Fractional vCISO
A named senior adviser working an agreed number of days each month, providing continuity and leadership.
Services · Strategy, Transformation & vCISO
vCISO & Interim CISO
Senior security leadership, sized to what you actually need.
Arrange a meetingWhy it matters
Smaller regulated financial institutions may need senior cyber leadership without a full-time Chief Information Security Officer. Others need cover during a vacancy, a transformation or a period of regulatory scrutiny. Our virtual and interim CISO service gives you an experienced leader who sets direction, reports to the board and holds the security programme to account.
Questions this engagement answers
- 01Who owns cyber risk at a senior level today?
- 02Is our security spend aligned with our biggest risks?
- 03Can we explain our security position clearly to regulators and the board?
- 04Do we have a realistic roadmap, and is anyone holding it to account?
What the engagement can include
Interim CISO
Full or near full-time leadership for a defined period, such as a vacancy or major programme.
Strategy & roadmap
Maturity assessment and a prioritised security strategy tied to business risk and budget.
Team & supplier oversight
Direct and challenge internal teams and managed security providers.
How we work
- 1
Baseline
Rapid assessment of current controls, risks, team and suppliers in the first weeks.
- 2
Prioritise
Agree the risks that matter most and a roadmap the executive team supports.
- 3
Lead
Run the programme, report to the board and make decisions with clear accountability.
- 4
Transition
Build lasting capability, and hand over cleanly to a permanent leader if that is the goal.
What you receive
- Security strategy and prioritised improvement roadmap
- Regular board and executive risk reporting
- Cyber risk register oversight and ownership
- Policy and governance framework aligned to your regulation
- Support recruiting and handing over to a permanent CISO, where needed
Illustrative scenario
A sudden vacancy before a regulatory review
A firm's CISO leaves three months before a scheduled regulatory review. Remediation work is underway but nobody senior owns it. An interim CISO steps in, confirms which commitments have been made to the regulator, re-prioritises the plan around them, and gives the board a clear, evidenced position before the review takes place.
Buck's view
“A fractional CISO is only valuable if they have genuine authority and access. The arrangement should give the board one accountable voice on cyber, not another adviser on the sidelines.”
Professor Buck Rogers, Poro Advisory