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Fractional CISO Services

Fractional CISO services provide strategic security leadership without full-time overhead. We help you build, mature, and maintain security programs with experienced CISO expertise tailored to your stage and goals.

Risk & Maturity Assessment

Understanding Your Security Posture

Every engagement starts with understanding where you are. We assess your current security posture across:

  • Technical controls and infrastructure security
  • Policies, procedures, and governance
  • Compliance status and gaps
  • Team capabilities and organizational factors
  • Third-party and vendor risks

Assessment isn't about generating long lists of findings. We prioritize risks based on business impact, likelihood, and your specific context - regulatory environment, customer requirements, growth plans. You get a clear picture of what matters most and why.

Learn more about our Security Assessment services →

Cybersecurity Program Design

Building the Right Program for Your Business

Based on assessment findings, we design security programs appropriate for your stage and goals:

For Growth-Stage Companies:

  • Security foundations that support enterprise sales
  • Compliance roadmap (SOC 2, ISO 27001, industry-specific)
  • Scalable policies and procedures
  • Cloud security architecture guidance

For Established Organizations:

  • Program maturity assessment and improvement
  • Advanced threat detection and response
  • Third-party risk management programs
  • Security team development and hiring

Program design focuses on what you actually need - not checkbox compliance or over-engineered controls. We help you invest appropriately based on real risks and business requirements.

Learn more about Security Program Design →

Build & Operate Assistance

Ongoing Security Leadership

Your Fractional CISO provides ongoing strategic leadership:

Strategic Guidance:

  • Security strategy aligned with business objectives
  • Risk-based decision making and prioritization
  • Board and executive reporting
  • Vendor evaluation and selection

Operational Support:

  • Security team leadership and development
  • Incident response guidance
  • Compliance maintenance and audit support
  • Policy development and updates

Continuous Improvement:

  • Regular security posture assessments
  • Program maturity advancement
  • Emerging threat and regulation monitoring
  • Control optimization and efficiency

Engagement models range from a few hours monthly to multiple days weekly, depending on your needs. We scale with your business as requirements evolve.

Choosing the Right Security Leadership Model

Fractional CISO vs. Full-Time CISO

Consider Fractional CISO When:

  • Company size under 500 employees
  • Security program in early or growth stages
  • Budget constraints preclude full-time CISO salary
  • Need strategic guidance more than operational execution
  • Building toward eventual full-time security leadership

Consider Full-Time CISO When:

  • Company size over 500 employees or rapid growth
  • Complex regulatory environment requiring constant attention
  • Security team of 5+ people requiring dedicated management
  • Board and customer requirements demand internal leadership
  • Security is core to business differentiation

Many companies start with Fractional CISO services and transition to full-time CISO as they grow. We help you determine the right timing and support the transition when appropriate.

Getting Started

Typical Engagement Path:

  1. Discovery call to understand your situation and goals
  2. Initial assessment to evaluate current posture (2-4 weeks)
  3. Program design and roadmap development
  4. Ongoing Fractional CISO engagement at appropriate cadence

We tailor engagements to your specific needs - some companies need intensive support during compliance sprints, others need steady strategic guidance. Flexibility is built into how we work.

If you're building your startup's first security program, see our dedicated guidance for startups and early-stage companies.

Is This Right for Your Situation?

You're experiencing these challenges:

  • • Customers are requesting security documentation you don't have
  • • Sales cycles are stalling due to security concerns
  • • You're preparing for your first security audit (SOC 2, ISO 27001)
  • • Board members or investors are asking about your security posture
  • • You're between CISOs or never had one
  • • Your technical team is strong but lacks security expertise

You're at this stage:

  • • Growth-stage startup
  • • Emerging mid-market company (50-500 employees)
  • • First-time building a formal security program
  • • Recently experienced a security incident
  • • Planning to sell to enterprise customers
  • • Preparing for due diligence (acquisition or funding)

Industries We Serve

SaaS and Technology Companies

Building security programs that support rapid growth and enterprise sales. Common needs: SOC 2 certification, cloud security, security questionnaire management, and application security.

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Protecting patient data and defending against ransomware and IP theft targeting healthcare. Common needs: HIPAA & HITRUST compliance, ransomware defense, data protection programs, and incident response planning.

Financial Services and Fintech

Securing financial data and meeting rigorous compliance requirements. Common needs: SOC 2 & ISO 27001 certification, third-party risk management, cloud security, and regulatory compliance.

Professional Services

Protecting sensitive client data and meeting cyber insurance requirements. Common needs: Client data protection, cyber insurance readiness, incident response planning, and risk assessment.

Ecommerce

Defending against fraud and operational disruption while protecting customer data. Common needs: PCI DSS compliance, fraud prevention, ransomware defense, and application security.

Common Questions About Fractional CISO Services

What is a vCISO or fractional CISO?

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. Fractional CISOs typically work with multiple clients, bringing cross-industry experience and proven methodologies to each engagement.

What are the qualifications and characteristics of a great fractional CISO?

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

How much does a fractional CISO cost?

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.

How quickly can we get started?

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

What size companies benefit most from fractional CISO services?

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.

Do you help with specific compliance frameworks?

Yes. We guide companies through SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, HITRUST, and other frameworks. We've led dozens of companies through successful first-time audits.

What if we already have IT staff or engineers?

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.

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

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.

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Ready to Strengthen Your Security Posture?

Let's have a conversation about where you are and where you need to be.

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