Filling the Gap with a Fractional Executive

Hiring a CISO may be out of the question for some businesses. As mentioned earlier, CISOs are in short supply and expensive. Bringing on a full-time person to fill the role simply may not be possible. If that is your situation, consider hiring a fractional CISO.

Fractional CISOs offer many benefits:

Highly skilled security professionals

Many were full-time CISOs at organizations before choosing to offer their services to a broader set of companies, and they have the knowledge and experience to lead your organization’s security operation.

Less expensive than a full-time employee

As a fractional resource, these CISOs work on a contract basis that is structured to be flexible and more affordable than bringing on a permanent employee.

Specialize in helping businesses create security programs

They are experts at evaluating your current security posture, developing a strategy, and implementing the elements you need while ensuring your business complies with all industry standards and regulations.

Excel at risk management

Fractional CISOs are well-trained to lead security assessments, identify vulnerabilities, develop mitigation strategies, select key technology platforms (including evaluating and selecting third-party vendors and service providers), and oversee implementation of security controls.

Close a skills gap

Finding top security talent that is available is a challenge for every organization. Fractional CISOs provide in-demand skills that are hard to find in the marketplace.

Offer a strategic point of view

Fractional CISOs are more than strong technologists; they bring an executive presence and a strategic outlook to security operations and can interact with senior leaders at any organization.

A fractional CISO may be the right answer for your organization’s security needs. But before you take that step, make sure you vet candidates carefully.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Fractional CISO

How do you know if the person you are considering is a good fit for the CISO role? Here are some questions to ask that will help you decide:

What is your background and experience in cybersecurity?
What industries have you worked in? Is there one industry you consider yourself an expert in?
What security leadership roles have you held in the past? How long have you worked as a CISO?
Can you share examples of projects where you implemented a security program or a specific cybersecurity solution? What challenges were you facing and how did you overcome them?
How do you assess security risks in an organization? What approach do you use and how do you prioritize issues?
How would you ensure our organization is compliant with industry standards and regulations?
What do you consider to be the most important part of an information security program?
What strategies would you deploy for incident management? How would you recover from a data breach or a ransomware attack?
Can you share an example where you had to recover from a breach? What happened, what was the cause, how did you recover operations, and what was the fallout?
What is your view of using AI to enhance cybersecurity? What are your concerns with the technology, if you have any, and how would you mitigate them?
What is your experience working with third-party security vendors and service providers? How do you evaluate them? What would you do to optimize the working relationship?
What is your approach to collaborating with other senior executives? How do you ensure effective communication? How do you gain support for security initiatives?
What strategies have you used to develop a security-minded culture?
What is your availability and engagement model? Are you currently supporting other organizations? If so, how many?
Can you provide references from past clients or employers who can speak to your skills, experience, and accomplishments as a full-time or fractional CISO?

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