Help Wanted: Should You Be Hiring a Virtual CIO?

How many seats are there at your C-suite table? A small business might have only a CEO. A mid-sized one may add another one or two C's - COO? CFO? CMO? But you don't have to be enterprise-sized to enjoy a Chief Information Officer's (CIO) skillset. Virtual CIOs help any size business create a tech strategy to meet business goals.

Every business will shape the CIO role differently. Still, this individual typically has the following responsibilities:

• planning information technology (IT) strategy
• budgeting for technology to support business goals
• keeping abreast of current technology trends
• evaluating new technologies to improve productivity, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce costs
• building and maintaining an effective, motivated IT team
• inspiring and embracing technological innovation
• developing security, business continuity, and disaster recovery policies

Notice how this role differs from a Technology Director or IT Director. The director is typically more of a hands-on operationally focused IT leader. The TD or IT Director is more likely to be buying IT and managing the technical solutions.

The vCIO is a strategic consultant. He or she needs to understand the day-to-day operations, of course, but this role is more about bigger-picture thinking. As more technology is moved to the cloud and outsourced to partnerships, the vCIO is the outward-facing lead.

A vCIO takes a broad view of business technology needs. They prioritize IT needs and provide methods to improve regulatory compliance. With an eye to ROI, the vCIO builds vendor relationships and reviews the IT teams' strengths.

How Does a vCIO Help Business?

People may be the backbone of the business, yet you can bet they rely on networks, computer systems, and software applications to get the job done. Processing invoices, collaborating on documents, organizing meetings, video conferencing... business has gone digital.

Without the right technology in place, you could be wasting resources: time and money. Many companies get sold on particular IT solutions and stick with them out of loyalty. With so much else demanding attention, it's easier to rely on legacy systems to get the job done.

But that's not necessarily the best thing for the business. A virtual CIO can help identify areas of duplication and wasted resources. Maybe you are paying for more software licenses than you need? An outdated system is slowing you down. You could be under-utilizing your existing hardware. This tech expert explores process and makes recommendations for streamlining business practices.

As digital transformation leaders, CIOs are as critical to cultural change as chief human resources officers. - Gartner

A virtual CIO lets you keep up with the core challenges facing your business. Meanwhile, you're leaving technology concerns to an expert. A virtual CIO, even a part-time one, comes to understand your business objectives. Then, they ensure your IT infrastructure is the best fit it can be.

Regardless of your industry, it's safe to say that technology is complicated. Plus, IT is evolving rapidly. Don't miss out on opportunities to leverage the best tools for your business. Take a strategic approach to IT with the aid of a virtual CIO.

Make sure your IT investment is a wise one with the input of a virtual CIO. We can help. Contact us today at 903-347-0073.