Sherlocked Security – CISO-as-a-Service / Fractional CISO
Strategic Security Leadership Without the Full-Time Overhead
1. Statement of Work (SOW)
Service Name: CISO-as-a-Service / Fractional CISO
Client Type: Growth-Stage Startups, SMBs, Regulated Enterprises, Post-Audit Remediation Clients
Service Model: Retained Security Leadership + Strategic Planning + Operational Oversight
Compliance Coverage: ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, NIST CSF, GDPR
Engagement Focus Areas:
- Cybersecurity Program Design and Oversight
- Risk Management and Governance
- Compliance Strategy and Audit Readiness
- Vendor & Supply Chain Risk Management
- Board & Executive Security Communication
2. Our Approach
[Kickoff & Business Alignment] → [Risk Landscape Mapping] → [Program Design & Implementation] → [Oversight & Team Enablement] → [Metrics & Board Reporting] → [Quarterly Strategy Review]
3. Methodology
[Stakeholder Interviews] → [Gap Analysis] → [Security Governance Design] → [Policy/Control Creation] → [Tooling & Process Enablement] → [Reporting & Continuous Improvement]
4. Deliverables to the Client
- Cybersecurity Program Strategy and Execution Plan
- Governance Framework and Organizational Security Charter
- Custom Security Policies, Standards, and Procedures
- Audit & Certification Readiness Packages (SOC 2, ISO, etc.)
- Risk Register and Prioritized Mitigation Roadmap
- Executive Briefings, Board Updates, and QBR Presentations
- Team Mentoring, Vendor Assessments, and Tool Selection Guidance
5. What We Need from You (Client Requirements)
- Executive sponsor and engagement frequency expectations
- Current security artifacts (policies, IR plans, vendor docs, etc.)
- Visibility into infrastructure, dev, and compliance pipelines
- Participation from internal IT, engineering, and legal/risk teams
- Access to tools, dashboards, audit reports (if any)
- NDA and retainer agreement confirmation
6. Tools & Technology Stack
- GRC Tools: Drata, Tugboat Logic, TrustCloud, Vanta, Excel-based
- Policy & IR Management: Confluence, GitHub, Google Workspace, Notion
- Risk Management: Risk Registers (Excel, ServiceNow, Jira Risk Plugin)
- Communication: C-Level Briefs (PowerPoint, Notion, Exec Dashboards)
- Compliance: ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, NIST CSF mappings
- Optional Tool Selection: SIEMs, EDRs, DLP, MDM, PAM (per maturity level)
7. Engagement Lifecycle
1. Onboarding & Scope Alignment → 2. Business Risk & Capability Review → 3. Governance & Program Design → 4. Control Implementation Oversight → 5. Audit Readiness & Stakeholder Reporting → 6. Ongoing Strategy Guidance
8. Why Sherlocked Security?
| Feature | Sherlocked Advantage |
|---|---|
| Executive-Ready Risk Translation | Converts technical risks into business-aligned board narratives |
| Fractional Flexibility, Full CISO Impact | Strategic presence without full-time cost |
| Compliance-to-Risk Alignment | Security controls tied to business objectives, not checkboxes |
| Tool Rationalization & Strategy | Aligns investments with risk coverage, not buzzwords |
| Enablement of Internal Teams | Coaching and mentorship for Dev, IT, and compliance roles |
9. Real-World Case Studies
Startup Facing SOC 2 Deadline with No Security Team
Issue: High-growth SaaS startup needed SOC 2 Type I in 4 months
Impact: Deal flow was blocked by security questionnaires and audit delays
Fix: Provided vCISO services to lead GRC tool implementation, write policies, manage evidence collection, and interface with auditors
Healthcare Org with Reactive Security Model
Issue: Security efforts were ad hoc and lacked documentation or ownership
Impact: HIPAA audit readiness was at risk, vendor relationships delayed
Fix: Built formal security program, created PHI data handling playbooks, implemented access controls, and established QBR reporting cadence
10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
- Conduct Kickoff with Leadership to Align on Business Risk and Security Goals
- Review and Baseline Existing Policies, Risk Registers, and Security Capabilities
- Define Security Program Objectives (Compliance, Risk, Resilience, etc.)
- Develop Governance Framework and Team Operating Model
- Author or Customize Core Policies (Access, IR, Vendor, Data Protection)
- Coordinate Control Implementation (EDR, IAM, Logging, Encryption, etc.)
- Establish Metrics and Reporting to Executives and Board
- Conduct Monthly, Quarterly, and Annual Strategy Reviews
11. Fractional CISO Engagement Checklist
1. Program Governance & Leadership
- Security charter reviewed and approved by executive leadership
- Defined cybersecurity objectives tied to business/industry risks
- Org chart with security responsibilities across roles and departments
- Cybersecurity budget and roadmap reviewed quarterly
- Security roles and responsibilities documented
2. Policies & Documentation
- Security policy framework covering key domains (access, IR, vendor, etc.)
- Incident response plan with roles, templates, and escalation matrix
- Acceptable use, remote work, and BYOD policies defined
- Policy acknowledgement workflow in place
- Documentation version control and review schedule implemented
3. Risk Management
- Risk register maintained and updated quarterly
- Risk scoring methodology defined (likelihood × impact)
- Business context included in mitigation prioritization
- Third-party risk management process defined and tracked
- Integration with compliance frameworks or tools
4. Compliance & Audit Readiness
- SOC 2/ISO/NIST mappings available for all in-scope controls
- Evidence tracking workflow in place (automated or manual)
- Audit readiness packages and auditor liaison managed by vCISO
- GRC platform or audit workbook maintained
- Mapping between policies, controls, and evidence established
5. Security Control Oversight
- Logging and monitoring solutions evaluated and baselined
- Endpoint and identity protections aligned with risk appetite
- Secure onboarding/offboarding process implemented
- Cloud and infrastructure access controls regularly reviewed
- Incident response tabletop exercises conducted annually
6. Executive & Board Communication
- Regular (monthly/quarterly) updates to exec team and/or board
- Metrics dashboard with leading and lagging indicators
- Roadmap with progress indicators, blockers, and risk alignment
- Breach/incident brief templates and communication flowchart
- Strategic reporting aligned with business KPIs and regulatory drivers
7. Enablement & Advisory
- Regular syncs with engineering, IT, and DevOps for security support
- Coaching for internal security champions or future FTE CISO role
- Security review of major initiatives (product launches, migrations)
- Vendor review and selection guidance based on maturity and need
- Engagement playbook with handoff documentation (if transitioning to in-house)