Security Leadership
Fractional CISO
Someone accountable for the security program — not just the next project.
Who this is for
- Companies past the point where 'whoever's available' can own security decisions
- Teams that need a security leader for board and customer conversations but aren't ready for a full-time executive hire
- Organizations mid-way through SOC 2 or ISO 27001 that need ongoing ownership, not just a one-time project
What this addresses
- Security decisions get made ad hoc, with no one accountable for how they add up
- A board or investor is asking who owns security, and the honest answer is 'no one, specifically'
- A compliance program was implemented once and has quietly started drifting out of date
Our approach
A fractional CISO engagement starts with the same assessment work as any other engagement — understanding the business, its obligations, and its current gaps — but continues as an ongoing relationship rather than a fixed project.
That means recurring involvement in security decisions, vendor and tooling choices, board and customer-facing security conversations, and keeping the compliance program from decaying between audits.
The time commitment is scoped to what the business actually needs — a few hours a month for an early-stage company, more for one actively pursuing certification or scaling its security function.
Every engagement follows the same six-step methodology — see our approach.
What to expect
Fractional CISO engagements are ongoing relationships, not fixed-scope projects, so pricing and time commitment are set per engagement based on company stage and what's being asked of the role — not a flat rate.
Frequently asked
How is this different from hiring a full-time CISO?
A full-time CISO makes sense once the security function is large enough to justify a dedicated executive. A fractional CISO provides the same accountability and judgment at a scope and cost that matches an earlier-stage or leaner organization.
Does a fractional CISO also do the hands-on technical work?
It can — OCPL's fractional CISO engagements are paired with the same technical security capabilities (application, cloud, network, etc.) rather than treating leadership and execution as two separate vendors.
What if we already have a security lead internally?
A fractional CISO can support an existing internal owner rather than replace them — useful when that person needs more bandwidth, deeper technical judgment, or board-level credibility than their current role provides.
Related
Security advisory
Board- and investor-facing guidance for specific decisions, without the ongoing commitment.
SOC 2 readiness
A common starting point for a fractional CISO engagement.
Our approach
The six-step methodology a fractional CISO engagement runs on.
When a SaaS company actually needs a vCISO
The signals worth watching for, and when it's premature.
Considering ongoing security leadership?
Tell us about the current setup — internal team, board pressure, upcoming audit — and we'll help figure out if a fractional CISO is the right fit.