What is a virtual organization structure?

A temporary network of companies that come together quickly to exploit fast-changing opportunities — flexible, boundary-free, and utterly dependent on a strong IT platform.

Characteristics:

• Enables competitiveness in global markets via alliances & partnerships with other organizations
• Removes traditional boundaries; flexible by design
• A temporary network of companies — formed quickly for an opportunity, dissolved after
• Can act bigger than traditional organizations (each partner contributes its strength)
• Requires a strong IT platform — the network exists through its digital connections

Security angle: the virtual organization is held together only by IT — so its security is the security of the whole venture. Federated identity, contractual security requirements, data-sharing agreements, and supply-chain risk management stop being side topics and become the organizational glue. (Compare ID.SC in the NIST CSF.)

Go deeper:

• Virtual organization (Wikipedia) — the temporary, electronically-linked network of dispersed partners.