{"id":6162,"date":"2023-10-16T11:24:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T16:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/?p=6162"},"modified":"2023-10-16T16:39:54","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T21:39:54","slug":"why-you-should-hire-a-fractional-ciso","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratospherenetworks.com\/blog\/why-you-should-hire-a-fractional-ciso\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you should hire a fractional CISO"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AMaintaining an optimal cybersecurity strategy<\/a> is more complicated than ever these days. Cybercriminals have seized the opportunity to supercharge their attacks with generative AI<\/a>: Email cyberattacks skyrocketed by nearly 500 percent during the first half of 2023 compared to the first six months of 2022, according to Acronis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, IBM reports<\/a> that the average total cost of a data breach worldwide has hit $4.45 million. As if the situation isn\u2019t severe enough already, 75 percent of employees will obtain, alter or create technology without their IT department\u2019s knowledge and oversight, a significant increase from 41 percent in 2022, according to the Gartner IT Roadmap for Cybersecurity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It’s no wonder that Gartner projects<\/a> that 25 percent of cybersecurity leaders will quit their jobs and change roles because of stress by 2025.<\/p>\n

When there\u2019s already a shortage of IT security talent and the taxing workload is driving high-level pros to leave their positions, how can your business combat rapidly evolving threats? What if you experience a data breach because you can\u2019t find or retain skilled security professionals for your in-house team? Imagine how that will affect your company in terms of downtime, lost business, reputation damage, and penalties.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, recruiting and retaining a full-time internal security executive isn\u2019t the only way to keep your data and IT environment safe. To keep your risk level low without breaking the bank during these challenging times, consider hiring a fractional chief information security officer (CISO).<\/p>\n

What is a fractional CISO?<\/h2>\n

Also called a virtual CISO (vCISO) or CISO as a Service (CISOaaS), a fractional CISO works for a third-party provider and offers businesses on-demand guidance and services, according to TechTarget<\/a>. This on-demand security executive can work with your internal staff remotely or on-site, depending on the details of the service.<\/p>\n

Typically, a fractional CISO will tackle all the same obligations as an in-house CISO, albeit on an as-needed basis. Potential services include the following:<\/p>\n