By now, many MSSPs and MSPs are familiar with the vCISO role. It’s projected that by the end of 2024, 84% of these providers will offer vCISO services.
This emerging field of "virtual CISO" is changing constantly. The vCISO role is still in the process of rapid evolution, and a consensus on its definition or scope is yet to be finalized.
With growing demands for vCISOs, a variety of market definitions were created and some confusion about a vCISOs responsibilities. One should keep up to date on trends, requirements, frameworks, and best practices. The guidance and insights provided by influential vCISOs can be invaluable.
There are many knowledge influencers in the space you should know about. A year ago, Cynomi compiled a list of the top vCISO influencers who we think you should be following. Today, we’ve updated this list with additional professionals who we see as thought leaders worth following.
If you’re already offering vCISO services or considering initiating this activity anytime soon, we recommend you follow at least one vCISO influencer on social media to stay well-informed. We hope this list will help you find that person.
9 vCISO Influencers to Follow
1. Mike Miller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikesportfolio/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikemillercyber
Mike has over 25 years of experience as a CISO specializing in GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), PCI, Defensive (SOC / Intrusion Detection) and Offensive Security (Penetration Testing), and Incident Response. Mike is a true thought leader in the vCISO space. In addition to speaking at conferences and giving interviews on cybersecurity, he owns a newsletter addressing the latest cybersecurity topics and shares from his experience as a vCISO daily on social media.
2. Mike Wilkes
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eclectiqus/
Mike is a seasoned Chief Information Security Officer known for his work with companies like SecurityScorecard, ASCAP, Marvel, AQR Capital, and Sony, among others. Being nominated by the World Economic Forum as a technology pioneer in 2020 and the author of a book for Cisco Press in 2002, Mike is a featured speaker at technology conferences and is a professor at NYU teaching cybersecurity courses. He is recently focused on vCISO service and posts value-adding content.
3. Laura Louthan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralouthan/overlay/about-this-profile/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraLouthan
Laura is a vCISO with more than 15 years’ experience in global security operations, IT architecture and data management. Following a variety of roles including heading information security for a large retailer, Laura founded her own cybersecurity consulting firm in 2017, Angel Cybersecurity, which is dedicated to helping small and medium business discover their potential to secure their critical information assets. She specializes in Compliance (with a unique focus on PCI), audit and assessment, and risk management. In addition to participating as a speaker in industry events and podcasts, Laura also gives online courses on LinkedIn Learning.
4. Jesse Miller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/secopswarrior/
Jesse Miller, an accomplished cybersecurity executive and expert has a track record of fortifying organizations against cyber threats, is a prominent thought leader in the vCISO space.
Jesse leverages his deep operational and leadership experience from roles as CISO and vCISO to spearhead PowerPSA Consulting. His firm is dedicated to assisting MSPs in developing robust, full-spectrum security programs. Jesse’s guidance enables these firms to achieve their fullest potential, ensuring they deliver superior cybersecurity and risk management services to their clients.
His wealth of experience and commitment to staying ahead of industry trends make him a trusted advisor and a sought-after expert. Jesse constantly shares vCISO best practices and expert advice on social media. Check out his LinkedIn profile.
5. Gina Yacone
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginayacone/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gina_yacone
Currently leading the information security sector for Trace3 in Denver, Colorado, Gina Yacone stands out as an influencer in the cybersecurity landscape and specifically in the vCISO space.
Gina is a seasoned cybersecurity consultant and vCISO, with vast experience working with various industries and sectors to assess their risks, design their security programs, and deploy their security technologies. In addition to being an esteemed speaker, investor, board member and advisor, Gina actively engages in the cybersecurity community through her roles on the boards of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) North Carolina and other local organizations, reflecting her commitment to leadership and development in the field. She is frequently seen on conference stages, having delivered insightful presentations on information security at over 50 events.
6. Allan Alford
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanalford/
Personal website: https://allanalford.com/
A distinguished vCISO leader, brings over two decades of cybersecurity expertise to the forefront and CISO experience from various industries. His journey, evolving from hands-on practitioner to visionary strategist, showcases a unique blend of technical acumen and strategic insight. Recognized for his dynamic leadership, Alford’s influence extends through engaging social media, teaching, presenting at conferences, and publishing insightful blogs, making him a trusted guide in navigating the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. He also owns The Cyber Ranch Podcast where he hosts friends and experts from the cybersecurity community for eye opening discussions.
7. Carlota Sage
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlotasage/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlotasage
Carlota Sage is the Founder and Community CISO of Pocket CISO, a company that has a community CISO approach to security advisory services to early-stage start-ups and small organizations. Carlota has been instrumental in establishing cybersecurity and compliance frameworks for many organizations, typically ranging from 50 to 150 employees. She is a vCISO since 2021, with vast experience in IT and Support Operations beforehand.
8. Wes Spencer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesspencer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wes_spencer
Wes is a technology innovator and cybersecurity expert with national recognition. He served as a senior executive and advisor of various firms including Fortune 500 and is the co-founder of multiple cybersecurity companies. Wes is very active in the MSP community and is the co-host of the CyberCall with over 5,000 MSP weekly listeners.
In addition to being a cyber executive, keynote speaker, and innovator, Wes is known by many as their YouTuber in the cyber space. Wes is currently VP of cybersecurity strategy at CyberFOX and founder of Empath.
Wes won numerous awards including the 2020 Cybersecurity Educator of the Year by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Pro Publica, Dark Reading, and many other outlets.
Follow Wes’s YouTube page: youtube.com/wesspencer
9. Alexandre Blanc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandre-blanc-cyber-security-88569022/
Alexandre Blanc is an international speaker, an active participant in the cybersecurity community and a well-recognized cybersecurity influencer. Alexandre is actively involved in the defining of new technological standards and participates in discussions with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Recognized among the Top 30 Security Experts on LinkedIn in 2023 by Media Sonar and honored by the European Risk Policy Institute for significant contributions to global knowledge sharing in cybersecurity, Alexandre stands at the forefront of cyber risk expertise.
In his last role, Alexandre was the strategic and security advisor at VARS Corporation, a leading Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP).
Looking into the Future
The realm of vCISO influencers is characterized by diversity, with thought leaders emerging from different sectors such as MSPs, MSSPs, consultancies, VARs, pure cybersecurity backgrounds, compliance and even large accounting firms.
Keeping an eye on vCISO influencers provides an excellent means to stay informed about industry trends, potential opportunities, and best practices.
Although the mentioned influencers stand out in the vCISO landscape, there are numerous emerging figures with remarkable insights that deserve attention. We’ll be refreshing this list periodically, so be sure to revisit for updates soon.
Blog courtesy of Cynomi. Regularly contributed guest blogs are part of MSSP Alert’s sponsorship program. Read more Cynomi guest blogs and news here.
