The Crimson Bench

CISO · Data Governance, Compliance & Threat Modeling

Fractional Chief Information Security Officer

A fractional CISO from The Crimson Bench delivers enterprise-grade information security leadership — SOC 2 readiness, data governance, and threat modeling — without the $300,000+ full-time security executive package. Our CISOs have built security programs at companies serving Fortune 500 clients, government agencies, and regulated financial institutions.

48 hours
Deployment SLA
25,000+
Ivy League Executives
100%
Credential-Verified
14 days
No-Cause Cancellation

What a Fractional CISO Does

  • Security posture assessment and risk register development
  • SOC 2 Type I and Type II audit preparation and oversight
  • ISO 27001 and NIST framework implementation
  • Vendor security assessment and third-party risk management
  • Incident response planning and tabletop exercises
  • Security team hiring and managed security service provider (MSSP) oversight

When to Hire a Fractional CISO

  • An enterprise customer has asked for your SOC 2 Type II report
  • A PE sponsor has flagged security gaps in technical due diligence
  • You are handling sensitive customer data and have no security program
  • A security incident has occurred and you need expert incident response
  • You are entering regulated industries: healthcare, finance, government

Outcomes From Our CISO Mandates

  • SOC 2 Type II readiness achieved within 6-month engagement windows
  • ISO 27001 certification supported from gap assessment to certification
  • Security programs built that satisfy Fortune 500 enterprise customer requirements
  • Risk registers and incident response plans documented and tested

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fractional CISO?

A fractional CISO is a senior information security executive who leads your security strategy, compliance programs, and risk management on a part-time basis. They perform all the functions of a full-time CISO — building security policy, managing audits, overseeing your security team or MSSP — at a fraction of the cost.

Do I need a fractional CISO to get SOC 2 certified?

You do not need a CISO to complete a SOC 2 audit — but you will move significantly faster and with fewer costly surprises if you have one. Our fractional CISOs have navigated SOC 2 Type I and Type II for dozens of companies, and they know exactly what auditors want to see.

Fractional CISO by Industry

Fractional CISO by Location

View All States →

The Crimson Bench · Est. 2002 · Founded in New York City

Deploy a Fractional CISO in 48 Hours

Verified corporate accounts only. Ivy League-educated. Flat-rate pricing. 14-day no-cause cancellation.

25,000+ Ivy League Executives · 150,000+ Global Consultants · 48-Hour Deployment