Companies today have a big problem. There are all sorts of challenges and pain points in the modern digital business related to resource allocation and planning, but one that’s pretty high on the list is cybersecurity.
Let’s face it: businesses are vulnerable to a lot of different threat vectors. Cyberattacks are proliferating, and more complex systems mean it’s more difficult to guard your network and data.
So what do companies do?
A key role that can help is a chief information security officer (CISO). These people guard the gates of the network and also work inside the perimeter to prevent hackers or black hats from damaging systems or stealing data.
The problem is that not every company has one of these individuals at the helm.
More than a few businesses, especially small businesses or SMBs, cannot afford a full-time CISO, so they lack the in-house ability to head off cyberattacks effectively.
The part-time CISO model solves this problem and others where the business is scaling quickly, and an in-house CISO can’t reasonably handle everything.
Let’s talk about how these part-time or “fractional CISO” professionals work to help protect their business clients.
What a Part-Time CISO Does
First, a CISO focuses on cybersecurity and protecting data and systems.
That’s a big job, and the CISO might have to wear many hats. At the same time, the company may not be able to hire a full-time person for this role.
The difference with a part-time CISO is that this person only takes on specific tasks that don’t require a 40-hour-a-week commitment. These might include specific compliance challenges, meetings, partnerships, or reports and strategy implementation.
Benefits of Hiring a part-time CISO
When you talk to executives, far and away, the biggest benefit of having a part-time CISO consulting is the cost savings.
Instead of hiring someone full-time, paying benefits and salary, companies can hire a CISO on a part-time basis paying by the hour as an independent contractor, which is much more affordable and not tied to things like unemployment insurance or workers compensation.
The position is also flexible, and can be changed due to business needs changing. Most businesses are dynamic – either they’re scaling, or they’re going through production cycles that mean their needs will change from time to time.
As for the value that part-time CISOs bring, they help with risk mitigation, decreasing the chances of a damaging cyberattack, and helping with compliance and business reputation.
A Part-Time CISO: Four Use Cases
Specific types of businesses can benefit the most from having a part-time CISO on board.
Here are four scenarios where this type of part-time role can come in handy.
The first one is an SMB that simply can’t afford a full-time person. As mentioned above, the part-time CISO can be worked into the organization as an on-demand cost factor.
The second scenario is a start-up where the company is too young and fresh to need a full-time CISO. Here again, the part-time CISO can help grow with the company and may eventually turn into a full-time permanent position.
The third scenario is a non-profit organization that doesn’t have funds for a full-time CISO.
The fourth is a company with low system complexity, where part-time CISO work can be focused on very specific roles.
Benefits of a Part-Time CISO
There are other reasons why executives want to hire a part-time CISO.
One is the demand for security-related meetings. Among other tasks like reporting or evaluating site infrastructure, a part-time CISO might spend a lot of time attending meetings. Maybe the company already has a full-time CISO, but it’s big enough to need a bit more assistance. The full-time CISO can assign the part-timer to specific meetings or specific tasks and then the company gets billed accordingly.
There’s also the old axiom that two heads are better than one. Perhaps the in-house CISO needs someone to bounce ideas off of – a second voice to be involved in security decision-making processes. Part-time CISOs often have key specializations, too – they have a wealth of experience that they bring to the table, and can be counted on to bring a fresh perspective to any given scenario
In addition, accompany, a part-time CISO, in addition to a full-time CISO, can have a strategic focus. The in-house full-time CISO can assign them to certain areas of cybersecurity work. Maybe the part-timer is focus is just on compliance, and the full-timer does the rest. Sharing the workload this way is often part of the plan for having a part-time CISO on board.
Best Practices for Hiring a part-time CISO
With that in mind, one best practices for using a fractional or part-time CISO is to clearly define the scope of the part-time person’s work. The better the company plans for their task list and role within the organization, the more value they tend to get out of this type of contract.
It’s also important to ensure that the part-time CISO has access to cybersecurity documentation. If the company has an incident response plan or a disaster backup plan, make sure that document isn’t sitting on a shelf somewhere. The part-time CISO will need access to it as an outsider who is joining the company on its journey.
