Cybersecurity Strategy & external CISO for Startups and SMEs

Carolin provides external Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and cybersecurity services for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs.

I help company leaders understand their cybersecurity risks, establish the right security structures, meet client and regulatory requirements, and turn cybersecurity into a managed business function.

The focus is on practical security, clear priorities and implementation.

A CISO — Chief Information Security Officer — is responsible for an organization's information security strategy, governance and risk management.

An external or fractional CISO provides this leadership on a part-time or project basis rather than as a full-time employee.

This gives companies access to senior cybersecurity expertise without having to build a complete internal security function.

You should consider an external CISO when cybersecurity has become important enough that someone needs to own it at management level, but hiring a full-time CISO is not yet necessary.

A typical trigger is:

“We know cybersecurity matters, but we don't have a clear picture of our risks, priorities and responsibilities.”

You do not need to wait for a security incident.

I help when companies face situations such as:

• Rapid growth without corresponding security structures
• Enterprise customers demanding security documentation
• Security questionnaires that are difficult to answer because measures are not implemented yet
• Upcoming audits or certifications
• NIS2, DORA, CRA or other regulatory requirements
• Security risks across SaaS, cloud and third-party providers
• Increasing use of AI tools and AI-powered products
• "Cleaning up" after security incidents or finding serious vulnerabilities
• Lack of security policies and processes
• Investors, partners or customers asking for evidence of security controls
• Preparation for a new market, major client, investment or acquisition

While all leaders and future cybersecurity leads are invited to sign up for the Cy Guide "From Zero to Cybersecurity Certification" I usually only work with 2-3 hand-picked CISO clients personally and at the same time. 

Startup/ SME IT teams normally have no additional capacities to build and maintain a full holistic cybersecurity strategy.

But it's not necessary to wait until you hire/ find a full-time CISO.

Your IT team typically focuses on keeping systems running and supporting users.

A CISO provides the answers to questions like:

- What are our critical risks?

- What security controls do we need?

- Which risks are acceptable?

- Who is responsible for the 60+  different aspects of security?

- How do we meet regulatory and customer requirements?

- How do we manage security across suppliers?

- How do we prepare for incidents?

- How do we measure security performance?

An external CISO can work alongside your existing IT team rather than replacing it!

No.

Your IT provider(s) continues with managing infrastructure, endpoints, cloud environments, networks, 24/7 infrastructure scanning, alerts, incident response and other technical services.

I help you build the security strategy, governance, risk management and coordination around those activities.

I also help management define what should be expected from an IT provider and how security performance should be measured.

The engagement can include assessment, strategy, implementation support and ongoing management.

I can work directly with management, IT, development teams, HR, legal, external IT providers and other stakeholders to turn security requirements into practical actions.

Where appropriate, I help define requirements, prioritize controls and coordinate implementation.

I am not intended to replace specialist technical providers for every technical task. Instead I help them find gaps and adjust their work processes to comply with the new cybersecurity level.

For example, implementation of endpoint protection, network infrastructure, penetration testing or SOC services may be performed by specialist partners or the company's existing IT team, while I give an overview of all needed measures and observe the effectiveness.

My role is to ensure that these measures form part of a coherent long-term security strategy.

A full-time CISO ist often too expensive and too often wasting time with waiting for replies when working for just 1 startup or SME.

An external CISO provides access to senior security leadership without the cost and commitment of a permanent executive hire.

It can be particularly useful when you need experienced security leadership for:

- A kick-start for your cybersecurity strategy
- A defined transformation
- A regulatory requirement that has to be fulfilled in time
- Customer or audit requirements
- A period of rapid growth and/ or additional investments with additional security risks
-  Building an initial security function or team and defining the foundations before
- Ongoing part-time security management to support IT and leadership

Traditional consulting often focuses on analysis and recommendations, has a longer time to implementation.

The external CISO model adds ongoing ownership, prioritization and implementation support.

The question is not only:

“What security gaps do we have?”

It's more :

“What do we fix first, who is responsible, and how do we know that our security is improving?”

My CISO project clients receive a mapping of their attack suface and holistic cybersecurity stratgy incl. a project timeline with milestones and we agree to reach those in time. They are not left alone with slides. 

A typical engagement has four stages:

1. Understand

I listen and understand your business, technology, data, people, suppliers and existing security measures.

2. Assess

Then I identify relevant risks, vulnerabilities, requirements and organizational gaps.

3. Prioritize

We determine which issues matter most and what needs to happen first.

4. Implement & manage

We turn priorities into actions, assign responsibility and establish processes for continuous improvement.

The exact approach is adapted to the company and objective. It depends on the scope as well, especially for group or holding structures.

SME clients normally need 6-12 months to build a cybersecurity culture, establish all needed measures and prepare for certification. 

I offer 3, 6 or 12 months of CISO Support. Depending on the client's needs and budget. Some clients use it as kick-start for their cybersecurity strategy and create an internal cybersecurity project lead role. Others book CISO packages regularly.

The Cy Guide "From Zero to Cybersecurity Certification" starts with intensive 12 weeks of regular input and access . also to community events - is active for 12 months. 

My clients are primarily start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs with up to ca. 1000 employees.

The relevant factor is not simply the number of employees. Corporates also use the Cy Guide "From Zero to Cybersecurity Certification" for efficient vendor risk management or to train their sales teams. 

On the other side, also a smaller AI, Quantum or SaaS company can have significant cybersecurity requirements because of its technology, client base, data or regulatory environment.

The service is particularly relevant for companies that have outgrown informal security management but do not yet need a full-time CISO.

I empower CxOs and management teams to clearly answer cybersecurity challenges and implement needed measures.

The result is a structured and managed cybersecurity strategy with precise project management and goals, rather than a collection of disconnected security activities.

Yes.

Actually, secure use or deveelopment of AI is much easier, less risky and more cost-efficient if the company has a clear cybersecurity strategy implemented first!

Depending on the use case, my work includes understanding how employees use or build AI tools, defining responsibilities, policies, risk management, security requirements, documentation and governance processes around AI use.

AI governance should be aligned with the company's actual risks and regulatory obligations rather than treated as a stand-alone exercise.

Yes.

All of my clients fall under one of these regulations or are business partners of regulated clients. 

I am also part of different EU expert groups and global cybersecurity networks, so you always get latest information and rumours about regulations and actions of authorities. 

As part of our CISO project, I can help assess your security posture, identify relevant gaps and establish or improve the processes and controls needed to address applicable cybersecurity requirements.

Whether and how NIS2, DORA or CRA applies depends on the company's sector, size, services and jurisdiction!

I work with specialised lawyers to establish the company's specific regulatory situation.

Yes.

Following an established global framework and do annual audits to maintain a certification is actually the easiest way to keep your cybersecurity strategy lean and cost-efficient - including answering client requests and those from authorities in time.

Or as I say in a Cy Guide "From Zero to Cybersecurity Certification" video:

Building a cybersecurity strategy and not get it certified, is like studying for 20 years and never write a test. :-)

All clients get acces to the Cy Guide "From Zero to Cybersecurity Certification" for 12 months, also in addition to their CISO Support package.

So the cybersecurity strategy does not freeze on a certain level after working together. There are still regular updates, community events and alerts in case attack scenarios are evolving.

The objective is to build sustainable security capabilities rather than create unnecessary dependency.