Security leadership that's in the room every week, not just during audit season.
A named CISO, embedded in your team — for regulated companies that need real security judgment now, and can't yet justify a $300K+ full-time hire.
Most companies don't need a full-time CISO. They need the instincts of an experienced one, without the overhead of one.
Board members ask security questions. Enterprise buyers send 40-page vendor security questionnaires. HIPAA and SOC 2 audits don't wait for budget cycles. Most growth-stage companies are stuck between doing nothing and a hire they can't justify yet — so the work falls to a CTO or general counsel who has a full-time job already.
Full-time CISO
Retained, embedded
Three ways to bring in a security leader, scaled to where you are.
- Strategic guidance and board prep
- Vendor security questionnaire support
- Policy and framework review
- Direct line for ad hoc questions
Best for: pre-Series B companies fielding their first real security questions.
- Ongoing program and policy ownership
- HIPAA / SOC 2 audit coordination
- Incident response readiness
- Works alongside your existing IT/MSP
- Monthly board-ready reporting
Best for: companies actively building a security program, not just reacting to one question at a time.
- Full security program ownership
- Audit leadership (HIPAA, SOC 2, HITRUST)
- Compliance and privacy officer functions, where one leader covers the full regulatory posture
- Vendor and third-party risk management
- Recurring board and executive reporting
- Available for incidents as they happen
Best for: regulated, scaling companies treating security as core infrastructure, not a checkbox.
Every engagement starts with a two-week scoping sprint, so pricing reflects your actual environment — not a guess. Ask for a quote based on what you actually need.
A security assessment tells you where you stand today. A retained CISO is there for what happens next.
In your tools, not on the sidelines
Works inside your existing IT, MSP, and SOC relationships rather than replacing them — in your meetings, your Slack, your incident channel.
Real authority, not a deck
Owns the security roadmap and represents it directly to your board — not a one-time presentation that gets filed away.
Built for the moments that matter
Present for the vendor questionnaire holding up a deal, the board update before a raise, and the incident that doesn't wait for business hours.
Security, compliance, and privacy don't have to be three separate hires.
Most regulated companies need all three functions, but can't justify three full-time leaders — or three different vendors who don't talk to each other. One retainer can cover all three, backed by the certifications behind each.
Security leadership
Risk management, security architecture, vendor security reviews, and incident response — owning the program, not just advising on it.
Compliance leadership
Audit readiness, regulatory reporting, and program ownership across HIPAA, SOC 2, and the frameworks your auditors and board actually ask about.
Privacy leadership
Privacy-by-design, data protection strategy, and breach response planning — the function regulators expect someone to actually own.
16+ years building security and privacy programs inside regulated companies.
Before Bowen & Company, Chris led security, risk, and compliance through two healthcare technology companies from early stage through scale — work that now sits behind every retained engagement.
A few things worth knowing up front.
Does this replace our IT team or MSP? +
No. A retained CISO sets direction and owns accountability for the security program; your IT team or MSP keeps doing the operational work. The two roles are complementary, not competing.
How fast can you start? +
Most engagements begin within two weeks of signing, starting with a scoping sprint to map your environment, existing tools, and immediate priorities before settling on a retainer.
What if we outgrow this and need someone full-time? +
That's a good outcome, not a lost client. Chris has built full security and privacy organizations from the ground up before and can help structure the role, write the job description, and support a clean handoff.
Do you only work with healthcare companies? +
Healthcare is the deepest bench of experience, but the same judgment applies across regulated industries — fintech, insurance, and other compliance-heavy spaces.
How is this different from your HIPAA Security Risk Assessment service? +
A Security Risk Assessment is a point-in-time deliverable — a defined scope, a report, a clear end date. A retained CISO engagement is ongoing leadership. Some clients start with an SRA and move into a retained relationship once they know what needs fixing. Risk assessments are handled separately through Bowen & Company.