The Role of the Virtual CIO and How One Can Improve IT Results for Your Business

As an SMB business owner or executive, you have enough on your plate running your business.

You don’t have the time to become an expert in the information technology you rely on to run your business.

We find that many business leaders lean in one of two directions:

1. They hop from idea to idea and throw money at technology because it’s shiny and new, hoping that the technology itself will improve business operations

2. They ignore and devote the bare minimum to IT needs to run business operations

As this blog’s frequent readers know, throwing money at a business problem by buying technology (or services) is a recipe for wasting budget. Ignoring IT can lead to missed opportunities as your business isn’t agile enough to take advantage of changing markets.

A virtual CIO (chief information officer) bridges the gap between business goals and IT infrastructure to help you create a strategy that uses IT to reach those goals.

You don’t have to be an IT expert -- you can outsource for one.

The Virtual CIO

According to What Is, here’s a definition of a vCIO:

The vCIO collaborates with and advises clients' IT departments and performs the same functions as a conventional CIO. Those duties include formulating strategic IT goals, planning the IT budget, analyzing and reworking business processes and facilitating technology changes. The vCIO can help customers maintain their IT infrastructure -- keeping the lights on -- but can also provide more-forward looking services.

A vCIO can be brought in separately by the hour or for a set fee. A vCIO’s services can also be included in a IT managed services engagement.

What a Virtual CIO Can Do for You

A vCIO can supplement and provide direction to your in-house IT team in the following ways.

Technology Planning. You know where your business needs to be in the future. A vCIO can work with you to make that vision reality with the right mix of technology (in-house and/or outsourced). This way, your business never outgrows your IT infrastructure.

Expertise on Call. As I mentioned above, you aren’t an IT expert. Instead of chasing the next IT shiny object, you have an expert you can ask to provide guidance on new and interesting technology that could help your business grow.

Security/Disaster Planning. There’s no doubt that security is an issue for every company (and individual for that matter) today. A vCIO will work to ensure a secure network. Part of a secure network is to create a disaster and backup plan for your data and operations. Working with a vCIO gives you peace-of-mind that your business will be as secure and disaster-proof as a business can be.

Stop Being Your Own IT Expert

You aren’t an expert in IT. Stop trying to be one.

A vCIO can provide the knowledge and support you need to have the right IT infrastructure in place to allow your business to grow.

If you’re ready for worry-free IT, contact us and see what our virtual CIO services can do for you.