vCISO Services in Raleigh, NC
Most Raleigh businesses need executive-level cybersecurity leadership but cannot justify a $250,000+ full-time CISO salary. Petronella Technology Group, Inc.’s Virtual CISO (vCISO) service gives your organization a seasoned security executive — led by Craig Petronella with 30+ years of experience — who builds your security strategy, manages your risk posture, drives compliance initiatives, and reports to your board, all at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner • Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner • 30+ Years Experience • 2,500+ Clients
What Your Raleigh vCISO Delivers
Strategic security leadership, risk management, compliance oversight, and board-level reporting — without the full-time executive price tag.
Security Strategy & Roadmap
Your vCISO develops a multi-year security roadmap aligned with your Raleigh business objectives, budget, and risk tolerance. We assess your current posture, identify gaps against industry frameworks like NIST CSF, CIS Controls, or ISO 27001, and build a prioritized plan that improves security posture methodically rather than reactively.
Risk Management & Assessment
Your vCISO conducts formal risk assessments, maintains a risk register, and presents risk-informed recommendations to your Raleigh leadership team. We quantify cyber risk in business terms — potential financial impact, regulatory exposure, and operational disruption — so executives can make informed investment decisions.
Compliance Program Management
Whether your Raleigh organization needs HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS, CMMC, NIST 800-171, or FedRAMP readiness, your vCISO builds and manages the compliance program end to end — gap analysis, control implementation, policy documentation, evidence collection, and audit coordination.
Board & Executive Reporting
Your vCISO prepares quarterly board presentations, executive dashboards, and security metrics that translate technical security posture into language C-suite leaders and board members understand. For Raleigh companies preparing for an acquisition, IPO, or investor due diligence, having a vCISO who can articulate your security program is a competitive advantage.
Why Raleigh Companies Need vCISO Services
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the anchor of the Research Triangle region — a metropolitan area home to over two million people and some of the fastest-growing technology, healthcare, and financial services sectors in the country. Downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District and Glenwood South corridors host software companies, fintech startups, and digital agencies. NC State University drives a pipeline of technology talent and research partnerships. Red Hat (now IBM), Cisco, Citrix, and hundreds of mid-market technology firms call Raleigh home.
These organizations face sophisticated cyber threats, demanding compliance requirements, and increasing pressure from boards, investors, customers, and insurance carriers to demonstrate mature security programs. However, hiring a full-time CISO in the Raleigh market means competing for talent with salaries exceeding $200,000 plus equity and benefits — an investment that many growing companies cannot yet justify.
A vCISO from Petronella Technology Group, Inc. provides the strategic security leadership your Raleigh organization needs at a fraction of the cost. Our vCISO service integrates with our managed security services, cybersecurity compliance in Raleigh, and penetration testing to provide a complete security program with unified leadership. Learn more about our vCISO program details.
vCISO Questions from Raleigh Organizations
What is the difference between a vCISO and a security consultant?
A security consultant typically delivers a one-time project — an assessment, a pen test, or a policy review. A vCISO is an ongoing, strategic partner who serves as your organization’s security executive. They own your security program, attend leadership meetings, manage risk over time, drive continuous improvement, and represent your security posture to auditors, boards, and regulators.
How much time does a vCISO dedicate to our Raleigh business?
Engagement levels are tailored to your needs. Typical vCISO engagements range from 10 to 40 hours per month depending on your organization’s size, complexity, and compliance requirements. During audit preparations, compliance deadlines, or incident response situations, we scale up as needed.
Can a vCISO help our Raleigh company pass a SOC 2 audit?
Absolutely. SOC 2 readiness is one of the most common reasons Raleigh companies engage a vCISO. We manage the entire journey — scoping trust service criteria, implementing controls, developing policies, collecting evidence, selecting an audit firm, and coordinating the audit itself. Many of our Raleigh clients achieve SOC 2 Type II certification within 6 to 12 months of engagement.
Do you work with our existing IT team or replace them?
We complement your existing team. The vCISO provides the strategic direction and security expertise that most IT teams lack, while your internal staff or managed IT provider handles day-to-day operations. We mentor your IT team on security best practices, guide their implementation efforts, and ensure security initiatives are prioritized correctly.
Get Executive Security Leadership for Your Raleigh Business
Schedule a consultation to discuss how a vCISO from Petronella Technology Group, Inc. can build, manage, and mature your security program. Gain the strategic leadership your board, customers, and regulators expect — without the full-time executive cost.
Petronella Technology Group, Inc. • 919-348-4912 • Raleigh, NC 27606 • BBB Accredited Since 2003 • Founded 2002 • 2,500+ Clients