Scoping and Pricing a Fractional Engagement

Fractional CISO and Compliance Leadership · 3:05

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
They call you up and ask the price
Before they know what they require
SOC Two or HIPAA compliance 
Set the scope before you wire
Don't quote a number in the dark
Price without scope will miss the mark
Turn the conversation around
What outcomes need to be found

[Chorus]
Scope then price, that's the way
Framework first, then what you'll pay
Current state to target goal
That's the gap that tells the whole
Story of the work ahead
Scope then price, like we said

[Verse 2]
SOC Two Type One or Type Two
CMMC Level Two or Three
HIPAA Security Rule or full review
The frameworks aren't all the same degree
Three cloud services, fifty staff
Versus fifteen services, that's not half
Five hundred employees, on-premise too
The scope of systems changes what you do

[Chorus]
Scope then price, that's the way
Framework first, then what you'll pay
Current state to target goal
That's the gap that tells the whole
Story of the work ahead
Scope then price, like we said

[Verse 3]
Where they are versus where they need to be
That distance drives the effort that you'll see
First-time SOC Two with no program built
Three to four times more work, don't feel guilt
Maintaining controls for two years running
Much less effort when the program's humming
Maturity assessment tells the tale
Get this wrong and your pricing will fail

[Bridge]
Clean boundaries make it work
What you do, what they do, no murk
Client owns some, you own the rest
Clear divisions work the best
Ownership drives efficiency
Predictable delivery

[Chorus]
Scope then price, that's the way
Framework first, then what you'll pay
Current state to target goal
That's the gap that tells the whole
Story of the work ahead
Scope then price, like we said

[Outro]
Budget-conscious, credential-focused
Keep the scoping conversation focused
Outcomes first, then scope defined
Price comes last, that's by design
Scope then price, scope then price
That's the fractional provider's advice

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