Cybersecurity leaders often face a tough balancing act: protecting their organization from risks while managing tight budgets and limited resources. These pressures can lead to overworked cybersecurity teams, missed deadlines, and an increased risk of cybersecurity burnout.
In our recent webinar, Deidre Diamond, Founder and CEO of CyberSN, and Dan Garcia, Chief Information Security Officer at EDB, shared strategies for overcoming these challenges by leveraging cybersecurity contractors. Their discussion demonstrates how contractors can enhance team performance, save costs, and help organizations achieve their goals more efficiently.
As Deidre pointed out, this pressure is unsustainable: “CISOs are expected to do more with less, which leaves teams stretched too thin to handle both daily operations and strategic projects.”
Dan shared how this reality impacted his team. The constant need to address immediate threats left little room for proactive planning. Bringing in contractors provided relief, allowing his team to refocus on core priorities without compromising security.
Cybersecurity contractors offer a unique opportunity for cybersecurity teams to scale efficiently. Their specialized skills and ability to hit the ground running make them a practical solution for urgent needs.
For Dan’s team, contractors proved essential to meeting deadlines: “We had critical projects that couldn’t wait for the lengthy process of onboarding full-time employees. Contractors delivered the expertise we needed right away.”
One major advantage of contractors is their ability to work under a Statement of Work (SOW). These arrangements define clear goals, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring projects are highly focused and measurable. Dan emphasized this benefit stating, “With SOW contractors, the goals were super detailed, and we could feel the progress and completion of each project. This clarity kept the team aligned and made it easy to track success.”
Deidre emphasized this, highlighting how SOW-based projects allow teams to accomplish critical objectives without overextending full-time staff: “The defined scope of work ensures everyone knows what to expect, and the measurable outcomes provide a sense of achievement when completed.”
In addition to defined project outcomes, Dan highlighted the financial flexibility contractors provided: “We could scale up or down as needed, allowing us to prioritize critical projects without overspending. It gave us much-needed control over our resources.” This financial flexibility ensures organizations can achieve their goals without exceeding their budgets.
This project-focused approach, combined with the flexibility contractors offer, allows organizations to adapt to evolving business needs while maintaining high standards of efficiency and accountability.
Another advantage of contractors is their cost-effectiveness compared to consulting firms. While consulting firms can deliver value, they often come with a hefty price tag and less flexibility. “Contractors integrate directly into your team, providing the expertise you need without the overhead of a consulting firm,” Deidre explained.
In addition to cost savings, hiring cybersecurity contractors offers greater control over the process of building your team. Unlike consulting firms, where you are often assigned a designated resource with little say in who that person is, contractors allow organizations to handpick individuals with the specific expertise they need. This approach ensures the person aligns well with both the project requirements and the organization's culture.
One of the long-term benefits of hiring contractors is the ability to convert them into full-time team members. For organizations looking to build their teams strategically, this can be a low-risk way to evaluate talent before making a permanent commitment.
“When you find a contractor who aligns with your culture and goals, transitioning them to a full-time role is seamless,” Deidre noted. Contractors who prove their value during short-term engagements can quickly become key contributors to a team’s success.
Dan shared his experience of successfully converting a contractor to a full-time role: “We brought in a contractor for a critical project, and their impact was undeniable. By the time the project wrapped up, it was clear they were a perfect fit for our team and we transitioned them to a permanent position without hesitation.”
This approach not only ensures the right fit but also accelerates the onboarding process, as the contractor is already familiar with the organization’s culture and goals.
Whether addressing short-term security challenges or filling long-term talent gaps, cyber contractors provide the flexibility and expertise organizations need to thrive. Their ability to quickly integrate into teams ensures critical projects are completed efficiently and on time, helping organizations achieve their goals without overburdening existing staff.
At CyberSN, we help cybersecurity leaders determine when to leverage contractors or Statement of Work (SOW) agreements versus hiring full-time employees, based on their unique needs and budgets. We also prioritize the well-being of our contractors by offering benefits such as healthcare, paid vacation, career training, and access to industry events—fostering satisfaction for both contractors and clients.
Learn more about how our staff augmentation solutions can empower your team and take critical projects off your plate.
