How fractional CISO consultants can help your law firm attract and retain clients 

Is cybersecurity a universal pain point in the legal industry?

“Do we have a fractional CISO? No. We can barely keep up with the technology we have, let alone figure out what new security threats we should be worried about. Every week there’s some new ransomware attack in the news, and I honestly don’t know if we’d even realize we were being targeted until it was too late.” 

A law firm partner relayed this sentiment recently. It illustrates an all-too-common challenge that small and midsize law firms face today. The year 2024 marked the worst year ever for law firm cybersecurity, with attacks and breaches on the rise. The threats and demands on your system seem overwhelming.  

Meanwhile, the number of cybersecurity questions on your new-client questionnaires keeps increasing, as if a prospective client expects you to run your firm like Fort Knox. If this scenario sounds familiar, it may be time to add extra help from a fractional chief information security officer (CISO) to your cybersecurity mix. 

What does a fractional CISO do and why do you need one?

A fractional CISO can help your firm comply with increasing client security protocols, stay current on security tools and hardware, and manage the complex monitoring, maintenance, and documentation that’s required for law firm cybersecurity.   

With fractional services from a managed service provider, organizations can pay for only the IT services they need. They can also scale services up or down, and don’t have to manage a large internal staff. With the cost of technology talent increasing, these services fill talent gaps—cost-effectively—for organizations. 

Fractional services enable your company to elevate IT service levels without breaking the bank. Data supports the appetite among law firms for high-quality IT support. Integris recently surveyed hundreds of law firm clients across the country as part of the report “The Hidden Cost of Cyber Neglect: What Clients Really Think About Law Firms, Cybersecurity, and AI.” Clients admitted that strong cybersecurity is simply table stakes for any law firm they’re considering hiring. Consider these facts: 

• 66% of respondents are hesitant to work with firms that rely on outdated technology 
• 40% of respondents would be willing to pay more for a firm that uses the latest technology 

These data points highlight a central fact: Law firms with top cybersecurity have a competitive edge in a crowded marketplace. And hiring a fractional CISO help can be the secret weapon that gets you there. The right CISO can help create a scalable, affordable cybersecurity operation that will help you level the playing field and achieve operational maturity to compete with larger firms. 

The Integris fractional CISO solution: Enterprise security on a budget 

Fractional CISOs are an add-on service to your existing managed service provider contract, and they add a critical layer of leadership and governance. Their services are usually billed monthly, with the hours estimated based on the size and complexity of your system and cybersecurity needs. 

How can a fractional CISO save my law firm money? 

The right question might be, “How can a fractional CISO help my law firm avoid costly mistakes?” A CISO will conduct monthly reviews that help you in myriad ways, including the following: 

• Finding emerging threat patterns in your systems, and recommending immediate remediations, or added protections 
• Comparing your security with existing regulations, to ensure you’re staying well ahead of regulatory asks—then creating strategic implementation plans to address the needs 
• Looking for incompatibilities between programs that create security vulnerabilities or problems with documentation 
• Ensuring your firm doesn’t overpay for security tool licenses or fails to cover devices that are logging into your systems. 
• Writing custom cybersecurity plans, policies, and procedures that will make the grade with regulators, clients, and cyber-risk insurers—and ensure your cybersecurity team is working together properly, especially in emergencies. 
• Coordinating system monitoring so all your cybersecurity tools are working properly together and generating the reporting needed for proper maintenance. 

These are just a few of the ways that security leadership can transform your infrastructure. What else can a CISO do for your law firm? Let’s dig into the basic services you should expect from a fractional CISO contract. 

What services can a fractional CISO provide for my law firm? 

Our fractional CISO services deliver five core capabilities that transform your firm’s security posture from reactive compliance to strategic business advantage: 

• Risk management and exposure reduction. Integris fractional CISOs conduct comprehensive risk assessments that identify vulnerabilities specific to legal operations. We don’t just identify problems—we create actionable remediation plans that align with how law firms operate. 
• Security program operationalization. Moving from ad hoc security measures to systematic security programs requires specialized expertise. Our fractional CISOs help firms establish security frameworks that integrate seamlessly with legal workflows without disrupting productivity. 
• Performance metrics. How do you measure security effectiveness in a legal environment? Our fractional CISOs establish key performance indicators that matter to your partners while meeting enterprise client expectations. 
• Third–party vendor security review. Every software tool, cloud service, and technology vendor introduce potential security risks. Integris fractional CISOs provide systematic vendor risk analysis that protects your firm while enabling necessary technology adoption. 
• Change Management. Before implementing new case management systems, cloud storage solutions, or communication platforms, our fractional CISOs conduct thorough risk assessments that prevent security gaps before they occur. 

Fractional CISOs for law firms: A collaborative partnership  

Our fractional CISO services are designed to work seamlessly, providing strategic security leadership without disrupting your practice: 

• Weekly strategic security sessions. Fifty-minute partnership sessions with your dedicated fractional CISO team, bringing in relevant stakeholders as needed—for instance, HR for social media security policies, facilities management for physical security protocols, or IT teams for technical implementation. 
• Portal-based progress tracking. Our security portal shows your current compliance percentage toward ISO 27001, NIST CSF 2.0, or SOC2 certification, depending on the client industries your firm serves. See specific next steps, track progress, and store all security documentation in one organized location—eliminating confusing spreadsheets and scattered documentation. 
• Working with your existing infrastructure. Integris fractional CISO services complement your existing IT support through our collaborative partnership model. We focus on security governance and strategic security planning while your IT team handles day-to-day operations—empowering both teams to excel in their respective areas. 
• Agnostic security guidance. When we identify security gaps requiring technology solutions, we’ll mention what Integris offers but also provide alternatives. With Integris, you get objective security guidance focused on your needs exclusively. 

Working with a fractional CISO: The security transformation timeline 

Building a comprehensive security program takes time and follows a proven roadmap. Here’s how we guide firms through their security transformation: 

Months 1-3: assessment and foundation 

• Comprehensive security risk assessment 
• Baseline security posture establishment 
• Quick remediation of any immediate high risks 

Months 4-12: program development and integration 

• Security policy development tailored to legal operations 
• Process implementation that works with legal workflows 
• Security culture integration across the firm 

Ongoing: optimization and advanced security posture 

• Continuous optimization based on threat landscape changes 
• Advanced security certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2) 
• Strategic security alignment with business growth plans 

Fractional CISOs for law firms: What makes Integris different?  

Integris fractional CISO services deliver measurable value that extends far beyond traditional risk mitigation, creating tangible business advantages for your firm, such as the following: 

• Cost-effective enterprise-level expertise. Fractional CISO services provide enterprise-level security leadership at a fraction of a full-time CISO salary. Most firms see return on investment through new client acquisition and operational efficiency within the first year. 
• Objective security assessments. Unlike product-focused security vendors, Integris is paid based on utilization and client satisfaction. This alignment ensures you get honest security assessments and recommendations based on your actual needs. 
• Legal industry specialization advantage. Our fractional CISOs work with law firms, understanding the unique intersection of legal practice demands and security requirements. This specialization means faster implementation, better compliance outcomes, and security strategies that actually work for legal operations. 

Ready to transform your security posture into a competitive advantage? 

Integris fractional CISO services provide enterprise-level security expertise at a price point that makes sense for growing law firms. Our legal industry specialization ensures every security recommendation, policy, and strategic decision is tailored to the unique demands and opportunities of legal practice. 

Contact Integris Advisory Services for a comprehensive security assessment at integrisit.com/contact to discover how our specialized Fractional CISO services can protect and empower your legal practice.