--- title: "Home" description: "Kayne McGladrey, CISSP – Cybersecurity Advisor, Author of the GRC Maturity Model, Virtual CISO I’m Kayne McGladrey, and I help organizations in construction, manufacturing, legal, transportation,..." url: https://kaynemcgladrey.com/ date: 2024-12-18 modified: 2026-06-26 author: "Kayne" type: page lang: en --- # Home # Kayne McGladrey, CISSP – Cybersecurity Advisor, Author of the GRC Maturity Model, Virtual CISO I’m Kayne McGladrey, and I help organizations in construction, manufacturing, legal, transportation, logistics, and cybersecurity turn cybersecurity risk into business advantage. Through the [GRC Maturity Model](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-GRC-Maturity-Model_Hyperproof.pdf), executive‑level advisory, and targeted regulatory guidance, I help leaders to make confident, risk‑aware decisions. I also deliver keynote talks and have been featured on [ABC News](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_AEahYH1ew). ## Virtual CISO Services for Growing Companies in Washington State & Beyond Serving Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Hawaii, Wyoming, and Idaho. **vCISO Retainers starting at $40,000/year for SMBs.** ### **Bridging Cybersecurity and Business Risk** For growing companies, cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue, it’s a business enabler. I help SMBs and mid-market firms translate technical risks into clear business outcomes, enabling founders and boards to make confident, risk-aware decisions. Operating as an executive advisor rather than technical implementer, I partner with your existing MSPs and IT staff to align strategy with operations. By aligning security strategies with growth objectives, we turn compliance into a competitive advantage that attracts investors and enterprise customers. ### **Navigating the Challenges of Compliance** Compliance shouldn’t stall your momentum. I guide startups and scaling firms through the complexities of SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other regulations without the overhead of a full-time team. Using my GRC Maturity Model, I help to build pragmatic frameworks that satisfy auditors and secure deals, turning regulatory hurdles into a streamlined path for market expansion. ### **Preparing for the Future of Regulation** The regulatory landscape is shifting fast, especially with AI and data privacy developments. I help forward-thinking organizations stay ahead of the curve with horizon scanning and practical adaptation strategies. I prioritize the frameworks that impact your ability to operate and sell – whether that means meeting new insurance mandates or preparing for upcoming tech legislation. My goal is to ensure your security posture is resilient and ready for tomorrow’s requirements, protecting your reputation and your bottom line. ## **Cybersecurity Strategy for Growing Enterprises** ![Photo of Kayne McGladrey speaking at a cybersecurity conference](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/3E1A1579-Small.webp) **100% Human-Authored** – No generative AI for strategies or speaking notes. [![Award: Master Expert in AI Governance](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ME-AI-Governance.webp)](https://www.thinkers360.com/tl/certification/2817/49) [![Award: Elite Expert in Risk Management](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/EE-Risk-Management.webp)](https://www.thinkers360.com/tl/certification/2817/48) [![Award: Elite Expert in Cybersecurity](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/EE-Cybersecurity.webp)](https://www.thinkers360.com/tl/certification/2817/50) [![CISSP Professional Credential for Kayne McGladrey](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/certified-information-systems-security-professional-cissp.png)](https://www.credly.com/badges/842f1da6-3cd7-4061-885c-407ece797d29/public_url) I’m Kayne McGladrey, CISSP‑certified cybersecurity advisor, author of the [GRC Maturity Model](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-GRC-Maturity-Model_Hyperproof.pdf), and senior IEEE member. Over nearly three decades I’ve helped Fortune 500 and Global 1000 firms align governance, risk, and compliance with business strategy, reduce incident‑response times by up to 45%, and avoid $10 M+ in potential losses. My work focuses on: - Translating technical risk into clear business outcomes for founders, boards, and executives who need CISO-level insight without the full-time overhead. - Building GRC frameworks that turn compliance into a deal-maker, so you can close enterprise contracts that require SOC 2 or ISO 27001. - Preparing growing companies for the regulations that actually matter to you – like cyber insurance requirements and client security questionnaires – so you can sell with confidence. I offer [Virtual CISO services](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/services/vciso-in-washington-state/) to help companies align their cybersecurity stance with actionable business risks. I’m also open to paid interviews, sponsored articles, and webinars for brands in cybersecurity and AI governance. If you’re looking for expert content that’s human-written and backed by 250+ media features, check out my [Partnerships page](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/media-partnership-opportunities/) for rates and details. ![Chart showing 94% of attendees say Kayne McGladrey](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-26-133021.webp) [![Chart showing 100% of attendees say Kayne McGladrey](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Valuable.png)](https://app.talkadot.com/s/kayne) ![Chart showing 97% of attendees are interested in attending future talks](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-26-132942.webp) ## AI Regulation & Compliance Advisory Below are selected external pieces where I discuss emerging threats, regulatory shifts, and practical GRC guidance. These illustrate the kinds of insight I bring to client engagements and public forums. ### Post Types [ ![New ransomware targets AI model weights and can’t even collect the