It’s also important to have access to the best tools. People are one part of the cybersecurity equation, but new tools are also very effective. They allow these professionals to work smarter, not harder, and do more with the personnel hours and staff power that has been allocated.
The Changing Face of Digital Business
Businesses are much more focused on digital operations than they used to be. Data is one of the most valuable assets of any common business, and the complexity of the online world means that there are more threat vectors than there used to be. So it’s likely that businesses will continue to hire more people in cybersecurity roles, and the part-time CISO is a very useful and central part of this strategy.
Many of these part-timers are also virtual consultants. They may not need to be on site, but they’re only a phone call away. That adds to the efficiency of having one of these people on board – the full-time in-house CISO might have their own office and commute to it, but the fractional CISO can be remotely connected to the business.
Future Trends in Cybersecurity
One of the biggest trends in cybersecurity will be toward growing numbers of threats and different threat attack vectors.
Accenture estimates that 86% of business leaders think that we’ll have a significant disruption in the cyber-world, as a result of geopolitical issues within the next two years, and estimates the yearly cost of cybercrime at over $10 trillion.
That means there will continue to be a robust demand for cybersecurity professionals, and for outside services to help craft the best strategies.
Experts also expect the cloud to continue to grow as a place for business data to live, or travel to and from.
Notwithstanding the new move to edge computing for resource-rich systems, it’s still going to be routine for companies to send workloads or data to the cloud. Most of these companies also recall that data from the cloud often, requiring more infrastructure and cybersecurity vigilance.
Another major trend is the introduction of AI, and generative AI in particular. AI will become more of an active partner in security systems. People will use those tools to be proactive about cybersecurity.
You might think that would take away from the human side of protecting networks and systems. But most people talk about AI as assistive technology that doesn’t replace humans, but rather, supports them in their core work. So if you believe in the primacy of the human in the loop, you’ll probably agree that people will continue to monitor the work of AI systems in achieving various levels of security.
With all of those trends in play, we’ll probably see a trend toward more hiring in the cybersecurity realm. in many cases, that will look like a hybrid approach, where in-house people work with outsiders and consultants to craft the best way forward for a business based on its particular operations, its data sets, and what it’s trying to achieve, as well as the overall surface of the network.
Just take virtualization, for example – over the years, companies started to clone virtual machines in order to put together virtual hardware systems to run their operations. But these systems have vulnerabilities just like anything else. So people had to be looking at the attack vectors, and doing risk mitigation and all the rest. Again, having an outside consultant helps, because that is a fresh set of eyes that’s impartial about what’s already been done, and can provide objective recommendations for the future.
Companies that need a return to security to fully staff their business against cyberattacks, data breaches, and general digital threat management. Atlant Security can provide specialized, skilled assistance with all of the aspects of a cybersecurity audit or other services, including compliance, forward strategy, and the techniques and controls that will give executives peace of mind about the future.
FAQ: Understanding the Role of a CISO and Cybersecurity Challenges
- What does a CISO do?
A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for overseeing a company’s information security strategy. They ensure that the organization’s data is protected from cyber threats, manage cybersecurity risks, and align security practices with business goals. CISOs lead teams that implement security policies, respond to incidents, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. They also assess emerging risks and stay updated on cybersecurity trends to keep the company’s defenses strong. - What can a part-time CISO help with?
A part-time or fractional CISO can provide valuable security expertise on a flexible basis. They help businesses develop a comprehensive security strategy, identify vulnerabilities, and ensure compliance without the need for a full-time executive. They can also assist with security assessments, incident response planning, and training teams on best practices. This option is particularly useful for smaller organizations that need expert guidance but lack the resources for a dedicated, full-time CISO. - What new challenges do companies face in cybersecurity?
Companies are dealing with evolving challenges like sophisticated phishing attacks, ransomware, and threats to cloud infrastructure. Increased remote work and the rapid adoption of digital tools have expanded attack surfaces, making it harder to secure networks and data. Additionally, regulatory compliance and data privacy concerns are growing, requiring companies to stay agile in their security efforts.
