Managing cybersecurity in today’s world is almost indescribably tough. Many business leadership teams don’t feel up to the challenge, or they understand that outside firepower can enhance a security model. Most mid-sized firms have some technical personnel or contractors that handle most of the technical needs of security. But who is looking at the big picture of cybersecurity for the organization?
A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a senior-level team member. The CISO establishes and maintains an enterprise’s security vision, strategy, and programs. The role ensures information assets and technologies are appropriately protected. Most large organizations have a full-time CISO to handle their cybersecurity needs. Mid-range companies and smaller companies may not have such a role. Having a non-security expert in charge of security is a recipe for trouble!
What is the role of the fractional CISO?
Fractional CISO’s are becoming increasingly popular due to the flexible access to cybersecurity expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire. The remote nature of the fractional CISO allows them to make their services accessible to a wider range of organizations. The fractional CISO provides expert security guidance through:
- Understanding the organization’s strategy and business environment
- Providing threat analysis and strategy updates in real-time
- Anticipating future security and compliance challenges
- Overseeing mid-level and analyst/engineering teams
- Discovery, triage, remediation and evaluation of threats
Benefits of engaging a fractional CISO
Cybersecurity Expertise and Guidance: The fractional CISO brings top-tier expertise and cybersecurity guidance to companies who do not have the need for an in-house professional. The fractional CISO will help companies to develop and execute strategies to protect against threats.
Flexibility and Scalability: Due to the nature of the employment arrangement, fractional CISOs offer flexibility and scalability to align with various types of organizations. The fractional CISO can provide support during critical periods, offer long-term guidance or strategy, or assist with ongoing projects, adapting their expertise to the organization’s immediate needs.
Cost-Effectiveness: The average tenure of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is just 26 months, primarily due to high stress and burnout. This statistic emphasizes the challenges organizations face in maintaining a long-term, stable CISO position. When discussing the cost-effectiveness of hiring a fractional CISO, it becomes evident that the constant turnover and rehiring for such a high-cost position as a full-time employee can be expensive. On the other hand, a fractional CISO firm is unlikely to “leave” its client, providing a more reliable and consistent security solution. This stability further enhances the cost-effectiveness of employing a fractional CISO.
Access to Specialized Cybersecurity Tools and Resources: As fractional CISOs are specialists in cybersecurity, they typically have access to a range of tools and resources that are needed to implement a cybersecurity plan. This enables organizations to benefit from the latest technologies, without having to fully invest in their own infrastructure.
External Perspective: The fractional CISO brings a unique external perspective to an organization, making it easier to identify potential vulnerabilities, offer new insights, and challenge existing security processes in order to help enhance the overall security posture of the organization.