Why a fractional CISO is a strategic advantage for SMBs

Could outsourced, fractional CISO (chief information security officer) services (sometimes referred to as vCISO) be one of the hottest growth areas in IT? The numbers would suggest so. According to a recent report from Data Insights, the market for fractional CISO consulting is expected to grow from $2 billion in 2025 to $7 billion in 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15% during that period.

It’s easy to see why companies are looking for outside, CISSP-certified CISOs for help. Cyberattacks are at an all-time high, compliance demands are rising for businesses of all sizes, and qualified CISOs are getting harder to find and more expensive to hire internally. So, companies are turning to managed IT providers to get the strategic cybersecurity advice and governance only CISOs can provide–delivered on a scalable, affordable basis.

If you’re wondering whether it’s time for your company to invest in fractional CISO help, this article will walk you through what you need to know before you sign that contract.

What does a fractional CISO do?

In today’s cybersecurity landscape, fractional CISOs with CISSP credentials aren’t just valuable—they’re essential. These professionals bring elite cybersecurity leadership to organizations that need strategic oversight but can’t justify the cost of a full-time executive.

CISSP accreditation requires rigorous training, testing, and years of experience. This depth of expertise spans eight critical domains:

• Security and risk management: including performing a thorough security risk assessment/vulnerability scan and maintaining all written cybersecurity plans, policies, and procedures.  
• Asset security: classifying, handling, and protecting information and physical assets throughout their lifecycle, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• Architecture and engineering: designing and implementing secure systems and infrastructure, integrating security principles into hardware, software, and network architectures.
• Communication and network security: protecting data in transit and at rest, ensuring secure network architecture, protocols, and controls to prevent unauthorized access and breaches.
• Identity and access management: including processes and technologies for verifying user identities and controlling access to resources, ensuring only authorized individuals can perform specific actions.
• Security assessment and testing: evaluating and validating the effectiveness of security controls through audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and continuous monitoring.
• Operations: overseeing day-to-day management of security processes, including incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity to maintain organizational resilience.
• Software development security:  ensuring applications are designed, coded, and tested to resist threats and vulnerabilities.

Hiring a full-time CISO for your company is a significant investment. Robert Half’s 2026 projection shows entry level salaries starting at $191,500 and more senior level CISOs going for $278,250. Other organizations, such as IANS research, estimate small and midmarket organizations can expect to pay as much as $415,000 in total yearly compensation for a CISO.

Why is the role so costly? CISSP certifications are highly complex and take years to earn. AI has unleashed a whole new torrent of highly sophisticated threat vectors, requiring a more advanced level of security governance for companies of all sizes.

Perhaps most important—scarcity drives demand. National Defense Magazine reports there is an “acute shortage” of cybersecurity talent in the United States, with more than 225,000 cybersecurity jobs going unfilled in 2025.

Fractional CISOs fill an important market gap at a fraction of the cost, enabling organizations to get the high caliber help they need without staffing and recruiting headaches.

Which organizations benefit most from fractional CISO services?

Your organization may benefit from MSP services if your organization has these attributes:

• Has fewer than 1,000 employees and wants to avoid the cost of a full-time CISO
• Has an internal IT team that needs strategic augmentation
• Works with an MSP and wants third-party validation of vendor effectiveness
• Requires comprehensive cybersecurity leadership integrated with managed services

What business problems do fractional CISO services solve?

Cybersecurity is no longer confined to protecting firewalls, offering phishing training, and running security reports. Even smaller organizations can no longer rely on plug-and-play security solutions. A fractional CISO reviews your entire threat landscape strategically, helping you stay one step ahead with defined cybersecurity plans. They turn your cybersecurity efforts into a C-level effort that ties into your overall business goals to your IT infrastructure.

They’ll help you build a resilient, compliant, and strategic security program. Our fractional CISOs help with these kinds of issues:

• Navigate complex regulations like HIPAA, NYDFS, GDPR, PCI, and more
• Develop and maintain compliance-driven policies and procedures
• Conduct risk assessments and vendor evaluations
• Align cybersecurity with business goals and executive priorities
• Create compliant downstream vendor relationships for your company
• Provide cybersecurity reporting to your cyber-risk insurers, regulators, current or prospective clients

Core services Integris offers

At Integris, we offer a full suite of fractional CISO services.  When you work with us, you can expect:

• Security program oversight: Continuous management and improvement of your cybersecurity posture, including monthly monitoring of your cybersecurity health, written cybersecurity plans and budgets
• Policy development: Tailored written documentation for compliance and client/vendor requirements
• Risk management: Proactive identification and mitigation of legal and operational risks
• Compliance support: Expertise across 60+ frameworks including NIST, ISO 27001, HIPAA, SOC, CMMC, SOX, and FFIEC, including meeting with regulators and preparing annual reporting
• C-suite reporting: Key performance indicator-driven status reports regarding cybersecurity, aligned with business goals. Integris can even attend board meetings for presentations and articulation of key projects.
• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning: Customized backup plans and written procedures for disaster readiness and response.
• Security tool lifecycle management: Flagged reports for tools in need of upgrades, unused licenses, etc., eliminating waste and ensuring budgets stay on track

Ready to begin your journey working with a fractional CISO?

Integris fractional CISO services are designed to meet you where you are—whether you’re just starting your cybersecurity journey or need advanced strategic leadership. Our CISSP-certified experts integrate seamlessly with your IT operations, delivering scalable, proactive security governance that aligns with your business goals.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

If you’re ready to explore whether our cybersecurity services are right for your organization, reach out to your client success manager or contact us today.