You Need a vCIO
The right vCIO will be your trusted IT advisor and help you to leverage technology to drive business success. They can provide strategic expertise and a seat at the table for your organization, and are often a more affordable alternative to hiring a full-time CIO. However, not all vCIOs are created equal and it’s important to understand what a good vCIO should bring to your organization to ensure you are getting the best value out of the relationship.
A vCIO is an IT professional that works as part of a managed service provider (MSP) team. They offer a modern, proactive approach to IT support and IT management. They’re often able to provide better results than your current IT staff because they can draw on a much broader range of experience and knowledge that an in-house IT team may not have access to.
Unlike the break/fix-it model that many SMBs have relied on in the past, vCIO services are based on preventative maintenance and proactively addressing issues before they become serious problems. They do this by providing constant monitoring and security, software updates, and live support. By focusing on prevention, they help you to avoid costly repairs down the road and enable your IT systems to run smoothly and efficiently.
Why Do You Need a vCIO?
They’ll also be able to help you develop an IT strategy that supports your business goals, helping your company stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing digital landscape. This could include implementing new processes and tools to help you reach your targets or improving the efficiency of existing ones. They’ll help you to determine the right mix of technologies for your organization and will be able to integrate them into your IT infrastructure so that it is all working together seamlessly.
It’s not uncommon for a vCIO to have an extensive network of relationships with other IT professionals and consultants, which will allow them to find the best solution to any IT issue that your business encounters. A vCIO can also be an excellent resource for your internal IT department, helping them to build better relationships with vendors and give them a wider perspective on what the industry is doing to keep up with tech trends.
Ultimately, the most important thing that you need to look for in a vCIO is that they’re trustworthy. It’s vital that they have a deep understanding of your business and how it uses technology, what technology helps you achieve your goals, and what the potential risks are for your IT infrastructure to be successful in the long term. They should feel like an employee of your company, not a vendor trying to sell you products.
In order to get the most out of your vCIO, it’s important to set clear expectations and communicate regularly. This can be done by setting up a schedule for check-ins and meetings, ensuring that they’re available to address IT questions quickly, and clarifying how far their guidance will extend.