Elevating the industry by training professionals who don’t just know, but can effectively do.
Complexity undermines security, and our rapid tech adoption has outpaced responsible use. SecurityStudio Academy offers unconventional training, prioritizing practical skills over theoretical expertise. We aim to create professionals who excel beyond ego, with a focus on action. Upholding high standards and accountability is central to our mission.
SecurityStudio built the Certified virtual Chief Information Security Officer (CvCISO®) Program to establish the industry standard for vCISO quality and qualifications. If you aspire to become a vCISO, be a better vCISO, and/or want to start or grow a legitimate vCISO practice, this is the path for you.
All CvCISO® training starts with the official SecurityStudio Certified virtual Chief Information Security Officer Course (CvCISO-1). Additional courses will be required for CvCISOs® who wish to serve more complex organizations or in slightly different capacities.
There are experiential requirements for CvCISOs. Each CvCISO® level requires a different amount and type of experience as noted under each level.
The value of community cannot be undersold. The CvCISO community is exclusive to CvCISOs and offers the opportunity for mentorship, validation, friendship, and career advancement.
If you plan to earn a CvCISO certification, all certification levels start with the CvCISO-1 course prerequisite. However, if you’re not interested in certification, you can enroll in any of our advanced courses that meet your training needs without the CvCISO-1 course prerequisite.
Progressing through the CvCISO levels is dependent upon training, experience, and collaboration with others in the CvCISO community. Training, experience, and community are each essential in certifying and maintaining the best vCISOs in the industry.
SecurityStudio’s CvCISO Academy, working with post-secondary schools, has developed the TEACH™ program to bridge the talent shortage of information security professionals. The emphasis for TEACH™ Program is focused on education and practical experience.
Learn moreThe CvCISO Program is a registered training program provider with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS).
Learn moreThe CvCISO Program is the training and development program for equipping new and experienced vCISOs with the knowledge, tools, and practical experience necessary to build and lead information security programs for organizations of all sizes.
The CvCISO Program was developed by information security experts with hundreds of successful vCISO engagements over the course of 20+ years. The lead developer of the CvCISO Program is Evan Francen, co-founder of FRSecure and SecurityStudio, and an information security leader who has served hundreds of organizations himself. Evan is also the author of UNSECURITY, a book included in the prestigious Cybersecurity Cannon (https://icdt.osu.edu/news/2020/10/cyber-canon-book-review-unsecurity).
The CvCISO-1 course was developed and piloted to the first group of students in late 2021. The first certified CvCISO was awarded in Spring 2022.
SecurityStudio is committed to quality before quantity; however, both are important. There are 137 CvCISOs at the time of this writing (May 2024).
A CvCISO/vCISO is a person who serves the best interests of their customer by building and/or leading an organization’s information security program.
One of the many things you’ll learn in the CvCISO Program is complexity is the worst enemy of information security.
Simply put, a vCISO:
1. Consults an organization to make good information security risk decisions.
2. Implements the organization’s information security risk decisions to the best of their ability.
There are many supporting tasks and projects; however, all tasks and projects support these two simple concepts.
Simple. A CvCISO provides the best value to an organization for building and/or leading the best information security program that’s appropriate for them.
Yes. We designed the CvCISO Program to equip new vCISOs and experienced vCISOs alike. We do this through the definition of CvCISO Levels. Read more (Link to Level Page) about our The CvCISO Program is designed for everyone from college students to career changers to seasoned information security veterans.
The CvCISO Program is targeted to everyone who wants to be a vCISO and everyone who wants to be a better vCISO. The CvCISO Program has helped people start their own vCISO practice, people who want to work in a vCISO practice, and those who already work within a vCISO practice.
Yes. Upon completion of all CvCISO training courses students receive a certificate of completion and CPEs/CEUs.
The first course in the CvCISO Program is the Certified virtual Chief Information Security Officer (CvCISO-1) course. This course is mandatory for all CvCISOs regardless of experience and it costs $3,000. The cost covers all the necessary materials, course instruction, exam, and CvCISO Community access. There are no other costs or hidden fees.
Contact the SecurityStudio CvCISO Program Director at training@securitystudio.com for potential scholarship opportunities.
The CvCISO Program is the best vCISO training program in the industry, setting the standard for vCISO quality and performance. Students learn how to be great vCISOs through the right mix of information security fundamentals, the use of real-world tools, and hands-on experience with live customers.
Start with enrollment in the next Certified virtual Chief Information Security Officer (CvCISO-1) course. This is the foundational course for all CvCISOs.
Contact the SecurityStudio CvCISO Program Director at training@securitystudio.com and we’ll be happy to help.
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