell from 74% in 2022 to just 64% in 2023. Similarly, 70% of security leaders in a BlackFog survey cited personal liability as a factor negatively impacting their role perception.
The stress of the role is undeniable. The modern CISO is responsible for not just infrastructure and ransomware defense, but also for compliance with evolving regulations like the SEC’s cyber-incident disclosure rules. The internal balancing act of keeping security teams competent while securing the organization’s future through risk management is proving to be a daunting challenge.
In response to these pressures, the virtual CISO model has seen tremendous growth, particularly in small to midsize organizations that can’t afford a full-time security executive. As AI tools are becoming more integrated into cybersecurity practices, the vCISO market is projected to grow from $1.06 billion in 2024 to $1.48 billion by 2032.
However, while the vCISO model provides greater flexibility, there are concerns about the loss of deep organizational knowledge. Effective security leadership requires a deep understanding of the organization’s culture and its technology use, which is difficult to achieve remotely. Contractors, no matter how experienced, often lack the sense of ownership and urgency that full-time CISOs possess. Without consistent presence and the ability to influence company-wide behaviors, vCISOs might not offer the same level of security leadership as their full-time counterparts.
What Undercode Says:
The trend of CISO burnout and the rise of vCISOs signals a much larger issue within organizations: the unsustainable expectations placed on these security leaders. Companies increasingly rely on their CISOs to manage a growing number of risks — from data breaches to regulatory compliance and AI governance — all while maintaining transparent communication with the board. It’s a job that requires not only technical expertise but also a strategic business mindset.
One of the key factors contributing to this burnout is the unclear or unrealistic scope of responsibility that many CISOs face. Often, a CISO’s role extends beyond security to encompass other areas of business, such as sales, marketing, and product development. While it’s essential for a CISO to have a broad understanding of the business, the pressure to be an expert in every area is unreasonable. To truly support security leadership, organizations must provide the necessary resources and subject matter experts.
Additionally, CISOs often lack the authority or the right to make the decisions that would allow them to drive meaningful changes. Without sufficient board-level support and the power to influence critical decisions, even the most capable CISOs are doomed to fail. Without the backing of their leadership, they are left to juggle mounting pressures without the tools they need to succeed.
In the coming years, we may see a correction in how companies approach security leadership. Organizations will eventually recognize that effective security leadership requires consistent, on-the-ground presence. A virtual CISO might be a quick fix for some companies, but it cannot replace the hands-on leadership required for navigating complex security challenges. If boards and executives do not provide CISOs with the authority, resources, and support they need, they risk losing their security leaders to the growing ranks of vCISOs.
Ultimately, security leadership in the enterprise must be taken seriously. CISOs must feel empowered to make difficult decisions and be supported in their efforts to protect the organization. This will require companies to rethink how they structure and support security leadership, ensuring that they don’t lose their top talent to the virtual consulting market.
Fact Checker Results:
- The demand for vCISOs is growing, with a projected increase in market size from $1.06 billion in 2024 to $1.48 billion by 2032.
- According to surveys, a significant number of CISOs are reporting increased burnout due to the growing scope of their responsibilities.
- Legal accountability for data breaches has made the CISO role increasingly untenable for some, driving more professionals to consulting positions.
References:
Reported By: https://www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/why-security-leaders-opting-consulting-gigs
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