Navigating the World of Fractional CISOs: What to Know Before You Hire

It’s critical for businesses to maintain a strong security posture to protect their sensitive data and intellectual property. One way to achieve this is by engaging with a fractional Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

A fractional CISO is a professional who provides the services of a full-time CISO on a part-time basis. This arrangement is often used by startups and small to medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources or budget to hire a full-time CISO. Engaging with one provides access to an expert in information security who can provide guidance and support in developing and maintaining a robust security program.

There are multiple benefits to engaging with a fractional CISO, including access to expertise and experience, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and scalability. Fractional CISOs bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, allowing businesses to tap into the resources they need, when they need them. This arrangement can also be cost-effective as businesses only pay for the services they need, rather than the salaries, benefits, and other expenses associated with a full-time employee.

There are also, of course, potential drawbacks to engaging with a fractional CISO. Limited availability and accessibility, a lack of commitment and buy-in, and difficulty in establishing a strong working relationship are all potential challenges. To overcome these drawbacks, it’s important for businesses to carefully consider the factors before working with one.

Working with a fractional CISO can provide startups and small to medium-sized businesses with the expertise and support they need to maintain a strong security posture, but it’s important to carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks before making a decision. By taking the time to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this arrangement, businesses can make an informed decision that is best for their unique needs and goals.

A fractional Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a professional who provides the services of a full-time CISO on a part-time basis. This arrangement is often used by startups and small to medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources or budget to hire a full-time CISO. In this blog post, we will explore what they are and what their role and responsibilities entail.

The role of a fractional CISO is to provide guidance and support in developing and maintaining a robust security program. This includes performing security assessments, developing security policies and procedures, managing security incidents, and staying up-to-date with the latest security trends and technologies. Additionally, they may also be responsible for educating employees on the importance of information security and how to maintain a strong security posture.

“For organizations that need to fill the need for leadership but are not in a position to bring in a full-time and often very costly qualified CISO, the virtual CISO — a combination of staff augmentation, consultant, advisor and strategist — might be an option.”
– Gartner

It’s important to note that the role of a fractional CISO is different from that of a full-time CISO. A full-time CISO is responsible for managing all aspects of an organization’s information security program and serves as the main point of contact for all security-related issues. On the other hand, a fractional CISO provides support and guidance, but may not have the same level of authority and decision-making power as a full-time CISO.

A real-life example of a fractional CISO in action is a startup that has just received its first round of funding. The company has limited resources and budget constraints, making it difficult to allocate sufficient resources to comply with all of the necessary regulations and standards. By engaging with a fractional CISO, the startup can access the expertise and experience they need to develop a robust security program without having to incur the expenses associated with a full-time employee.

Another example is a small to medium-sized business that is expanding into new markets. The business is concerned about the potential risks posed by the new market and wants to ensure that their information security program is up to par. By retaining a fractional CISO, the business can access the expertise and experience they need to assess their current security posture and make any necessary improvements.

Having a strong security posture is essential for businesses of all sizes, and one way to achieve this is by retaining a fractional CISO, a professional who provides the services of a full-time CISO on a part-time basis. Let’s explore the key benefits of working with one and the potential impact these benefits can have on a business’s overall security posture.

One of the key benefits is access to expertise and experience. They have a deep understanding of the latest security trends, technologies, and compliance frameworks, and can provide the guidance and support necessary to develop and maintain a robust security program. This access to expertise and experience can be particularly beneficial for startups and small to medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources or budget to hire a full-time CISO.

Another benefit of working with a fractional CISO is cost-effectiveness. The cost of hiring a full-time CISO can be prohibitively high for many businesses, especially startups and small to medium-sized businesses. They allow these businesses to access the expertise and experience they need to maintain a strong security posture without having to incur the expenses associated with a full-time employee.

Flexibility and scalability are two additional benefits of a fractional CISO. They can provide support and guidance on an as-needed basis, allowing businesses to scale their security program as they grow. This can be particularly beneficial for startups and small to medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources or budget to hire a full-time CISO in the early stages of their development.

“A virtual CISO can help by sitting outside the tactical day-to-day activities, they can provide vision and guidance to drive a more programmatic approach”

A real-life example of the benefits of engaging with a fractional CISO can be seen in the case of a small to medium-sized business that is expanding into new markets. The business is concerned about the potential risks posed by the new market and wants to ensure that their information security program is up to par. By working with a fractional CISO, the business can access the expertise and experience they need to assess their current security posture and make any necessary improvements.

Another example is a startup that has just received its first round of funding. The company has limited resources and budget constraints, making it difficult to allocate sufficient resources to comply with all of the necessary regulations and standards. By engaging with a fractional CISO, the startup can access the expertise and experience they need to develop a robust security program without having to incur the expenses associated with a full-time employee.

