Packages & Subscriptions

External CISO

Cybersecurity doesn't work as an afterthought. Anyone who hopes the internal IT department can handle strategy somewhere between helpdesk tickets and server maintenance is playing with fire. An external CISO from neonotu brings C-level expertise directly to your table. We take on strategic leadership in IT security management and protect your digital assets.

The starting point

Your setup at a glance:

Flexible & needs-based: You only pay for the service you actually need.
Cost-efficient: No massive costs for an internal full-time position.
Resilient: Your company becomes resilient against modern threats.

A dark architectural model of an entire company site seen from above. Buildings, yards and paths are visible at once, with thin lines tracing their connections.

The approach

Why an On-Demand Chief Information Security Officer Is the Solution

A dedicated Chief Information Security Officer for a down-to-earth SME — sounds like overkill? A dangerous misconception. Because the engine room of the economy is exactly where the heart of innovation beats. Behind unremarkable, sometimes plain factory gates lie blueprints, patents, and secret specialized knowledge. That makes these companies a coveted target — not just for ordinary cybercriminals, but increasingly for state-sponsored shadow actors hunting for industrial espionage.

Anyone navigating cyber defense in this environment without a clear course is serving up their digital assets on a silver platter. Strategic guidance from an IT Security Officer (ITSiBe) / Chief Information Security Officer draws clear red lines here and turns a reactive IT department into a resilient organization. Our vCISO service (virtual CISO) delivers exactly this management power on demand:

Clear translation

Highly complex IT risk situations are turned into understandable recommendations for action for management.

Strategy

We develop your information security strategy and synchronize it seamlessly with your business and organizational goals.

Network

You gain access to extensive experience — without the constraints of rigid staffing structures.

The role

The IT Security Officer as Crisis Manager and Strategist

It's not enough to simply set up a few new firewalls. An Information Security Officer has to see the bigger picture. This also lets you effortlessly meet your statutory organizational obligations. The non-negotiable core tasks of our experts include:

Initiating, planning, and seamlessly implementing the IT security concept.

IT emergency planning to maintain ongoing operations during and after critical security incidents.

Mature disaster recovery concepts for the seamless protection of your business.

We prepare you for the worst, so that it never actually happens.

The offering

Your External CISO for Top-Tier IT Security

More Than Compliance: ISO 27001 and Baseline IT Security (IT-Grundschutz)

Still, ISO 27001 or the strict requirements set by Germany's BSI are indispensable for regulated industries. However, we don't reduce baseline IT security (IT-Grundschutz) to a tedious checklist for the auditor. Instead, it serves as a solid foundation for a resilient system. We embed these standards deep within your daily business and production processes — in a way that doesn't slow down your day-to-day operations. This way, security is actively lived by the workforce instead of gathering dust as a toothless compliance alibi in a drawer.

A glowing grid lies flat like a foundation. From it a solid dark structure rises, visibly carried by that grid.

A certificate on the wall does not stop a ransomware attack.

The scope

Information Security Officer (CISO): From Audits to Building a SOC

As your Information Security Officer, we cover the entire operational and strategic spectrum. Our roadmap looks like this:

Stocktaking

A sober analysis and review of the current state of your systems.

Optimization

Systematic IT risk treatment.

Emergency assistance

Proven crisis management when push comes to shove.

Scaling

Building and optimizing SOC teams (Security Operations Center) for seamless, proactive monitoring of networks.

The distinction

Rigid Consulting Constructs Compared to Agile vCISOs

The market for cybersecurity services is still full of classic, and unfortunately somewhat sluggish, consulting structures.

neonotu works differently: our vCISO service scales agilely with your requirements. We don't impose rigid standard concepts on you; instead, we adapt dynamically to changes in your organization and your growth. The objective outside perspective uncovers blind spots that often go unnoticed internally.

Benchmarks of International Information Security

When developing our defense strategies, we draw on internationally recognized best practices and established frameworks. However, we always combine adherence to these high standards with very pragmatic implementation. Merely describing processes on paper isn't enough for us; in-depth IT audits and regular security audits ensure measurable security in real day-to-day business.

Two forms stand side by side on the same rocky ground: on the left a rigid box touching the ground only in places, on the right a glowing surface following every contour.

Day to day

What Does an External CISO Deliver Day to Day?

