When progressing through each stage of the development lifecycle, there are a multitude of security considerations to take into account. During the early stages of system design, for example, an architectural review is pivotal. Once a feature set is frozen, comprehensive test coverage is considered a non-negotiable. Consultations with a security expert are the perfect way to ensure that, at every stage, your protocol is implementing best practices. That’s where vCISO comes in. vCISO is Spearbit’s answer to this need for a trusted third party advisor with the expertise to enhance your project’s security posture, no matter what stage of development you’re in.

What is a vCISO?

vCISO is a term borrowed from the web2 cybersecurity and OpSec (operational security) world, and stands for ‘virtual Chief Information Security Officer’. As web2 organizations grew, so to did the obvious need for on-demand access to the expertise of a security leader without the costs of a full-time hire.

While web2 and web3 organizations differ in many ways, security is one aspect where the parallels are more easily drawn. This is especially true in relation to vCISOs, as any organization can benefit from the independent, unbiased security expertise that they provide. As Spearbit grew to serve the security needs of the web3 industry, we identified a critical gap with the lack of vCISO-style options available for growing protocols.

At Spearbit, vCISOs work on a consultatory, on-demand basis, providing advice and technical guidance during your development lifecycle on things such as smart contract best practices, architectural reviews and development frameworks. We acknowledge that every protocol’s needs are different, and as such, the application of Spearbit vCISOs is malleable. The Spearbit team will work alongside you to hand-pick a vCISO based on your technical needs, expectation, and budget.

What value does a vCISO bring?

Consultations with a security expert are crucial for projects aiming to achieve review readiness. If you’re not familiar with the term security review readiness, it is the process where protocols make an intentional effort to prepare their codebases, technical documentation, resources and communication structure to streamline their overarching security efforts. This allows protocols to maximize any potential results from additional security processes they implement, while simultaneously mitigating potential risks that may emerge.

With the assistance of a vCISO, protocols have the opportunity to set themselves up for success. When empowered by the expertise available, strong decisions can be made on fundamental elements such as architecture, product design, scalability, and maintainability. When best practice is implemented at pivotal junctions such as these, it can mean a significant difference in relation to the cost, time and effort spent by a protocol in achieving a robust security posture.

Conclusion

Integrating security consultations at each stage of your development lifecycle isn’t just prudent, it’s essential for safeguarding your protocol and setting yourself up for success. A Spearbit vCISO offers expert security guidance tailored to your specific needs and progress through the development lifecycle. By leveraging their expertise, projects can achieve readiness for security reviews, make informed decisions on critical aspects such as architecture or scalability, and ultimately, maximize investment in security efforts.

Contact the Spearbit team today to learn how a vCISO can elevate your security posture and propel your protocol towards success.