Many small and midsized businesses outsource some or all of their day-to-day IT functions to a managed service provider. But some company leaders do not realize that they can also outsource their Chief Information Officer (CIO).
A virtual CIO is a professional who provides an organization with strategic IT leadership and advisory services, but without the full-time salary and benefits package of an in-house executive. The vCIO works closely with an organization, acting as part of its strategic planning team and developing and executing an IT roadmap that aligns with the organization’s business objectives.
When hiring a vCIO service provider, look for a company who will take the time to sit with you and learn where your business is today and where you’re planning to take it. The vCIO should assess your existing IT and work with your leadership team to understand what you like about your current IT infrastructure and applications, and what some of your challenges are. The vCIO should help you uncover technology gaps, drive cost-effectiveness by implementing efficient improvements, and ensure your cybersecurity is robust enough to stay ahead of emerging threats and support your future growth plans.
Compared with traditional managed services, which focus on day-to-day operations, vCIO services take a more big-picture, forward-looking approach. A vCIO works with the client to understand not only where the company is now, but where it wants to be at the end of the year, in two years, in five years. The vCIO then partners with the company’s leadership team on developing a roadmap to get them there.
For instance, say you plan to grow your company by adding salespeople, locations, or product or service lines over the next several years. Involving your vCIO in these discussions and strategic planning with these objectives in mind will help ensure efficient long-term solutions that will support success. By taking a proactive approach to IT, you can avoid the Band-aid solutions that, down the line, would lead to a disjointed system that is inefficient and challenging to scale, secure, and support.
Your vCIO will work with your leadership team to implement state-of-the-art tools, from automation and collaboration software to flexible and scalable infrastructure, that will allow your company to remain nimble as it evolves. The vCIO will guide you on maximizing ROI by driving cost-effectiveness with IT solutions that optimize functionality while avoiding redundancies. The vCIO will also ensure your company has a comprehensive cybersecurity system and risk management plan to safeguard against emerging threats as your organization evolves.
When IT is strategically aligned with your organization’s goals, it can become a catalyst for growth. Rather than just a support function, your IT can strategically contribute to the growth and success of your organization.
As with day-to-day managed services, vCIO services are available for an affordable monthly investment: one predictable cost for the full benefit of a technology chief who will guide your company in realizing efficiencies, improving customer service, and gaining a competitive edge. 