Fractional CISO
Fractional CISO Cost & Pricing
Understand fractional CISO pricing, compare costs vs full-time, and find the right investment for your business.
- $6,000-18,000/month
- 10-20 hours/week flexible
- Founder-vetted
The engagement
- Typical retainer
- $6,000–$18,000/mo
- Commitment
- 10–20 h / wk
- Time to start
- Days, not months
- Focus
- Industry Expertise
Indicative ranges. You set the rate and terms directly with the operator.
The role
What Does a Fractional CISO Do?
A fractional CISO is a senior security executive who works with your company part-time. You get the same strategic security leadership as a full-time hire, without the full-time cost or commitment.
- Board and executive reporting on security posture and risk
- Compliance program ownership: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS depending on your industry
- Incident response planning, and leading the response when something actually happens
- Vendor and third-party security review before you sign a contract
- Security roadmap and budget planning tied to your actual risk, not a generic checklist
Beyond the scope above, fractional works because of what it doesn't require: no six-figure signing bonus, no benefits and payroll tax overhead, and a start date measured in days instead of months. If your security needs change, the engagement scales with you instead of locking you into a full-time headcount.
Pricing models
Fractional CISO Pricing Models
Choose the pricing structure that fits your needs and budget.
Monthly Retainer
Fixed monthly fee for 10-20 hours per week. Best for ongoing strategic leadership.
Hourly Rate
Pay per hour worked. Best for project-based or advisory engagements.
Project-Based
Fixed fee for specific projects like fundraising, M&A prep, or system implementations.
Also called
vCISO Pricing: What a Virtual CISO Costs
vCISO, virtual CISO, CISO-as-a-Service, and fractional CISO all mean the same thing: a senior security executive working part-time instead of full-time. Whichever term brought you here, the pricing on this page is what you're looking for.
Same pricing as above: $6,000–$18,000/month as a retainer, or $250–$500/hour for project-based work.
Hourly rate
Fractional CISO Hourly Rate (2025)
The $250–$500/hour range breaks down by scope and industry:
Policy review, board reporting, and vendor questionnaires for a company without heavy regulatory requirements.
Healthcare, fintech, and other compliance-heavy industries carry the 10–20% specialist premium noted above.
Cost comparison
Fractional vs Full-Time Cost Comparison
| Cost Component | Fractional CISO | Full-Time CISO |
|---|---|---|
| Base Compensation | $72,000 - $216,000 | $250,000 - $400,000 |
| Benefits & Taxes (20-30%) | $0 | $50,000 - $120,000 |
| Equity | Optional (0.1-0.5%) | 1-3% typical |
| Signing Bonus | $0 | $25,000 - $75,000 |
| Total Annual Cost | $72,000 - $216,000 | $350,000 - $600,000+ |
Potential savings: 60-80% with a fractional CISO vs full-time hire
Not the role you need?
Fractional CISO vs. Fractional CIO
A fractional CISO and a fractional CIO solve different problems. A CISO owns security: risk, compliance, incident response, and vendor review. A CIO owns broader IT strategy: infrastructure, systems, and company-wide technology operations. If your gap is security-specific, you need a CISO. If it's general IT leadership, you're looking for a CIO instead.
Pricing factors
What Affects Fractional CISO Pricing
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about hiring a fractional CISO for your industry.
A fractional CISO is a part-time senior Chief Information Security Officer who works with your company a few days a week instead of full-time — giving you executive-level leadership without a full-time hire or salary.
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