Sidechannel Advisory (Retainer)
Your private channel to a seasoned security leader
What Sidechannel Is
An ongoing, high-access advisory relationship for CTOs and founders who want rapid, credible answers to their cybersecurity and risk challenges.
No middlemen, no decks, no waiting for a consultant to get back to you — just direct access to Craig Balding, former Barclays Group Security CTO and GE Red Team lead.
Whether you’re navigating a prospect’s 200-question security questionnaire, balancing cloud risk, or briefing your board, Sidechannel gives you the senior-level clarity you need — fast.
Why Clients Use Sidechannel
- Direct Access – Speak directly with a veteran security leader, not an account manager.
- Flexible Support – Weekly calls plus 24/7 private messaging; responses within one business day, usually sooner.
- Comprehensive Expertise – From B2B assurance and ISO 27001 controls to cloud, appsec, metrics, and leadership coaching.
- Immediate Uplift – Bring an experienced partner into your corner for decision support, communication prep, and rapid unblockers.
What You Get
- Strategic and technical guidance across:
application and cloud security, risk frameworks, metrics, vendor and talent management - Advice on communicating security posture to customers, boards, and regulators
- Practical feedback on security strategy, roadmap, and organizational design
- Ad-hoc support for customer security reviews, due-diligence responses, or incident prep
Engagement Model:
Monthly retainer (minimum one-month commitment).
Easy renewal, cancel anytime. Additional sessions available as needed.
Starting from: EUR 2 000 per month
Who It’s For
- SaaS founders facing enterprise security scrutiny
- CTOs accountable for platform risk who want an experienced sounding board
- Heads of Engineering or Product managing complex security requirements
- Teams preparing for scale, compliance, or investor due-diligence milestones
Typical Outcomes
- Faster, more confident decisions on security trade-offs
- Stronger responses to enterprise buyer and regulator questions
- Clearer board and investor communication
- Improved team alignment around realistic security priorities
About Craig Balding
20 years of direct CISO-level support experience.
Former Barclays Group Security CTO and GE Red Team lead.
Board-experienced advisor with deep expertise across application, cloud, and risk management domains.
Now helping SaaS leaders earn enterprise trust — without inheriting enterprise baggage.