S7E37 - A Conversation with Nick Eicken

Nick Eicken is the founder of CyberAuthority and a seasoned Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) with deep roots in both military and civilian cybersecurity leadership. A U.S. Army veteran who built top-secret communication networks as a signal officer, Nick transitioned to the private sector where he’s guided organizations across nonprofit, manufacturing, government, and consulting spaces. His firm, CyberAuthority, focuses on helping small and midsized businesses build defensible, scalable security programs through ethical, vendor-neutral vCISO services.

In this episode, Nick shares his journey from military service to launching his own cybersecurity practice. He and Greg Schaffer explore the value of standardizing the vCISO model, building trust with clients by understanding their business "why," and how to make cybersecurity frameworks like the NIST CSF approachable for SMBs. Nick also discusses the critical distinction between internal CISOs and third-party vCISOs, the importance of ethical independence from MSPs, and the need for transparency. The conversation wraps with insights on stress management, homebrewing, family life in Northern California, and upcoming CyberAuthority initiatives—including cybersecurity offerings for retirees entering one of the most vulnerable phases of their digital lives.