The Cimplicity Institute
The Cimplicity Institute is a Johannesburg-based cybersecurity and advisory boutique operating across Southern Africa, offering virtual CISO services, advisory boards, and training/facilitation to enterprises, governments, and non-profits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Cimplicity Institute does
The Cimplicity Institute is a Johannesburg-headquartered cybersecurity and advisory boutique serving clients across Southern Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Lesotho. The firm sells three service streams: Virtual CISO (vCISO) services that implement and maintain cybersecurity programs without the cost of a full-time CISO; advisory board services split into Project, Business, and Non-Corporate boards providing strategic guidance, scope clarity, and metrics definition; and a Roundtable & Training Facilitation stream covering cybersecurity awareness, executive training, and event facilitation. It does not operate a proprietary technology platform; client engagement is facilitated through a third-party Setmore self-serve booking system offering 15-, 30-, and 45-minute free consultation tiers. Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, targeting C-level executives, boards, state-owned entities, and local governments, with founder Bernard Chadenga (nearly 20 years in cybersecurity) acting as the primary public face at events such as ITWeb Security Summit 2024 and on a YouTube content channel. The firm is privately held, founder-led, with no disclosed institutional funding and no disclosed revenue, pricing, or headcount.
The Cimplicity Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cimplicity Institute
- Legal name
- Cimplicity Institute
- Website
- https://thecimplicityinstitute.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Cimplicity Institute is a Johannesburg-based cybersecurity and advisory boutique operating across Southern Africa, offering virtual CISO services, advisory boards, and training/facilitation to enterprises, governments, and non-profits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Cimplicity Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory & Assessments (BPAKAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC) (BPAHAFAF), Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) & Security Management (EDAOAIAG)
Keywords
Where The Cimplicity Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Cimplicity Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Virtual CISO (vCISO) Services: Provides comprehensive vCISO services offering world-class cybersecurity expertise to businesses of all sizes, implementing robust cybersecurity strategies tailored to each client's unique needs.
- Advisory Board Services: Offers strategic guidance and advisory board services including Project Advisory Boards, Business Advisory Boards, and Non-Corporate Advisory Boards. Provides strategic advice, scope clarity, structure establishment, and success metrics definition.
- Roundtable & Training Facilitation: Cybersecurity training, awareness programs, executive training, events & conferences facilitation, learning and development, and HR/management reporting services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Zero Obligatory Call - 15 minute free initial meeting |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Short Chat - 30 minute free consultation |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Info Session - 45 minute free consultation |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Cimplicity Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cimplicity Institute provides Virtual CISO (vCISO) services delivering end-to-end cybersecurity program implementation and maintenance, Advisory Board Services (Project, Business, and Non-Corporate advisory boards) that supply strategic guidance and scope clarity to client leadership, and Roundtable & Training Facilitation covering cybersecurity training, executive development, and event facilitation. Its offering targets organizations across Southern Africa seeking C-level cybersecurity leadership and external strategic counsel.
Product overview
The Cimplicity Institute offers a unified service portfolio centered on three main streams: vCISO Services (providing virtual chief information security officer expertise for cybersecurity program implementation), Advisory Board Services (comprising Project Advisory Boards, Business Advisory Boards, and Non-Corporate Advisory Boards that provide strategic guidance and counsel), and Roundtable & Training Facilitation (offering cybersecurity training, awareness programs, executive training, and events). The advisory board services are designed to achieve scope clarity, establish solid structure, define success metrics, and provide ongoing strategic partnership.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Virtual CISO (vCISO) Services Provides organizations of all sizes with a complete Virtual Chief Information Security Officer experience, implementing and maintaining effective cybersecurity programs without complexity. Delivers strategic cybersecurity guidance tailored to each client's needs at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CISO.
- Project Advisory Boards External guidance service for organizations of any size seeking to focus on a specific project, bringing diverse knowledge to assist in decision-making, problem-solving, and project success.
- Business Advisory Boards Advisory service catering to startups, small family businesses, and medium-sized organisations, providing external strategic guidance, scope clarity, structure establishment, and success metric definition.
