Question 1

What is a vCISO or fractional CISO?

Accepted Answer

A virtual CISO (vCISO) or fractional CISO is a part-time security executive providing strategic security leadership on a flexible basis. Rather than hiring a full-time security executive, companies engage a fractional CISO to build and oversee their security programs while paying only for the time and expertise they need.

Question 2

Are vCISOs and Fractional CISOs the same?

Accepted Answer

At the highest level, yes they are the same: a part-time third party providing security advice, leadership and assistance to organizations on a part-time basis. But every practitioner and service provider offers a different definition and spin.

Question 3

What are the qualifications of a great Fractional CISO?

Accepted Answer

A great fractional CISO should be:

• A partner that helps business leaders make risk-informed, strategically-aligned security decisions
• A former CISO with experience leading and shouldering responsibility for in-house security functions
• A technically skilled security operator who knows current best practices and latest tools
• A practitioner with expertise in securing AI usage and using AI to improve security
• A mission-focused executive with consulting acumen to engage cross-functional teams
• A collaborator who can dive into technical issues and tap other specialists when needed
• A professional with a passion for learning and driving the evolving state of the art

Question 4

How much does a fractional CISO cost?

Accepted Answer

Most engagements range from $10,000 to $25,000 per month, depending on scope and complexity. This is significantly less than the $300K-$500K annual cost of a full-time CISO.

Question 5

How quickly can we get started with a fractional CISO?

Accepted Answer

Typically 2-4 weeks from initial conversation to active engagement. Much faster than the 3-6 month hiring process for a full-time CISO.

Question 6

What size companies benefit most from fractional CISO services?

Accepted Answer

Growth-stage companies and emerging mid-market organizations building their first formal security programs. Typically companies with 50-500 employees who need strategic security leadership but aren't ready for a full-time executive.

Question 7

How do we know if we need a fractional CISO vs. a full-time CISO?

Accepted Answer

Ask yourself: Do we need strategic security guidance more than 15-20 hours per week? Do we have a large security team requiring daily hands-on management? If no to both, fractional CISO services are likely the right fit.

Question 8

What if we already have IT staff or engineers?

Accepted Answer

Perfect. A fractional CISO works with your existing team, providing strategic direction and security expertise they may not have. We're not replacing technical staff - we're providing the leadership layer.

Question 9

How long does a security assessment take?

Accepted Answer

Security assessments typically take 2-4 weeks, or up to 6-8 weeks for more complex or comprehensive assessments.

Question 10

What deliverables come with a security assessment?

Accepted Answer

You get practical, actionable deliverables: findings prioritized by business impact, specific remediation recommendations, and preliminary roadmap for addressing gaps. We focus on clarity over volume - you'll understand what matters, why it matters, and what to do about it.

Question 11

When should you conduct a security assessment?

Accepted Answer

Security assessments make sense when you're preparing for compliance audits, responding to customer security requirements, after significant infrastructure changes, or when you need visibility into specific risk areas.

Question 12

How is a security assessment different from a security audit?

Accepted Answer

Security assessments are collaborative evaluations focused on finding gaps and improving security. Audits are formal examinations verifying compliance with specific standards. Our assessments help you understand current state and chart a path forward, not check boxes for compliance reports.

Question 13

Which compliance framework do I need?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your customers and market. SOC 2 is most common for B2B SaaS companies. Healthcare requires HIPAA (and often HITRUST). Government sales typically require FedRAMP or StateRAMP. International customers may require ISO 27001. We help you prioritize based on your business needs.

Question 14

Can I pursue multiple compliance frameworks at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's often more efficient. Many frameworks share common controls, so pursuing SOC 2 and ISO 27001 together (for example) requires less incremental effort than doing them separately. We design controls to satisfy multiple frameworks where possible.

Question 15

What's the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Accepted Answer

Type I evaluates control design at a single point in time. Type II evaluates both design and operating effectiveness over a period (typically 6-12 months). Enterprise customers almost always require Type II because it demonstrates controls work consistently over time, not just on audit day.

Question 16

What's the difference between HIPAA and HITRUST?

Accepted Answer

HIPAA is a federal law requiring healthcare organizations to protect PHI through administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. HITRUST is a certification framework that includes HIPAA requirements plus additional security controls from ISO 27001, NIST, and other standards. Many enterprise healthcare customers require HITRUST as it demonstrates a more comprehensive security program.

Question 17

When should we start working toward compliance?

Accepted Answer

Start building security processes and operations before you're under pressure. When enterprise customers consistently ask for compliance reports, move forward with formal certification. If you're being bombarded by client requests, it's time to start.

Question 18

When should we hire our first security person?

Accepted Answer

Most startups engage a fractional CISO first, then hire their first full-time security person when revenue crosses $75-200M ARR or the team reaches 300-500 people. A fractional CISO helps you build the foundation and determine what to hire for when it's time.

Question 19

What's the minimum viable security program for a startup?

Accepted Answer

Minimum viable security includes: secure cloud configuration with proper access controls, MFA enforced across the organization, secrets management (no credentials in code), basic security policies, regular backups and disaster recovery, dependency scanning for vulnerable packages, and security awareness training for employees.

Question 20

Can our engineers handle security themselves?

Accepted Answer

Engineers can handle tactical security work, but lack time and context for strategic decisions - what to prioritize, how to respond to customer requirements, and how to build a cohesive program. A fractional CISO provides strategic guidance while your team handles implementation.

Question 21

How do we manage third-party vendor security?

Accepted Answer

Establish a vendor security assessment process that evaluates vendors based on risk level. High-risk vendors (those handling customer data or critical services) need comprehensive reviews including SOC 2 reports, security questionnaires, and contract terms. Lower-risk vendors can use simplified assessments.

Question 22

What security testing should we do?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive security testing includes: automated security testing in your CI/CD pipeline (SAST, dependency scanning), regular penetration testing by third parties, continuous vulnerability scanning of infrastructure, API security testing, and code reviews for security-sensitive features. We recommend ongoing public bug bounty programs as your program matures.

Question 23

Do we need HIPAA compliance if we're a B2B healthtech company?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI on behalf of covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans, or healthcare clearinghouses), you're a Business Associate and must comply with HIPAA. This applies to most B2B healthtech companies.

Question 24

How do we protect against ransomware attacks?

Accepted Answer

Effective ransomware protection requires multiple layers: endpoint detection and response (EDR), network segmentation, regular backups with offline copies, access controls, and security awareness training. Focus on both prevention and rapid recovery.

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