Interim CISO services
Interim CISO leadership through your security transition
Keep executive security decisions moving during a vacancy, extended leave, acquisition, or delayed hire. Infinity Cyber Advisors (ICA) provides time-limited CISO leadership with agreed responsibilities, availability, and a handover plan for your next leader.
MIS
CISSP
CHISL
CPHIMS
CDH-E
Will Long Sr. · Founder
MIS · CHISL · CDH-E · CISSP · CPHIMS
Nearly 40 years in IT & cybersecurity
Former VP & CISO, Children’s Health System of Texas
Tim Pelikan · Co-Founder
Credential details pending confirmation
30 years in cybersecurity & data risk
Interviews & industry conversations
Coffee With Closers
Cybersecurity With Discern
“ICA provides distinctive security professionals who excel at building strong client relationships, demonstrate exceptional organization, and deliver practical, risk-based consulting recommendations to our clients.”
Michael Cox, CIPP/US
Chief Privacy Consultant & Founder, SoCal Privacy Consultants
Partner endorsement of ICA’s advisory work
Keep the program moving while the leadership seat changes
A departing CISO leaves more than an open position. Security teams still need direction. Executives need decisions on unresolved risks, and the board’s reporting schedule continues while a replacement search is underway.
An interim engagement gives those responsibilities a defined executive owner for an agreed term. The priority is continuity: understand existing commitments, keep essential work under oversight, and leave a clear record for the returning or incoming leader. During an acquisition, that may include clarifying reporting relationships as organizational ownership changes.
Focus temporary leadership on the transition
Establish the leadership remit
Identify decisions the interim CISO can make and those reserved for your executives. Agree reporting relationships and escalation routes so teams know where to take issues during the leadership gap.
Maintain program oversight
Review current priorities, open commitments, and work already underway. Coordinate with internal owners and existing providers within the agreed scope. Bring blocked decisions to the executive sponsor before they become an unnoticed backlog.
Keep executive reporting consistent
Give leadership a clear view of program progress and unresolved risks. Reporting should distinguish decisions made during the interim term from matters the incoming CISO will need to address.
Prepare the handover throughout the term
Capture important context as work progresses. Document why priorities changed and where follow-up is needed. Agree what the successor should receive rather than leaving the transition record until the final week.
Leave a usable record for the next CISO
Typical agreed outputs include a transition plan defining priorities and responsibilities for the coverage period. Program-oversight records show work in progress, accountable owners, and matters awaiting a decision. Executive reporting keeps the sponsor or board informed at the agreed cadence.
The handover brings these records together with outstanding actions and relevant contacts. Your next leader should be able to distinguish completed decisions from recommendations still awaiting approval. Deliverables, recipients, and the handover format are agreed for your engagement.
Agree coverage before the assignment begins
Start with the reason for the gap, the expected term, and the responsibilities that need continuity. Identify an executive sponsor and the teams the interim leader will work with.
ICA then scopes the proposed start date, decision authority, availability, and any onsite needs. Practitioner fit and availability must be confirmed before an assignment is agreed. Establish access to existing program information and agree the initial priorities. Include a handover milestone and a review point for changes to the hiring or return-to-work timeline.
A shared responsibility for continuity
This service fits CEOs, CIOs, CHROs, boards, and executive teams managing a temporary security leadership gap. It works best when the organization provides relevant records, access to decision-makers, and internal owners for delivery.
The interim CISO leads within the agreed authority and reports matters requiring approval. Your organization retains reserved business decisions and risk acceptance. Internal teams and contracted providers remain responsible for their assigned operational work.
The limits of interim coverage
Coverage follows the agreed term and availability; it does not imply full-time or 24-hour support. Technical implementation, testing, continuous monitoring, and emergency incident response require separate scope and resources. The role does not provide legal opinions or issue independent audit opinions or certifications.
FAQ
Questions about Interim CISO engagements
How soon can an interim CISO begin?
Timing depends on the role requirements, practitioner fit, and confirmed availability. Discuss your target date during scoping. ICA does not promise immediate placement or a guaranteed start date before staffing is confirmed.
How is interim leadership different from fractional or vCISO support?
The terms can overlap. This engagement centers on a defined vacancy or transition period and an agreed handover. Fractional and vCISO engagements generally address ongoing leadership needs. The working agreement determines responsibilities.
Can the engagement cover an extended leave?
Yes, that is a typical use for interim leadership. Define temporary authority, coverage needs, and the planned return. Agree how responsibilities will transfer back to the returning CISO.
Who approves decisions during the assignment?
The engagement defines delegated authority and decisions requiring executive approval. Name the sponsor and risk-acceptance owner so the interim CISO and internal teams share the same understanding.
Can the interim CISO work onsite?
Onsite needs are a scoping factor. Discuss locations, attendance expectations, and the proposed working arrangement. Any onsite commitment depends on agreed scope and confirmed practitioner availability.
What if our permanent hire takes longer than expected?
Review the term before it ends. Any extension requires agreement on scope and availability. Keep the handover materials current so they remain useful if the recruitment timeline changes.
Give your leadership transition a defined plan
Discuss the responsibilities that need coverage and what your next CISO should inherit. ICA can scope temporary executive leadership around the gap, agreed availability, and a practical handover.