Hire a Fractional CISO
Enterprise-Grade Security. Fractional Cost.
Senior cybersecurity leadership without the $300K+ full-time price tag. Fractionus connects you with vetted Fractional CISOs who protect your business, build your security programme, and keep you compliant from day one.
Why security leaders choose Fractionus
- Vetted operators only. We shortlist CISOs with track records in your industry and threat landscape.
- Fast start. Typical kickoff in days — critical for businesses facing compliance deadlines or active security concerns.
- Flexible engagement. Scale from 1 day/week to full-time sprint as threats and priorities evolve.
- Clear outcomes. Security roadmap, compliance milestones, incident response plan, and a risk register.
What is a Fractional CISO?
A Fractional CISO is a senior cybersecurity executive who partners with your leadership team on a part-time basis to build and run your information security programme. They bring the same strategic oversight you'd expect from a full-time CISO — risk management, policy design, vendor security, and compliance leadership — without the permanent headcount cost.
Where they go deep
- Security strategy, roadmap, and programme design
- Risk assessment and threat modelling
- Compliance and certification (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA)
- Incident response planning and tabletop exercises
- Vendor security assessment and third-party risk management
- Security awareness training and team leadership
- Board and investor security reporting
Fractional CSIO
Ex-SoundCloud
Fractional CRO
Ex-Heineken
Fractional CXO
Ex-McKenzie
Fractional GTM
Ex-Salesforce
Fractional Head of AI
Ex-GE Capital
Fractional COO
Ex-Glossier
Fractional CTO
Ex-Afterpay
Fractional CTO
Ex-Google
Fractional CPO
Ex-Pleo
Fractional CTO
Ex-BMW
Fractional CPO
Ex-@ Lego
Fractional CFO
Ex-We Are Brands
When to hire a fractional CISO
- You're pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, or enterprise contracts. Customers and partners are asking for proof of security maturity — your fractional CISO gets you there faster.
- You've had a security incident or near-miss. A fractional CISO diagnoses vulnerabilities and builds the response frameworks before the next one.
- You're scaling rapidly. Fast headcount growth, new integrations, and SaaS sprawl dramatically expand your attack surface — you need strategic oversight, not just tooling.
- You're preparing for a funding round or M&A. Investors and acquirers conduct security due diligence — a fractional CISO ensures you pass.
What does engagement look like?
Most companies start at 1–2 days per week for the first 90 days to run a security assessment and build the programme roadmap. Sprint capacity can be added during compliance pushes or incident response. Common formats: monthly retainer, project-based, or incident-triggered.
90-Day deliverables typically include
- Security assessment and risk register
- Policy and procedure framework
- Compliance gap analysis and remediation roadmap
- Incident response and business continuity plan
- Vendor security review process
- Security dashboard and board reporting template
Hire a Fractional CISO
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Why the fractional model is surging
With breaches costing SMBs an average of $4.45M and enterprise clients increasingly requiring security certification as a condition of doing business, security leadership has become non-negotiable — but a full-time CISO at $300K+ is out of reach for most scale-ups. The fractional model closes that gap, delivering immediate security maturity at a fraction of the cost. Not sure if you’re ready? Read 7 Signs You Need a Fractional Executive (Not a Full-Time Hire).
How Fractionus works
- Brief us once. Your industry, compliance targets, current stack, and security concerns.
- Shortlist in days. Meet 2–3 vetted fractional CISOs matched to your threat profile.
- You choose. Interview, check fit, and select your leader.
- We handle everything else. Paperwork, billing, and smooth scale-up/scale-down.
What you'll get — and measure
- A single accountable owner for your information security programme
- A documented risk register and remediation roadmap
- Compliance milestones tracked against your target certification(s)
- A board-ready security report and communication cadence
- Measurable reduction in open vulnerabilities and policy gaps
Fractional leaders from top brands
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about working with a fractional CISO through Fractionus
Do we need a CISO if we already have an IT manager or DevSecOps engineer?
Yes — they're complementary roles. Your IT/DevSecOps team executes; your CISO sets the strategy, manages risk at the business level, and communicates with leadership, the board, and auditors.
How long does it take to achieve SOC 2 compliance?
With a fractional CISO driving the programme, most companies achieve SOC 2 Type I within 3–6 months and Type II within 9–12 months.
What industries do your CISOs specialise in?
Our network includes CISOs with deep experience in SaaS, fintech, healthtech, ecommerce, and professional services — we match based on your specific compliance and threat profile.
How quickly can we start?
Most clients meet shortlists within a week and kick off within days of selection — critical if you're facing a compliance deadline or active security concern.
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