Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The Cyber Insurance Trap: Why vCSOs Must Take Back Control Before It’s Too Late

Insurance providers aren’t just selling policies anymore. They’re selling security solutions, acting as MSSPs, and compliance auditors. They’re bundling cybersecurity tools into their policies, dictating security frameworks that serve their own financial interests, and pushing businesses toward insurer-managed security stacks that remove independent oversight. This is not about protecting businesses. It’s about minimizing their own liability. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

No Documentation, No Defense: The vCSO’s Ultimate Liability Shield

As a vCSO, your job isn’t just to recommend security measures—it’s to ensure that when clients refuse them, you’re protected. A signed Risk Acceptance is more than paperwork. It’s a legal shield, compliance evidence, and a wake-up call that forces clients to take cybersecurity seriously. Here’s five reasons why no vCSO should operate without one. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

7 Cyber Liability Risks CFOs Can’t Afford to Ignore

Cyber insurance might feel like a safety net, but when a breach happens, insurers, regulators, and courts start asking tough questions. Can you prove you followed your cybersecurity policies? Did your team document its compliance efforts? Without airtight evidence, businesses—and their executives—can be accused of negligence, fraud, or worse. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

Why Your Phishing Training is Failing—and What vCSOs Can Do to Fix It

Every year, organizations spend millions on phishing awareness training, convinced that simulated phishing emails will turn employees into a human firewall. But new research tells a different story: traditional phishing training doesn’t just fail—it can actually make employees more likely to fall for phishing scams.

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

When Cost-Cutting Becomes Catastrophic

In 2024, AT&T became the face of corporate cybersecurity failure. Despite reporting $122 billion in revenue and nearly $20 billion in pretax profits, the company cut corners where it mattered most: security. In an attempt to streamline costs, AT&T trusted sensitive customer data to a third-party provider without enforcing essential protections like multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The Most Important Job of a vCSO (And It’s Not What You Think)

Whatever security initiative you’re focused on—patching systems, reviewing controls, running audits—put it on hold for a second. Because if you’re not doing this one thing, none of the rest will matter. What’s your most important job as a vCSO? Is it making sure compliance requirements are met? Is it reviewing security tools and policies? Responding to the latest cyber threats? 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

Can Your Security Survive This One Test?

Imagine waking up to find your entire business paralyzed. Employees locked out. Customers furious. Regulators knocking on your door, demanding answers. But that’s only the beginning. Over the next few months, you’re drowning in legal battles, hemorrhaging millions, and scrambling to restore trust in your organization. That’s exactly what happened to LoanDepot, one of the largest mortgage providers in the U.S. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

Cybersecurity Is Now a CFO’s Problem—And the SEC Is Watching

For years, cybersecurity has been considered an IT issue, a compliance concern, or a risk management discussion. But in 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made one thing clear: cybersecurity failures are now a financial and regulatory liability. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The Golden Rule of vCSO Communication: Visibility

Executive communication is your lifeline.  If you’re not regularly in front of the executive team, they’ll assume you’re not doing anything at all. And when budgets tighten or a competitor whispers in their ear, guess who’s first on the chopping block? 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

Using Risk Acceptance Documentation to Build a Resilient Cybersecurity Culture

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, organizations face unprecedented pressure to protect their data and operations. Yet fostering a robust cybersecurity culture often encounters resistance, from leadership hesitancy to employee pushback. For vCSOs (virtual Chief Security Officers), the challenge is clear: drive cultural transformation by emphasizing education, accountability, and strategic risk management. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

2024’s Biggest Cyberattacks: Lessons Every vCSO Must Learn for 2025

2024 was an unprecedented year for cybercrime. Hackers unleashed a series of large-scale, headline-grabbing attacks, leaving industries reeling and security experts on high alert. From crippling ransomware infiltrations, supply chain attacks, all the way to colossal data breaches, the year's cyber onslaught underscored the imperative for fortified defenses and proactive strategies.  

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

Overwhelmed by Compliance? Start Here with Cyber Insurance and Key Standards

Compliance is overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. For vCSOs feeling the pressure, the smartest move is to start with what matters most: Cyber Insurability. Meeting the requirements for cyber insurance gives you a strong baseline, providing protection while addressing fundamental cybersecurity controls. 

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The Truth About User Training: What Every vCSO Needs to Know

Your organization’s most critical line of defense isn’t a firewall or the latest security tool.  It’s your people. Yet, despite years of security awareness campaigns, employees remain a prime target for cybercriminals. Phishing emails, voice scams, and smishing attacks continue to exploit gaps in user training, leading to breaches that cost businesses millions.

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The Cybersecurity Showdown: Winning Over the Reluctant Executive

Persuading a skeptical executive to invest in cybersecurity is an art as much as a science. With ransomware attacks surging, regulatory scrutiny tightening, and generative AI lowering the barrier for malicious actors, no business is safe. Yet, some executives remain staunchly opposed to prioritizing cybersecurity budgets.

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The vCSO’s 2025 Playbook: Securing Compliance and Building a Smarter Budget

As we approach 2025, Chief Security Officers (CSOs) face escalating pressures to navigate an evolving compliance landscape while justifying budgets that can protect and grow their organizations. Stakeholders expect more than reactive measures—they demand proactive solutions that align with business objectives, protect critical data, and meet rigorous regulatory standards.

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

Holiday Season Playbook for Chief Security Officers

Holidays present a very unique opportunity for hackers, which means organizations need to be strategic and vigilant. This is a time for Chief Security Officers (CSOs) to ramp up their efforts to protect their organizations from escalating seasonal threats. This guide offers actionable steps to ensure a secure holiday season, minimizing vulnerabilities and preparing for rapid response.

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Lynne Smelser Lynne Smelser

The Growing Threat of Deepfakes: How CSOs are the Hero in this Scary Story

The financial and strategic implications of deepfakes are increasingly critical. Beyond reputational harm, deepfakes can impose substantial financial losses on businesses, disrupt their operations, and even influence stock prices. The involvement of a Virtual Chief Security Officer (CSO) is essential to navigate these risks and protect an organization's economic interests.

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