CISOaaS - CISO as a Service

CISOaaS - CISO as a Service

Strategic Cybersecurity Management

Growing regulatory requirements (e.g. DORA, NIS2) and the increasing complexity of IT environments are driving financial institutions to rethink their cybersecurity governance models. CISO as a Service provides access to an experienced security leader without the need for full-time internal employment.

An external CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) becomes a key pillar of risk management – ensuring regulatory compliance, leading the cybersecurity strategy, training employees and representing the institution before supervisory authorities.

What requirements do DORA and NIS2 impose on security governance?

01

Institutions must have clearly defined roles and responsibilities in ICT security.

02

Continuous risk analysis and management is required, including resilience testing and incident response planning.

03

Organisations must ensure training, oversight and security incident reporting.

04

Effective governance must be ensured, including involvement of senior management and supervisory authorities.

CISO as a Service helps meet these requirements – flexibly, efficiently and in full alignment with regulatory expectations.

Benefits of CISO as a Service for Your Organisation:

Regulatory Compliance

  • compliance with DORA, NIS2, GDPR and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements
  • preparation for inspections by CNB, ECB and data protection authorities
  • mitigation of sanctions and reputational risks

Strategic Risk Management

  • design and oversight of cybersecurity governance strategy
  • third-party and supplier risk management
  • development and review of policies and control frameworks

Efficiency and Cost Optimisation

  • access to expert knowledge without a full-time internal CISO
  • flexible scope of engagement based on organisational needs
  • reduced recruitment and training costs

Independence and Expertise

  • independent external perspective without conflicts of interest
  • certifications such as CISSP, CCISO, CISM and others
  • cross-sector experience and knowledge of security frameworks

Incident Management

  • development and management of crisis response scenarios
  • rapid and qualified response to security incidents
  • strengthening operational resilience

Training and Awareness

  • training for employees and senior management
  • building a strong security culture
  • raising awareness of threats and user responsibilities
How does cooperation work in practice?
Initial Assessment

Initial Assessment

assessment of security governance, compliance status and organisational needs

Strategy and Plan

Strategy and Plan

development of cybersecurity strategy, roadmap and governance model

Implementation of Controls

Implementation of Controls

design and implementation of policies, controls, metrics, training and testing

Reporting and Communication

Reporting and Communication

reporting to management, audit and regulatory authorities

Incident Response and Crisis Management

Incident Response and Crisis Management

definition of response plans, crisis scenarios, simulations and exercises

Continuous Oversight

Continuous Oversight

ongoing security governance, risk assessment, trend monitoring and audit readiness


What is CISO as a Service and why is routine IT management not enough?

Unlike a traditional IT manager or security technician:

  • An external CISO provides strategic-level security governance – from policies and risk management to incident response.
  • Ensures compliance with regulations (DORA, NIS2, GDPR) and communicates with supervisory authorities (e.g. CNB, ECB).
  • Has experience in building ISMS frameworks under ISO/IEC 27001, managing third-party risks, delivering training, testing and crisis planning.
  • Operates independently and objectively, often bringing broader cross-sector and cross-client experience.


Why cooperate with BDO?

01

Regulatory Expertise

We understand DORA, NIS2, ISO/IEC 27001, GDPR, as well as the expectations of national and European supervisory authorities.

02

Objectivity and Credibility

We do not offer proprietary products or maintain vendor partnerships – we provide independent, objective and trustworthy security governance.

03

Flexible Scope

The service is scalable – from advisory and mentoring of internal teams to full CISO responsibility on a monthly or multi-year basis.

04

Certified Team with Proven Expertise

Our specialists hold certifications such as CCISO, CISSP, OSCP, CRTP, eCPPT, BSCP, CEH, CRT, CPSA and others. They bring experience from large banks, insurance companies and ICT providers.

Certification 1 eCPPT Certification 2 PenTest CEH CREST CISO CISSP

Main contacts

Martin Hořický
Martin Hořický
Partner • Digital Services
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Marek Kovalčík
Chief Information Security Officer • Digital Services
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