Fractional CISO Jobs UK
Part-time Cybersecurity Leadership and CISO roles across the United Kingdom. Day rates £1,000-£1,500 (financial services to £1,800).
Fractional CISO UK Market Statistics
Cyber attacks on UK businesses annually
Source: NCSC Annual Review 2024
Growth in fractional CISO demand since 2022
Source: UK Cyber Security Council / LinkedIn
Typical savings vs full-time CISO hire
Source: (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study UK
Unfilled UK cybersecurity roles
Source: UK Cyber Security Council 2024
Security Leadership on Demand: The UK Market
With cyber threats increasing and regulatory requirements tightening, every company needs security leadership. The NCSC reports 2.7 million cyber attacks on UK businesses annually, yet only 14% of businesses have a dedicated security lead. Fractional CISO jobs deliver experienced cybersecurity expertise without the £200k+ full-time cost.
The UK Cyber Security Council estimates a gap of 50,000 unfilled security roles, with senior leadership positions being the hardest to fill. (ISC)² research shows that companies with fractional CISO jobs achieve 40% faster compliance and 60% better incident response compared to those without dedicated security leadership.
Whether you're a former CISO seeking portfolio work, a Security Director ready for C-suite challenges, or a consultant looking for ongoing engagements, the UK fractional CISO jobs market offers exceptional opportunities across all sectors handling sensitive data.
Market Leaders
London hosts headquarters for fintech leaders including Revolut, Monzo, and Starling - all active users of fractional talent.
Flexible Working
65% of London fractional roles offer hybrid arrangements, per CIPD research.
Day Rates by Sector
Typical daily rates for fractional executives. Hover over bars for details.
Key Security Sectors and Hubs
Financial Services
FCA-regulated firms need CISOs familiar with PRA requirements, DORA compliance, and financial sector threat landscape. Concentrated in London (City, Canary Wharf) with growing fintech security demand. Premium rates reflect regulatory complexity.
Healthcare & NHS
DSPT (Data Security and Protection Toolkit) compliance, patient data protection, and healthcare-specific threats. Growing demand post-pandemic as NHS digital transformation accelerates. Strong in London, Manchester, and NHS hub cities.
Tech & SaaS
SOC 2 Type II certification, customer security requirements, and secure development practices. Often combined with CTO responsibilities in startups. Distributed across UK tech hubs with strong remote-first culture.
Critical Infrastructure
NIS2 directive compliance, OT security, and national security considerations. Energy, utilities, transport, and telecoms. High security clearance often required. London and operational centres nationwide.
Specialist Security Leadership Roles
Virtual CISO (vCISO)
£1,000-£1,500/dayOngoing security leadership for multiple clients simultaneously. Policy development, risk management, board reporting, and security programme oversight. The most established fractional CISO model.
Compliance CISO
£1,100-£1,600/daySpecialists in ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, PCI-DSS, and sector-specific regulations. Certification-focused engagements with clear deliverables and timelines.
Incident Response Lead
£1,300-£1,800/dayCrisis management, breach response, and security operations. High-intensity, project-based work. Often retained on standby with rapid response SLAs.
Security Transformation Lead
£1,100-£1,500/daySecurity programme development, team building, and maturity improvement. Multi-month engagements to uplift security posture and build internal capability.
The Future of Fractional Security Leadership
The UK Cyber Security Council projects demand for security leaders will grow 25% annually through 2028, outpacing supply. Regulatory pressure from DORA, NIS2, and evolving GDPR requirements ensures sustained demand for experienced CISOs.
Key trends shaping the fractional CISO market include: the rise of AI-powered attacks requiring sophisticated defences, increasing board-level accountability for cyber risk, and the ongoing shortage of qualified security professionals creating premium rates for experienced leaders.
