Fractional CISO Hourly Rate UK 2026
The fractional / virtual CISO (vCISO) hourly rate in the UK is roughly £160–£333/hour, derived from a fractional CISO day rate of £1,200–£2,500 at ~7.5 billable hours a day. Most engagements convert to a day rate of £1,200–£2,500 or a monthly retainer of £3,000–£18,000.
This page shows the hourly rate and how it converts to day, retainer and annual cost. Sourced from Cypro, Optima Europe and Barclay Simpson; reviewed 7 July 2026.
What a fractional / virtual CISO charges per hour in the UK in 2026
A UK fractional or virtual CISO (vCISO) day rate is £1,200–£2,500 (Optima Europe, Cypro).
At ~7.5 billable hours a day that is an hourly rate of roughly £160–£333/hour.
Because security leadership is usually retained continuously, most vCISOs quote a monthly retainer rather than pure hourly.
How it converts: the retainer is £3,000–£18,000/month — Cypro puts vCISO at £3,000–£15,000/mo and Optima 2–3-day weekly retainers at £8,000–£18,000/mo.
At 5–10 days a month that is £40,000–£120,000/yr, making a vCISO ~40–70% cheaper than a full-time CISO (£140,000–£220,000 base, £180,000–£270,000 fully loaded).
For the full-time and retainer picture see Fractional & Virtual CISO Salary UK.
Hourly, day rate or retainer — which to use
Hourly (≈ £160–£333/hour)
Best for occasional security advisory — a risk assessment, a policy review, an incident post-mortem — where you pay only for the hours used.
Day rate (£1,200–£2,500/day)
Best for project-shaped work — a certification push (ISO 27001, SOC 2), a security remediation, a board risk report.
Global / EMEA CISO mandates command the upper end.
Monthly retainer (£3,000–£18,000/mo)
Best for continuous security leadership at 2–3 days a week — the most common vCISO model, owning the security programme without a full-time hire.
Conversion rule of thumb: day rate ≈ hourly × 7.5; a 2–3-day weekly retainer is the standard vCISO engagement.
Fractional / Virtual CISO hourly vs day vs retainer
Day rates, monthly retainers, and full-time comparison with current market data
Fractional / Virtual CISO hourly vs day vs retainer
ASSUMPTIONS: 220 BILLABLE DAYS · 1.42× LOADED FOR FT
Fractional / Virtual CISO Hourly Rate by mandate
UK fractional / virtual CISO hourly rate by mandate, with the day-rate equivalent (≈ 7.5 billable hours). Cypro, Optima Europe and Barclay Simpson — FACTS 191, 193.
Fractional / Virtual CISO Hourly Rate by mandate
| Mandate | Hourly rate (≈)⬍ | Day rate |
|---|---|---|
| SME / certification push | £160–£210/hr | £1,200–£1,600 |
| Scale-up / regulated | £210–£270/hr | £1,600–£2,000 |
| Global / EMEA CISO | £270–£333/hr | £2,000–£2,500 |
Hourly vs day rate vs retainer engagement models
The three UK vCISO engagement models and when each wins. Retainers from Cypro (£3–15k/mo) and Optima (£8–18k/mo for 2–3 days) — FACTS 191, 193.
Hourly vs day rate vs retainer engagement models
| Model | Typical UK rate⬍ | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | ≈ £160–£333/hour | Occasional risk / policy advisory |
| Day rate | £1,200–£2,500/day | Certification push, remediation |
| Monthly retainer | £3,000–£18,000/mo | Continuous security leadership (most common) |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fractional CISO Hourly Rate roles and engagements
Current fractional / virtual CISO opportunities
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