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Free guide
Hire a CISO, work with a consultant, buy a compliance platform or bring in a provider? A free PDF guide that compares the five options side by side.
Last updated: October 2026
How do I choose between a CISO, a consultant, a compliance platform or a managed provider?
Companies that need ISO 27001, ENS or SOC 2 usually choose between five setups: hiring a CISO, a consultant with templates, a compliance platform, separate tools from several vendors, or a large managed security provider. Each one works for some companies. The deciding question is who will run security once the auditor has left, and how much of that work stays with your team. This free guide from Qalea compares the five options side by side.
Hire a CISO
A full time security professional on your payroll.
A consultant with templates
Policies and documentation prepared for the audit.
A compliance platform
Software that collects evidence and tracks controls.
A large managed security provider
Managed security from a telecom operator or major integrator.
Separate tools from several vendors
Endpoint protection, device management, pentesting and training bought one by one.
Who it is for: IT leads, operations directors and compliance owners at midsize companies that need to certify and have no security team of their own.
Qalea runs the security function for companies that need to certify. One service covers compliance, people and infrastructure, under continuous monitoring.
What is the difference between a compliance platform and a managed security service?
A compliance platform collects evidence, maps controls to frameworks and tracks tasks. It does not detect or respond to threats, test your systems or monitor your perimeter. A managed security service operates those controls for you, so the work behind the evidence is done.
Do I need to hire a CISO to get ISO 27001 or the ENS?
No. ISO 27001 requires security roles and responsibilities to be assigned, and the ENS (RD 311/2022, article 11) requires the security function to be separate from the people who operate your systems. That responsibility can be covered with the support of an external provider instead of a full time hire.
Is a consultant enough to get certified?
A consultant can prepare the documentation and support you through the audit. Certification audits also check that controls operate, and surveillance audits check them again each year, so someone has to run those controls once the project ends.
Who is the guide for?
Midsize companies that need ISO 27001, the ENS or SOC 2 for a customer, a tender or an investor, and have no security team of their own.
Is the guide available in Spanish?
Yes. You can download the Spanish version from the Spanish version of this page.
