Fractional Executive Leadership for Professional Services

Law firms, CPAs, and advisory practices hold sensitive client data but often lack dedicated security leadership. Enterprise clients are requiring SOC 2 attestation. Cyber insurance carriers are asking questions you can’t answer. You need security leadership that understands the professional services model.

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The Professional Services Security Challenge

Law firms, CPAs, and advisory practices hold sensitive client data but often lack dedicated security leadership. Enterprise clients are requiring SOC 2 attestation. Cyber insurance carriers are asking questions you can’t answer. External pressure is forcing action, but you don’t know where to start. Professional services firms face a credibility problem: you advise clients on risk, but your own security posture may not survive scrutiny. When a client asks for your SOC 2 report or cyber insurance certificate, you need to have answers.

Professional Services Experience

SOC 2 Readiness

Built security programs that achieve SOC 2 certification and satisfy enterprise customer requirements

Compliance Expertise

Deep experience with frameworks that matter for professional services: SOC 2, cyber insurance, enterprise security reviews

Advisory Relationship

Understand the professional services model and how security enables (rather than blocks) client relationships

How I Help Professional Services Firms

  • Build SOC 2-ready security programs that unlock enterprise clients
  • Navigate cyber insurance requirements with documented controls
  • Create governance and policies appropriate for partnership structures
  • Develop vendor oversight for the tools and platforms you depend on
  • Prepare for enterprise customer security reviews and questionnaires
  • Provide security leadership without disrupting client-facing work

“His deep technical knowledge, calm decisiveness, and genuine passion for both people and the mission made our team one of the most effective and personally one of the most enjoyable to be part of. I’d recommend him without hesitation to any organization looking for a leader who inspires teams, drives innovation, and delivers results.”

Marcus Hudgins, Cyber Security Analyst, Anatomy IT

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your clients. If you’re pursuing enterprise clients or working with regulated industries, SOC 2 is increasingly table stakes. If your clients aren’t asking for it, you may not need it yet. But cyber insurance requirements are tightening regardless, and building a mature security program has benefits beyond any single certification.

Professional services firms have unique governance, with partners who are both owners and practitioners. I understand that dynamic and build security programs that work within partnership decision-making, not against it. Security can’t be something imposed from outside; it has to fit how you actually operate.

I minimize the burden on partners. Most of the work happens with your operations team (if you have one) or directly with me leading execution. Partners need to be available for key decisions and governance approval, but I’m not asking for hours of their billable time.

Yes, but more importantly, I help you build the program that makes your answers accurate. Anyone can fill out a form; the question is whether your controls actually exist. I build the security posture that lets you answer “yes” honestly and win the business.

That’s a common entry point. Cyber insurance carriers are requiring more controls every year. I can help you understand what they’re asking for, implement the controls that matter, and document your program in a way that satisfies underwriters. Often that work reveals broader gaps worth addressing.

Your clients trust you with sensitive information. Make sure your security posture deserves that trust. The Operator’s Take is a complimentary conversation about where you stand and what it would take to get where you need to be.

Security Leadership for Professional Services

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