Fractional CISO: security leadership before you're ready to hire one
A first SOC 2, a close call, or hard customer questions. An operating CISO who has led security in-house runs your program, with a team for the hands-on work.
30 minutes. No pitch. Talk to a practicing CISO.
Security first. The audit follows.
What is a fractional CISO?
A fractional CISO, also called a vCISO or virtual CISO, is an experienced security leader who runs your security program part time for a monthly fee, instead of a full-time hire. With IOmergent, that's an operating CISO who has led security in-house: they set the roadmap, run the program week to week, answer customers and the board, and bring a team for the hands-on work. Engagements start within 2 weeks and typically run $8K to $25K a month.
You don't need a full-time CISO yet. You need this.
A breach, or a close call
An incident exposed the gaps. You need experienced security leadership now, running the response and making sure the next one doesn't land.
Questions you can't answer
Customers and prospects are asking hard, technical security questions your team can't answer with confidence. We answer them and close the gaps behind them.
Threats outpacing your bench
The threat landscape moves faster than your in-house depth. We bring the technical expertise to keep up, without hiring a full security team to get it.
Growth outrunning your controls
Headcount, data, and infrastructure are scaling faster than your security. We build controls and processes that scale with you instead of breaking under the load.
Your first SOC 2
A deadline and no roadmap. We define the controls, run the program, and get you to the report without stalling the business.
A board that wants a roadmap
The board is asking about security posture. We give founders a credible story and a plan the board and your customers accept.
You get the leadership. You skip the full-time salary.
Full-time CISO hire
- × $300K to $500K+ fully loaded before you need the bandwidth
- × Months to source and hire the right person
- × Overkill for an early-stage program
- × One person's playbook, not a bench
IOmergent Fractional CISO
- ✓ Senior leadership at a fraction of the cost
- ✓ Up and running within 2 weeks
- ✓ Right-sized to your stage, scaling as you grow
- ✓ A team and playbooks behind one point of contact
From where you stand to a program that runs.
Assess where you stand
A fast, honest read on your risks, gaps, and the deadlines driving them. No 200-page audit, just the ground truth.
Build the roadmap
A prioritized plan tied to your business goals: the audit, the deal, the board ask. Sequenced so nothing stalls.
Run the program
We own the leadership layer and drive the work, controls, policies, evidence, so your team keeps shipping.
Represent you
We stand in front of the board, the auditor, and the enterprise buyer, and show them a program they can trust.
Fractional CISO and vCISO questions
What is a fractional CISO (vCISO)?
How is a fractional CISO different from a security consultant?
Fractional CISO or Vanta: which one do we need?
How quickly can a vCISO engagement start?
Is a fractional CISO the same as a vCISO, CISO as a service, or a part-time CISO?
How many hours per month does a fractional CISO work?
How much does a fractional CISO cost?
When should we hire a full-time CISO instead?
Not sure you need a full-time CISO yet?
Tell us what's driving the need, an audit, a deal, a board. We'll give you a straight read on whether fractional is the right fit and what it would take.