Leadership

vCISO for AI

A senior CISO embedded in your leadership team on a retained basis. We own your security programme, report to your board and drive outcomes — with AI agents, identity and quantum risk treated as core business, not side projects.

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The challenge

You need a CISO who has done this at scale — not one learning on your time.

Many organisations need a CISO’s judgement and accountability, but not a full-time executive — or need to move faster than a permanent hire allows. Others have a capable security lead who needs senior cover on the questions boards are now asking about AI and quantum.

A vCISO engagement gives you a senior leader who has run security programmes where the stakes are systemic: global banking, UK government and critical national infrastructure. We own the programme, not just the advice.

The difference from a typical fractional arrangement is focus. AI agents, non-human identity and post-quantum readiness are built into the programme from the first month.

What you get

Outcomes, not reports.

01
Leadership, not advice

A named senior CISO who owns the security programme, sets direction and is accountable for outcomes.
02
A board that is informed

Regular, clear reporting on risk, progress and investment — in language directors can act on.
03
AI adopted safely

Agentic AI governed through the five tollgates from the start, rather than retrofitted after an incident.
04
A team that grows

Your people coached and your function structured so it can stand on its own when the time comes.

How we work

Senior-led from scoping to sign-off.

First 30 days

Rapid assessment of risk, controls, team and commitments. A frank baseline for the board.
First 90 days

Strategy, roadmap and quick wins agreed; governance and reporting established.
Ongoing

Programme leadership, board and committee reporting, incident leadership, regulator and customer engagement.
Transition

When you are ready for a permanent CISO, we help you hire and hand over cleanly.

Deliverables

Security baseline and board report
Security strategy and roadmap
Risk register and reporting framework
AI governance and agent control model
Ongoing board and committee reporting

Who it’s for

Scale-ups and mid-market firms that need senior security leadership without a full-time hire
Organisations between permanent CISOs, or whose CISO needs senior support on AI and quantum
Boards facing investor, customer or regulator scrutiny of security governance
Firms adopting AI agents quickly and needing someone accountable for doing it safely

Aligned to

UK Cyber Governance Code of Practice
NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework
ISO/IEC 27001
ISO/IEC 42001
NIST CSF 2.0

Relevant engagement · anonymised

High-growth SaaS

Took over as fractional CISO from a tooling-led buildout, then stood up SOC coverage, DLP, a risk management and GRC programme, control assurance and a board-level cyber strategy from the ground up.

Questions

Frequently asked.

How much time does a vCISO spend with us?

It is agreed up front and flexes with need — more during onboarding, incidents or audits, less in steady state. You always know who is accountable and how to reach them.

Will we work with the same person throughout?

Yes. The senior leader who builds the relationship stays engaged for the life of the engagement, supported by a vetted bench of specialists where needed.

Leadership