Industry Resources & Professional Bodies
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
UK government cyber authority
www.ncsc.gov.uk
(ISC)²
CISSP certification body
www.isc2.org
ISACA
CISM and security governance
www.isaca.org
CREST
UK penetration testing accreditation
www.crest-approved.org
CyberUK
NCSC annual conference
www.ncsc.gov.uk
UK Cyber Security Council
Professional standards body
www.ukcybersecuritycouncil.org.uk
ICO (Information Commissioner's Office)
GDPR and data protection
ico.org.uk
FCA Cyber Guidance
Financial services cyber requirements
www.fca.org.uk
Fractional Jobs Fractional CISO UK: FAQs
Common questions about fractional jobs Fractional CISO UK
How much does a fractional CISO cost in the UK?▼
A fractional CISO or vCISO in the UK typically costs £3,000-£10,000 per month or £1,000-£1,500 per day, depending on sector and regulatory requirements. According to CyPro and The Small Business Cyber Security Guy (Jan 2026): SME/startup CISOs charge £900-£1,200/day, tech/SaaS (SOC 2) CISOs charge £1,000-£1,400/day, and premium financial services (FCA-regulated) CISOs command £1,300-£1,800/day. Annual vCISO contracts range from £50,000-£150,000. This represents 63-76% savings compared to a full-time CISO hire (£180,000-£280,000 annually including benefits).
What qualifications do fractional CISOs need?▼
Most fractional CISO roles require CISSP, CISM, or equivalent certifications plus 10-15+ years security experience. Prior CISO or Security Director experience is typically essential. Sector-specific credentials add significant value: CREST for penetration testing, PCI QSA for payments, DSPT Lead Assessor for NHS. Security clearance (SC/DV) opens additional opportunities.
How much do fractional CISOs earn in the UK?▼
UK fractional CISOs typically earn £1,000-£2,000 per day, with financial services and healthcare at the premium end (£1,500-£2,000). Working 2-3 days per week across multiple clients, annual earnings of £200,000-£400,000 are achievable. This often exceeds full-time CISO salaries while offering portfolio variety.
What's the typical fractional CISO engagement?▼
Initial engagements typically run 6-12 months with 1-2 days per week commitment. Many companies need less intensive ongoing support once security foundations are established. Compliance projects (ISO 27001, SOC 2) may be more intensive for 3-6 months. Incident response is on-call with surge capacity.
Do fractional CISOs work remotely?▼
About 75% of fractional CISO roles offer hybrid or fully remote arrangements. Security leadership is increasingly remote-friendly, though some on-site presence is expected for board meetings, security audits, incident response, and sensitive discussions. Financial services and critical infrastructure roles tend toward more on-site presence.
What certifications are most valuable for fractional CISOs?▼
The most valued certifications are: CISSP (considered essential), CISM (governance focus), CREST (for technical credibility), ISO 27001 Lead Implementer/Auditor, and sector-specific credentials like PCI QSA or DSPT Lead Assessor. AWS/Azure security certifications add value for cloud-heavy environments.
How do I transition to fractional CISO work?▼
The most effective path combines: obtaining and maintaining key certifications (CISSP, CISM), building a professional network through ISACA and (ISC)² chapters, developing case studies of security programmes you've built or improved, speaking at CyberUK or BSides events, and registering with specialist platforms like Fractional Quest. Many CISOs start with advisory work alongside employment before transitioning fully.
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Case Study
OneUp Productions
Gaming & Esports Production
Fractional GTM LeadThe Challenge
OneUp Productions needed to expand into new international markets but lacked the in-house expertise for go-to-market strategy. They needed senior GTM leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Our Approach
Engaged as Fractional GTM Lead to develop and execute market expansion strategy, working 2-3 days per week alongside the existing leadership team.
Cost Effective
Senior GTM expertise at a fraction of full-time hire cost
Immediate Impact
Hit the ground running with proven playbooks
Flexible Scale
Adjusted involvement as needs evolved
Client Feedback
"As a growing gaming company, we needed GTM expertise but couldn't justify a full-time hire. The fractional model gave us exactly what we needed - senior leadership at a pace and budget that worked for us."
Fractional Executive Insights
Market Overview for Fractional Executives
Building a Portfolio Career in Fractional CISO UK
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Written by a Practicing Fractional Executive
Dan Keegan
Founder & Fractional GTM Expert
With over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, go-to-market strategy, and business development, Dan brings real-world fractional expertise to help professionals navigate the executive job market.
Dan founded Fractional Quest after working as a fractional executive himself, understanding firsthand the challenges of finding quality opportunities and the value fractional leaders bring to growing businesses.
Prior executive experience includes
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