Virtual CISO (vCISO) — Fractional Security Leadership
CISO-level guidance without the full-time headcount. Program design, board reporting, vendor risk, compliance strategy, and incident preparedness — on retainer or by project.
CISO-level guidance. Without the headcount.
You need someone who can talk to your board about cyber risk in language they understand, evaluate vendors with the eye of a security leader, and own the security strategy across audit cycles. You don’t need that person at full-time salary plus equity plus benefits. The vCISO model gives you the seniority and judgment without the carrying cost. Done well, it’s not a part-time CISO — it’s a CISO who’s accountable for outcomes you’ve defined together, paid for the time and impact you actually need.
What’s Included
Security program design and ownership — strategy, roadmap, budget, KPIs. The CISO function with you driving direction, our vCISO executing.
Board and executive reporting — quarterly board materials, risk register maintenance, executive briefings translating cyber into business language.
Vendor and third-party risk — evaluation framework, due diligence on critical vendors, contract security language review.
Compliance strategy — framework selection, audit prep coordination, evidence ownership across CMMC, FedRAMP, SOC 2, and others.
Incident preparedness — IR plan ownership, tabletop facilitation, breach response coordination if needed.
Hiring and team development — interview panels for security hires, mentorship for your existing security staff, succession planning.
Engagement Models
Retainer (8–20 hrs/month) — most common. Senior CISO time available for ongoing strategy, monthly check-ins, and tactical questions as they arise.
Project-defined scope — fixed engagement around a specific outcome (e.g., “ready for first SOC 2 audit,” “complete CMMC L2 readiness”).
Interim full-time — bridging an unexpected CISO departure or a critical strategic window. Typically 3–6 months while permanent search runs.
Outcomes
- A security strategy your board has bought into, mapped to your business priorities and budget cycle.
- A vendor risk program that doesn’t slow down procurement.
- A CISO function that survives quarterly turbulence and audit cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a typical retainer rate? Scoped per engagement based on hours and complexity. A standard 12-hours/month retainer is in the low five figures monthly. Project work is fixed-fee.
Can we transition to a full-time CISO later? Yes — many engagements do. The vCISO supports the search, sits on the interview panel, and runs a structured handoff.
How is this different from a security consulting engagement? A vCISO holds the role’s accountability. A consultant produces deliverables and leaves. We’re available to your team day-to-day, named in your org chart, and committed to the outcomes of the security program — not just the artifacts.
What industries do your vCISOs cover? Federal contractors, state and local government, healthcare, fintech, SaaS. Industry depth matters — request a vCISO with experience in your sector.
Ready to talk — or still evaluating?
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