The demands on information security grow every day and threaten to overwhelm internal teams. As your strategic partner at the C-level, we bring structure to this complex chaos. We don't just steer your digital defense from a bird's-eye view — we make results measurable: using smart tools like the IT scorecard, we present relevant metrics transparently. This makes the continuous improvement of your information security level tangible for all stakeholders and establishes IT security not as an annoying cost factor, but as genuine business value.

Quality and Certification: Training to Become an IT Security Officer

“He who truly wins is the one who does not fight.”

What the strategist Sun Tzu knew over 2,500 years ago is, today, the top commandment of cyber defense: an attack that's already repelled by a vigilant team in advance spares you the exhausting fight of incident response. Solid know-how is your strongest line of defense. The expertise of our specialists — backed by a recognized personal certification or demanding training as an IT Security Officer — forms the foundation. But we don't keep this knowledge to ourselves. In our hands-on cybersecurity and defense workshops, we turn your employees into an active firewall. The focus areas for all training participants:

Understanding the current threat landscape.

Applying practical defense strategies in a targeted way.

Strengthening response capability in real emergencies through hands-on exercises.

Establishing awareness of digital threats as a fixed part of company culture.

Delivery

Operational Excellence through Experienced IT Security Officers

The role of our IT Security Officers goes far beyond mere consultant rhetoric. We provide operational support in integrating security solutions into existing IT systems. Our primary focus is always on ensuring:

Every measure taken is consistently aligned with your specific business needs.

Confidentiality and comprehensive data protection

Integrity and authenticity

Availability of your sensitive data as well as all business-critical content

Standards

Networks and Established Standards for IT Security Officers (ITSiBe)

Whether we follow the established guidelines for IT Security Officers (ITSiBe) or use international frameworks — our standards are uncompromising. We combine practical, lived experience with a comprehensive understanding of how the 270xx series of standards work together. This enables the creation of a highly efficient Information Security Management System (ISMS) that drastically minimizes your attack surface and locks hackers out.

In closing

Flexible Subscription Model: Holistic Security, Fairly Priced

Professional security needs continuity, not rushed ad hoc projects. That's why we offer our vCISO service as a fair, predictable subscription model:

Predictability: A minimum term of 6 months with the option for long-term renewal. This timeframe provides sufficient opportunity for thorough IT security certifications and sustainable process optimizations.
Holistic approach: We are your reliable point of contact for all information security matters — from the initial review of a single page on your website to full compliance across your entire organization.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which companies is neonotu's vCISO service particularly suited for?

Our model is aimed at companies that want top-tier CISO expertise but can't justify the cost of a full-time position. Our clients in heavily regulated industries, growing companies, and IT teams that need strategic support benefit especially.

What advantage does an external IT Security Officer offer over an internal solution?

An experienced IT Security Officer brings up-to-date expertise from many different client projects. You avoid the lengthy search for expensive IT management specialists, benefit immediately from highly qualified experts, and bypass the so-called “operational blindness” that's often the cause of security risks.

What does the operational support provided by the Information Security Officer include?

Advice alone doesn't stop attackers — that's why we get hands-on operationally. We manage the implementation of the IT security concept and support your IT department (or external service providers) with operational implementation. At the same time, we train your staff for real emergencies and guide you safely through complex audits until you're holding the relevant certificate in your hands.

How does the integration of an IT Security Officer (ITSiBe) / Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) work?

Everything starts with an initial assessment. We analyze your current security situation, examine your networks, and identify the most critical areas for action. Based on that, we develop a tailored strategy with individual tasks and move directly into implementation and ongoing advisory support.

Are your experts qualified for regulatory requirements such as baseline IT security (IT-Grundschutz)?

Yes. Our experts hold recognized personal certifications (e.g., ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor / Lead Implementer, BSI IT-Grundschutz Consultant, CISM, CISSP). They bring the necessary background and credentials to demonstrate the highest level of professional expertise.

How binding is the service, and how transparent are the costs?

We aim for long-term success through ongoing collaboration. The model starts with a minimum term of 6 months. The costs, compared to an internal executive, are extremely efficient and transparently calculable.

Do you also handle crisis management in an actual emergency?

Yes. When a security incident occurs, your vCISO is immediately on hand to respond quickly, calmly, and effectively. The disaster recovery concepts prepared in advance ensure that your organization remains capable of acting and that downtime is minimized.

Packages & Subscriptions

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