Hire a fractional CISO — executive-level security, part-time
A fractional CISO is a senior security executive who owns your security program, compliance posture, and incident readiness on a part-time basis. Also called a vCISO.
A fractional CISO costs $5k–$15k/mo ($225–$500/hr), typically works 1–3 days per week, and can be hired in about 48 hours through RecruitFractional — with no placement fee or percentage of compensation. Engagements run fractional, interim, or advisory.
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Featured fractional CISOs
1 featured CISO on Executive Pro
When to hire a fractional CISO
Most companies hire a fractional CISO when the founder or existing team can no longer own the security function at executive depth. Common triggers:
- You need SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA to close deals
- Enterprise buyers are sending security questionnaires you can't answer
- You need incident response readiness and a real IR plan
- You are approaching a size or revenue threshold that requires a CISO on paper
What a fractional CISO owns
A fractional CISO operates as your accountable Chief Information Security Officer on a part-time basis. Typical scope:
- — SOC 2 / ISO 27001 / HIPAA readiness and audit management
- — Security program, policies, and controls
- — Risk register and third-party risk
- — Incident response plan and tabletop exercises
- — Security team hiring plan and vendor management
- — Customer trust and enterprise questionnaire responses
Engagement models
Fractional (ongoing)
1–3 days per week on a recurring basis. Best when you need executive judgment in the business every week, but not a full-time hire yet.
Interim (full-time, fixed term)
Full-time coverage for 3–9 months. Best for a vacancy, a fundraise, an M&A event, or a turnaround.
Project / advisory
Scoped engagement (10–40 hours) tied to a specific deliverable — a plan, a system, a hire, a diligence.
How much does a fractional CISO cost?
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a fractional CISO (vCISO)?
- A fractional or virtual CISO is a senior security executive who owns your security program on a part-time basis — SOC 2 or ISO readiness, policies, incident response, and enterprise trust. Typically 4–8 hours per week.
- How much does a fractional CISO cost?
- Fractional CISO retainers typically run $5,000–$15,000 per month, or $225–$500 per hour, depending on compliance scope and audit workload.
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