vCIO: What is a Virtual Chief Information Officer?
In IT services, you may have encountered the term "vCIO," but what exactly does it mean, and how can it benefit your business?
Many IT providers include vCIO services as part of their service package. But what does this mean for businesses? What does a vCIO bring to the table?
Defining vCIOs
The term "vCIO" stands for "Virtual Chief Information Officer." A vCIO acts as your IT guide, helping you navigate the world of information technology.
Large companies often have their Chief Information Officer (CIO), but small-to-medium-sized businesses can access vCIOs through a third party like IT providers.
As an "information officer," a vCIO focuses on information technology (IT) and its functionality, strategy, and effectiveness. They are IT strategy experts and help their clients reach their individual IT goals.
Is Having a vCIO Like Having an Account Manager?
Some companies call vCIOs "technical account managers," but they serve a different role than actual account managers.
Account managers deal with client-provider transactions and relationships, while vCIOs focus solely on IT strategy and solutions.
A vCIO's focus is entirely on the IT side of the business and IT-related strategy. While this includes purchasing hardware when needed, this is only one aspect of their client relationship.
What vCIOs Do: Four Key Roles
1. Creating and Managing the IT Roadmap
vCIOs help create and execute your IT roadmap. They assess your current IT setup, compare it to your future goals, and plan how to reach those goals within your budget.
They also help you choose the proper hardware and software.
2. Helps with IT Budgeting
vCIOs assist in setting budgets for future IT investments based on their knowledge of IT costs, ensuring you make cost-effective choices.
As a member of the IT industry, vCIOs have an insider's view of costs for IT goods and services. This allows them to give accurate estimates and help clients choose the best purchases based on their goals and budgets.
3. Makes IT Security and Risk Mitigation Recommendations
With cyber threats on the rise, vCIOs work with technical teams to assess risks, recommend security measures, and ensure proper cybersecurity tools are in place.
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Once risks are identified, a vCIO can advise organizations on how to address them.
A vCIO will also recommend best cybersecurity practices, work with the technical team to ensure cybersecurity tools are properly deployed (i.e., two-factor authentication), and suggest products or services to help reduce cyber risk.
4. IT Efficiency
vCIOs review your helpdesk ticket history to identify issues that affect productivity. They propose solutions and help you make informed decisions.
For instance, if a client has several tickets about email spam and phishing issues, a vCIO will offer potential solutions for this concern. A solution could be as simple as a system update or as complex as adding email security services.
Either way, a vCIO will present the options to the client and help them make these decisions by providing unbiased, educational, and factual data.
Does a vCIO help businesses?
If IT seems complex and you're unsure where to start, a vCIO can provide clarity. They meet with you regularly to assess your IT strategy, budget, risks, and progress. This helps you make informed decisions about your technology.
A vCIO will regularly meet with a client (typically quarterly) to discuss their IT Roadmap, IT budget, risk assessments, and ticket history.
These meetings are usually called Technical Business Reviews (TBRs). A TBR helps clients to assess how well their current IT strategies are working.
A vCIO is beneficial if you:
However, if you have IT expertise in-house or don't face these concerns, a vCIO may not be necessary.
Next Steps for Working with a vCIO
A vCIO helps their clients develop effective IT strategy and planning. They often address concerns related to:
For businesses that feel overwhelmed or confused by technology, vCIOs act as guides. A quality vCIO will bring clarity to a confusing IT situation.
WEBIT Services offers vCIO consultations to strengthen your IT strategy, cybersecurity, and IT growth.
If you already have an IT provider, they likely include a vCIO. Contact them for details. However, it may be a service red flag if your current vCIO seems more interested in making sales than following your IT roadmap (if they have created a roadmap).