What Are vCIO Services?

The eruption of cloud offerings has supported enormous growth while creating extremely complex IT landscapes. Organizations struggle to meet the demand of doing more with less while juggling the intricacies of a multi-cloud, hybrid, or disparate deployment of technology. If your organization is unable to recognize the value of your offerings, you can benefit from a vCIO. 

What is a vCIO?

vCIO services, or virtual Chief Information Officer services, provide flexible C-Level IT guidance to organizations that do not have the resources or expertise available internally without the requirement of onboarding a full-time IT executive. These services complement current staff and/or 3rd party external partners to create the robust IT solutions growing organizations require. Unlike IT support services, like those found in traditional Managed Services Providers (MSPs), vCIOs focus on business alignment, strategy, budgets, and guiding organizations through technology change.

Why is a vCIO valuable? 

Every organization, in every industry, relies on technology. It is an integral part of every business function and is in support of every service rendered. Poor decisions in technology purchases or partnerships can negatively impact an entire organization. Your organization may fall into one of the following categories: 

1. IT is comprised of internal staff who are savvy and perform support functions as a fractional part of their normal duties 

2. IT has dedicated technical people who provide reactionary support to issues or provide continued maintenance to the technology currently in place 

3. IT is a 3rd party solution, typically an MSP, that provides services and support to tackle everyday issues 

4. IT is a group of contracted resources that provide specialized services for various IT needs 

5. IT is any combination of 1-5

These solutions are valuable in supporting the day-to-day activities however they are not future-oriented. They fail to create an alignment between technology and business needs. A strong vCIO partner bridges the gap between business strategy and technology delivery to deliver intelligent solutions. 

How does a vCIO create value?

Primarily, the vCIO will play as an advocate for the organization by providing strategic level guidance in the area of technology. This includes 

• analyzing the business vision and mission and aligning technology through implementation to support

• building and identifying areas of excess in budgets

• supporting internal team growth through leadership and training

• Brokering and managing relationships with external partners to deliver on specific needs

• advocating on behalf of the business in technology acquisition 

• guiding the organization through effective change management and technology adoption