- Non-Corporate Advisory Boards Advisory service for not-for-profit organisations, universities, and government initiatives, offering external guidance to align projects with business goals and strategies, and to represent stakeholder interests.
- Roundtable & Training Facilitation Training and facilitation services covering cybersecurity training, awareness programs, executive training, events and conferences, learning and development, and HR and management reporting.
Quantifiable outcome
- vCISO services at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CISO
Companies that use The Cimplicity Institute
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Cimplicity Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Cimplicity Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Cimplicity Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ntirety: Provides vCISO and managed cybersecurity services to mid-market and enterprise clients. Closely comparable to The Cimplicity Institute's core vCISO subscription offering, though Ntirety operates with a broader technology stack.
- BARR Advisory: Cybersecurity compliance and advisory firm providing vCISO, GRC, and risk advisory services. Directly comparable in offering mix and target customer profile of growing organisations needing fractional security leadership.
- Tesserai: Specialist vCISO and fractional security leadership provider serving SMBs and mid-market organisations. Mirrors The Cimplicity Institute's value proposition of delivering CISO-level expertise at a fraction of full-time cost.
- Schellman: Cybersecurity and compliance advisory firm offering vCISO services alongside audit and assessment work. Comparable to Cimplicity's combination of vCISO delivery with structured GRC advisory.
Broad incumbents
- KPMG Cyber Security Services: Global Big Four advisory practice with a substantial cybersecurity and GRC consulting arm. Comparable in service scope (GRC advisory, cyber strategy) but operates at materially larger scale and geographic reach.
- Deloitte Cyber Risk Services: Big Four cyber advisory practice offering vCISO, GRC, and risk advisory across Africa and globally. Comparable to Cimplicity's enterprise-focused advisory approach but with vastly greater resources.
- Mandiant (Google Cloud): Global cybersecurity advisory and incident response leader, now part of Google Cloud, with deep vCISO and cyber strategy capabilities. Represents the scaled incumbent threat to boutique firms like Cimplicity in enterprise mandates.
Regional players
- Nclose: South African cybersecurity services and MDR provider offering advisory and managed security to African enterprises. Comparable regional peer with overlapping advisory and cybersecurity service lines.
- Performanta: African-headquartered cybersecurity services firm specialising in managed security and advisory across the continent. Direct regional competitor to Cimplicity with overlapping vCISO-adjacent capabilities in Southern Africa.
- CyberCyan: South African cybersecurity services firm providing advisory and managed security to African organisations. Comparable regional boutique competing for similar mid-market and enterprise clients in Southern Africa.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Cimplicity Institute social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cimplicity Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cimplicity Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Cimplicity Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cimplicity Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Cimplicity Institute
What does The Cimplicity Institute do?
The Cimplicity Institute provides Virtual CISO (vCISO) services delivering end-to-end cybersecurity program implementation and maintenance, Advisory Board Services (Project, Business, and Non-Corporate advisory boards) that supply strategic guidance and scope clarity to client leadership, and Roundtable & Training Facilitation covering cybersecurity training, executive development, and event facilitation. Its offering targets organizations across Southern Africa seeking C-level cybersecurity leadership and external strategic counsel.
Is The Cimplicity Institute a public or private company?
The Cimplicity Institute is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Cimplicity Institute founded?
The Cimplicity Institute was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Cimplicity Institute based?
The Cimplicity Institute is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does The Cimplicity Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Virtual CISO (vCISO) Services are the primary driver. The others are advisory Board Services and roundtable & Training Facilitation.
Who are The Cimplicity Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ntirety, BARR Advisory, Tesserai and Schellman. Broad incumbents are KPMG Cyber Security Services, Deloitte Cyber Risk Services and Mandiant (Google Cloud). Regional players are Nclose, Performanta and CyberCyan.
Does The Cimplicity Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Cimplicity Institute.
What industry is The Cimplicity Institute in?
The Cimplicity Institute's product category is Cybersecurity Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKAHAH, Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory & Assessments, with a secondary code of BPAHAFAF, Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC). Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 8741.