Services for your organisation

Hire a CISO or Security Officer

Improve your information security with (CI)SO as a Service

More and more organisations recognise the importance of solid information security but don’t always have the internal capacity or expertise to approach it professionally. With CISO as a Service, you gain access to an experienced external Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Security Officer who organises and embeds information security strategically and practically within your organisation.

As a (CI)SO, I adapt to the organisation while also providing direction. Translating ISO 27001 and our framework into practical action requires a step-by-step approach — realistic yet focused.

Patrick van der Weide

Contractor Consultant

The (CI)SO supports the setup and maintenance of an Information Security Management System (ISMS), conducts risk assessments, and helps implement appropriate measures. The focus is not just on the standard itself, but on what works best within your processes and organisational culture.

The (CI)SO can support with:

Setting up and improving your ISMS (Information Security Management System)
Risk analyses, awareness initiatives, and regular reviews
Strategy and advice on suitable controls
Leading and coaching internal security and privacy roles
Preparation for and support during audits
Meeting ISO 27001, GDPR and other requirements

You benefit from specialised knowledge without hiring a full-time CISO. The CISO works closely with management, engineers, external IT service providers, DPOs, privacy officers and/or your security team to ensure information security is truly embedded in your organisation.

Hiring a CISO or Security Officer

The CISO and Security Officer are two distinct roles in information security. On this page, we use the term (CI)SO to refer to both, as Protify can fulfil either role. It’s important to understand the difference:

The CISO focuses on strategy, leadership, and tactical decision-making. This role is responsible for defining and monitoring policies, building internal support, and advising management on risks and measures. In practice, the CISO often manages an SO, OSO and/or TSO.
The Security Officer is responsible for the operational execution of security controls. This includes implementing controls, performing checks, and logging incidents — often in collaboration with IT and other departments. The SO role can be further specialised into:
- Operational Security Officer (OSO) – focusing on day-to-day execution
- Technical Security Officer (TSO) – focusing on technical security tasks

Based on this, you might already be able to assess which role suits your organisation best. We’re happy to help you make the right choice.

Who is (CI)SO as a Service for?

Organisations that:

Lack internal capacity or expertise (temporarily or long-term)
Want to quickly mature their ISMS
Are certified to or aiming for ISO 27001
Want to ensure security and privacy without added overhead
Seek temporary or structural expertise and support

The (CI)SO integrated into your organisation

The external (CI)SO is fully embedded within the organisation and reports directly to management. They work with internal security and IT roles to build a solid structure for information security. The (CI)SO also coordinates activities related to audits, compliance, awareness, and the management of privacy or technical security roles.

What can you expect?

Our (CI)SO:

Uses our proven framework and the ProActive Compliance Tool (PCT) — or your internal tools
Is part of your team and reports directly to management
Is responsible for strategy, policy and oversight
Works hands-on with your people and systems while remaining independent
Brings a fresh, independent perspective that challenges assumptions

Information security starts with leadership

Success depends on active support from leadership. The (CI)SO can only be effective if they have access to relevant information, staff are empowered to act, and the independence and expertise of the role are respected. In practice, we see that organisations whose leadership actively engages — for example, by joining risk assessments or policy reviews — achieve faster and more lasting results. Without clear ownership or decision-making authority, progress can stall. Likewise, if teams or staff are “too busy,” the (CI)SO’s work is hindered. Clear expectations and commitment from the start help remove these barriers and enable the (CI)SO to accelerate progress.

Why hire a CISO or Security Officer

Protify’s (CI)SOs are not only technically strong, but skilled in guiding organisations through change. They bridge management, IT and operations, turning complex issues into clear decisions. With experience across various sectors, they quickly understand what your organisation needs.

Our (CI)SOs are well-versed in ISO 27001, GDPR, NIS2 and other relevant standards and legislation. They translate these frameworks into actionable policy and ensure compliance becomes a natural part of your operations — keeping you demonstrably in control for auditors, customers and regulators.

Our (CI)SOs don’t write thick policy books — they focus on smart decisions, clear policies, and lasting improvements. While thinking at the strategic level, they never lose sight of practical implementation. This ensures information security is not just designed, but delivered.

The (CI)SO uses the same methodology, structure and tooling as our other compliance services. Thanks to this integration, all tasks, actions and documents are managed in the ProActive Compliance Tool (PCT), making this service a perfect match with Protify’s managed services.

Welcome to Protify.