ransom](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/VentureBeat-July-27-2026.webp) VentureBeat ### New ransomware targets AI model weights and can’t even collect the ransom Jul 28, 2026 That figure makes the argument fundable. Kayne McGladrey, an IEEE Senior Member who has spent his career in identity security, told VentureBeat that security teams lose these fights by filing the exposure under the wrong heading. Companies “should be focused on business risks rather than some, you know, cybersecurity risk, because if it doesn’t affect the business, like a loss or financial loss, in this case, predominantly, then nobody’s going to pay any action to it, and they will not budget it appropriately, nor will they adequately put in controls to prevent it,” he said. A destroyed model carries a known replacement cost, which is the version of this story a CFO acts on. ](https://venturebeat.com/security/new-ransomware-targets-ai-model-weights-and-cant-even-collect-the-ransom) [ ![Hugging Face Incident Initial Post-Mortem](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/post-mortem.webp) CSA ### Hugging Face Incident Initial Post-Mortem Jul 27, 2026 This AI security incident report is built for CISOs and security leaders operating AI agents today. Reviewed by hundreds of CISOs, this paper explains how the autonomous AI attack unfolded, what made it detectable, and what security teams should do next to secure agentic AI systems. ](https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/artifacts/hugging-face-ciso-post-mortem) [ ![The credential that let OpenAI’s agents into Hugging Face exists in most enterprises right now](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/hugging_face_breach_hero.webp) VentureBeat ### The credential that let OpenAI’s agents into Hugging Face exists in most enterprises right now Jul 23, 2026 IEEE Senior Member Kayne McGladrey has argued in previous VentureBeat interviews that enterprises keep cloning human user accounts onto agents that then wield far more permission than any human would, and this is what that looks like when the agent is a frontier model and the target is a production database. ](https://venturebeat.com/security/the-credential-that-let-openais-agents-into-hugging-face-exists-in-most-enterprises-right-now) [More news and podcasts](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/news/) ## Latest Articles - [ ![Free wifi](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/free-wifi-768x532.webp) ](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/heading-to-def-con-dont-trust-the-network/) [Blog](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/category/blog/) ### [Heading to DEF CON? Don’t Trust the Network](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/heading-to-def-con-dont-trust-the-network/) July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 Every August, tens of thousands of security professionals flood Las Vegas for Black Hat, BSides, and DEF CON. The industry has spent the last two years obsessing over AI security, LLM jailbreaks, and prompt injection demos, so it’s almost refreshing to see threat actors going old-school: compromising physical network gateways, poisoning DNS at the source,… [ Read More Heading to DEF CON? Don’t Trust the NetworkContinue ](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/heading-to-def-con-dont-trust-the-network/) - [ ![Legal scales](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/legal-scales-768x557.webp) ](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/the-quantum-liability-you-already-have/) [Blog](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/category/blog/) ### [The Quantum Liability You Already Have](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/the-quantum-liability-you-already-have/) July 27, 2026July 27, 2026 I was preparing for a call with the board of a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) company and, as a part of preparing, reviewed all my prior research into PQC. I’m sharing my thoughts here – not about the specific company – but rather what CISOs should do, because we’re going to keep hearing the PQC drumbeat…. [ Read More The Quantum Liability You Already HaveContinue ](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/the-quantum-liability-you-already-have/) - [ ![Black swan](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/black-swan-768x513.webp) ](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/the-accountability-void/) [Blog](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/category/blog/) ### [The Accountability Void](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/the-accountability-void/) July 24, 2026July 24, 2026 It’s been a long week of AI news, so I want to step back and put the Hugging Face / OpenAI incident into the larger context. As a reminder, I’m not an attorney and this isn’t legal advice. In case you missed it, on July 16, 2026, Hugging Face disclosed that autonomous AI agents had… [ Read More The Accountability VoidContinue ](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/blog/the-accountability-void/) --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do you write a weekly newslettter? Kayne McGladrey has written the “Weekly News Context” newsletter since 2020. Subscribers to the newsletter receive human-written cybersecurity, law, AI governance, and regulatory analysis. [Subscribing is free](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/newsletter/). ### What is the GRC Maturity Model? The GRC Maturity Model is a framework Kayne McGladrey developed to help organizations assess and advance their Governance, Risk, and Compliance programs. It moves beyond checklist compliance to align security strategies with business objectives, enabling leaders to measure progress and reduce risk effectively. ### How can a Virtual CISO (vCISO) help my organization? A Virtual CISO provides executive-level cybersecurity leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Kayne McGladrey advises B2B companies from startups to Fortune 500 and Global 1000 firms on translating technical risks