What CMMC Readiness Looks Like (from a Real Compliance Partner)
Discover what true CMMC readiness looks like with Total Assure. Get expert guidance, a clear compliance roadmap, and the support needed to prepare for CMMC requirements.
Managed GRC Services: Expert Leadership and Continuous Compliance, Simplified
The Challenge and Our Solution
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.
How It Works: Embedded Leadership That Drives Results
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 Process Overview:
Our methodology is a continuous, three-stage cycle:
Stage 1
Strategic Onboarding and Program Integration
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.
Stage 2
Operational Rhythm and Continuous Monitoring
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.
Stage 3
Executive Leadership and Advisory
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.
Technology and Timeline:
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:
Month 1
(Onboarding): Deep dive into your business, initial assessments, and development of 90-day action plan.
Quarter 1
(Integration): Establish governance rhythms, launch priority initiatives, and achieve quick security wins.
Ongoing
(Continuous Management): Regular vCISO engagement (typically 20-40 hours/month), ongoing compliance management, and strategic program evolution.
Features & Benefits: Complete Security Leadership as a Service
Our Managed GRC Services provide comprehensive security leadership and compliance management, delivering enterprise capabilities at SMB-friendly costs.
Feature
Detailed Description
Business Impact & Benefit
Virtual CISO (vCISO) Services
A seasoned security executive serves as your fractional CISO, providing strategic leadership, program management, and executive representation at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
Executive Security Leadership. You gain C-level security expertise without the C-level salary, getting the strategic guidance needed to align security with business objectives and communicate effectively with boards and stakeholders.
Ongoing Compliance Management
We actively manage your compliance programs (SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, etc.), maintaining evidence, updating documentation, coordinating audits, and ensuring continuous adherence to requirements.
Effortless Compliance Maintenance. You maintain certifications and meet regulatory requirements without the overhead of a full compliance team, turning compliance from a burden into a competitive advantage.
Regulatory Change Monitoring and Response
We continuously monitor the regulatory landscape for changes affecting your business, translating new requirements into actionable plans and ensuring your program evolves with the threat and compliance landscape.
Future-Proof Compliance. You stay ahead of regulatory changes without dedicating resources to constant monitoring, ensuring your program remains current and defensible.
Security Program and Budget Management
Your vCISO develops and manages your security budget, oversees security projects, manages vendor relationships, and ensures optimal ROI on security investments.
Optimized Security Spending. You maximize the value of every security dollar through expert program management, avoiding wasteful spending while ensuring comprehensive protection.
Incident Response and Crisis Leadership
When security incidents occur, your vCISO leads the response, coordinating technical teams, managing communications, and ensuring proper handling from detection through recovery and lessons learned.
Expert Crisis Management. You have experienced leadership ready to handle security incidents, minimizing damage and ensuring professional response that protects your reputation and operations.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What exactly is a Virtual CISO (vCISO)?
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.
Q2: How much time does a vCISO typically dedicate to our organization?
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.
Q3: We have an IT Director. Why do we need a vCISO?
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.
Q4: What does 'Continuous Compliance' mean?
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.
Q5: How do you stay current with changing regulations and threats?
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.
Why Choose Total Assure for Managed GRC Services?
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.
Related Services That Enhance Your Managed GRC Program
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.
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