Fractional CISO’s can provide a number of benefits to businesses of all sizes, including access to expertise and experience, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility and scalability. These benefits can have a significant impact on a business’s overall security posture and can help ensure that their security program is up to par. Whether you are a startup or a small to medium-sized business, they can provide the guidance and support you need to maintain a strong security posture.

While a fractional CISO can have many benefits for businesses, there are also potential drawbacks to consider. These drawbacks can impact the effectiveness of the fractional CISO and the overall security posture of the business.

Real-life examples can help illustrate the impact of these drawbacks. For example, a business may have engaged with a fractional CISO but found that they were not available during a critical security breach. This resulted in a delay in response and resolution, which compromised the security of the business. Another business may have struggled to establish a strong working relationship with their fractional CISO, leading to miscommunication and a lack of engagement on important security initiatives.

While these drawbacks can have a negative impact on the business’s overall security posture, they can also be mitigated with proper planning and communication. Businesses can work with their fractional CISO to establish clear expectations, communication protocols, and response plans to ensure a successful working relationship and effective security posture.

By being aware of these challenges and taking proactive steps to address them, businesses can ensure a strong and effective security posture with the support of their fractional CISO.

It’s essential for businesses to carefully consider several key questions to ensure that they make the right decision. These questions will help businesses determine their security and compliance requirements, budget, timeline for engagement, and areas of expertise required. This section will provide a list of the most important questions to consider, along with a detailed explanation of each one.

What are your security and compliance requirements?

This is essential in determining the level of security and compliance that the business requires. It will help to identify the specific regulations and standards that the business must meet and the level of risk that it’s willing to accept.

What is your budget and timeline for engagement?

This will help determine the resources they have available for engaging with a fractional CISO, including budget and timeline. It’s important to have a clear understanding of these resources to ensure that the engagement is successful.

What areas of expertise are required?

This will help determine the areas of expertise required for their fractional CISO. It will help to identify the specific skills and knowledge that the fractional CISO must have to meet the business’s security and compliance requirements.

What is your current security posture?

This will help understand their current security posture, including any areas of weakness or vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. This information will be useful in determining the specific areas where a fractional CISO can make the most significant impact.

How will they integrate with your current security team?

This will help determine how the fractional CISO will integrate with their existing security team. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of how the fractional CISO will work with the existing team to ensure that the engagement is successful.

What is the level of support provided?

This will help determine the level of support provided by the fractional CISO, including the hours of availability, response time, and the level of engagement with the business.

How will they communicate with your stakeholders?

This will help businesses determine how the fractional CISO will communicate with their stakeholders, including senior management, security teams, and other departments.

What is their experience and track record?

This will help determine the fractional CISO’s experience and track record. It’s important to have a clear understanding of their experience and the results they have achieved in previous engagements.

How will they ensure the continuity of security services?

This will help determine how the fractional CISO will ensure the continuity of security services, including the provision of services during times of absence or unavailability.

What is their approach to risk management?

This will help determine the fractional CISO’s approach to risk management, including their methodology for identifying and mitigating risk.

These questions will provide businesses with a comprehensive understanding of the fractional CISO’s engagement process to help make an informed decision. it’s important for businesses to consider question carefully and seek advice from peers and industry experts if necessary. By doing so, businesses can ensure that they engage with the right fractional CISO for their security and compliance requirements and achieve the desired results.

Finding the right fractional CISO for your business can be a challenge, but with the right approach and resources, you can make the process much easier. Here are some resources and tips to help you find a fractional CISO that is right for you:

When evaluating potential fractional CISOs, consider the following:

A fractional CISO can be a valuable investment for your business, but it’s important to find the right fit. By considering these resources and tips, you can ensure that you find one that is right for you and your business.

Fractional CISO’s can bring significant benefits to a business, including access to expertise and experience, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility and scalability. However, it’s also important to consider the potential drawbacks, including limited availability and accessibility, lack of commitment and buy-in, and difficulty in establishing a strong working relationship. Before engaging with one, it’s important to carefully consider a range of factors, including the business’s security and compliance requirements, budget and timeline for engagement, and areas of expertise required. This can be achieved by asking key questions, conducting research and obtaining referrals.

When looking to find a fractional CISO, businesses can explore a range of resources including networking and referrals, online research and reviews, and industry associations and professional organizations. It’s important to assess the benefits and drawbacks of each resource and choose the best one that suits the business’s needs.

A fractional CISO can be a valuable solution for businesses looking to improve their security posture, but it requires careful consideration and planning to ensure the right fit. By considering all of the factors discussed in this blog, businesses and stakeholders can make an informed decision and find the right fractional CISO to meet their needs.