Fractional Leadership · Case Study
Fractional vCISO embed unblocks an ATO renewal
No dedicated security leadership, board-level audit pressure, a 90-day window. Embedded a vCISO and walked out with a quarterly security review cadence.
B2G SaaS provider · ~80 staff · primary federal customer holding a system at risk of contract non-renewal
Challenge
The previous security leader had departed without a handover. The federal customer's ATO was at risk and revenue tied to that contract was material to the company. The board was asking weekly questions. The team needed a credible security voice at the executive level, defensible documentation, and a path through the ATO renewal. Fast.
Approach
- 1
Stood up as fractional vCISO with founder/board access in week one.
- 2
Inventoried open security commitments: to the federal customer, to internal stakeholders, and across two pending audits.
- 3
Triaged the ATO documentation gap and stabilized the SSP + evidence trail in 30 days.
- 4
Established a quarterly security review cadence (board pack, exec read-out, risk register).
- 5
Brokered the AO interview as the named security leadership on the package.
- 6
Built a 90-day exit plan so internal staff could carry the function forward.
“They sat in the AO interview. That alone was worth it.”
CEO, B2G SaaS provider · Composite engagement
Outcomes
What the engagement actually shipped.
90 days
security function stabilized end-to-end
On time
ATO renewal landed
$0
contract revenue lost during the embed
4
quarterly security review cycles handed off
Composite case study. Details combine multiple engagements and are anonymized for client confidentiality.
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