into business outcomes, streamlining compliance efforts such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, and building resilient security strategies that support growth. ### What industries do you serve? Kayne McGladrey works with B2B organizations across diverse sectors, with specialized expertise in manufacturing, the defense industrial base, healthcare, finance, and technology. My focus is on helping regulated industries navigate complex frameworks like the EU AI Act, NIST, and DORA while maintaining operational agility. ### Do you offer speaking engagements, webinars, or sponsored content? Yes. Kayne McGladrey delivers keynote speeches, lead webinars, and produce sponsored blog content on topics including AI risk management, bridging cybersecurity with business strategy, and modernizing GRC programs. These engagements are tailored for executive audiences, boards, and technical teams. Visit my [media partnership opportunities](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/media-partnership-opportunities/) page for details. ### Have you been on national television? Kayne McGladrey was a guest on [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/video/133270100/) on May 24th, 2026. ### What is the ROI of hiring a Virtual CISO? A vCISO delivers strategic leadership that aligns security with business goals, often saving SMBs up to $150,000 annually compared to a full-time executive. By optimizing controls and guiding teams toward certifications like SOC 2 or ISO 27001, we turn compliance into a competitive advantage that drives revenue and reduces risk. ### How much does a vCISO engagement cost? vCISO retainers typically range from $40,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the scope of services and industry requirements. We also offer fixed-price project options for well-defined needs and month-to-month flexibility, ensuring cost predictability while delivering C-suite level expertise. ### Do you use AI to create your content and strategies? No, I do not use generative AI to draft strategies, speaker notes, or blog content. My work is entirely human-authored to ensure nuance, accuracy, and authentic voice, though I may use AI tools strictly for proofreading and style guide alignment. ## Glossary ### GRC Maturity Model A framework for measuring how well an organization’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance programs support its business goals, written by Kayne McGladrey. Rather than treating compliance as a checkbox exercise, the model helps leaders identify where they are today and chart a practical path toward more mature, effective risk management. ### vCISO (Virtual Chief Information Security Officer) An experienced cybersecurity leader who provides strategic security guidance to organizations on a flexible, part-time basis. A vCISO delivers the same executive-level direction as a full-time CISO, including risk assessment, compliance oversight, and incident response planning, without the overhead of a permanent hire. ### DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) A European Union regulation that requires financial institutions and their technology providers to ensure they can withstand and recover from digital disruptions. DORA covers areas such as ICT risk management, incident reporting, third-party oversight, and operational resilience testing. ### CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) A globally recognized cybersecurity certification awarded by ISC2. It validates deep expertise across eight security domains, including risk management, security architecture, and software development security, and requires ongoing professional education to maintain. ### SOC 2 A security compliance framework developed by the AICPA that evaluates how well an organization protects customer data across five trust criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Achieving SOC 2 compliance is often a prerequisite for selling to enterprise customers. ### ISO 27001 An international standard that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, and continuously improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Organizations certified to ISO 27001 demonstrate a systematic approach to managing sensitive data and reducing information security risks. ### EU AI Act A European Union law that establishes rules for the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence systems. It classifies AI applications by risk level, from minimal to unacceptable, and imposes increasing compliance obligations on organizations as the risk level rises. ## Testimonials - ![Avatar 1](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/human-mimicry1-150x150.webp) ## Covered serious information > with the style and grace of a speaker who actually understands the subject and knows it’s an uncomfortable topic but needs to be discussed [(see talk report from September 18, 2025)](https://www.talkadot.com/s/kayne/events/from-cyber-threats-to-business-impacts-modern-risk-management-practices-inch360-ef401a) D. Wright - ![Avatar 2](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-21-2-150x150.webp) ## Very inspiring > and can help put cyber risks into terms that facilitate understanding for business folks. [(see talk report from April 24, 2025)](https://www.talkadot.com/s/kayne/event-report/fdd21ddf3e0f5ff29e0a5b015fecb3c3) Cao Chung - ![Avatar 1](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/human-mimicry1-150x150.webp) ## The topic covered is something that every security person should know > and be aware of. This is what helps us justify our team, tools, and growth. [(see talk report from Apr 3, 2025)](https://www.talkadot.com/s/kayne/event-report/816405f84951e7adc278b855e302128f) Evan Lund - ![Avatar 1](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/human-mimicry1-150x150.webp) ## Skills for cutting through complexity > and simplifying tasks to get results in managing risks. [(see talk report from Oct 31, 2025) ](https://www.talkadot.com/s/kayne/events/from-cyber-threats-to-business-impacts-modern-risk-management-practices-0ee521) Stephen Zetter