Why Choose a Part-Time CIO/CTO?
Engaging a part-time CIO/CTO allows you to benefit from the experience of the seasoned IT professional your business needs on the flexible, part-time basis you can afford.
In our experience, while the IT function is critical to the day-to-day functioning of many (if not most) companies, IT departments often grow reactively rather than following a thoughtful, strategic plan. In many cases, a member of the executive team (the CEO, CFO or COO) serves as the de-facto part-time CIO/CTO, juggling the management of a small internal IT team or outsourced contractors with many other professional responsibilities.
The part time CIO/CTO allows you to:
- Optimize IT use throughout the business;
- Free the executive in charge of IT to concentrate 100% on their day job;
- Professionalize the IT function with a senior, experienced, single point of contact responsible for the company’s IT.
As a relationship-driven service, the role of the part-time CIO/CTO is both operational, managing the company’s day-to-day IT function and strategic, providing open, high-level input from a trusted advisor who understands the company’s operations and can serve as a sounding board for the executive team.
Our Services
Our services are tailored to the needs of each client – ranging from a day or two per week to once a month or on an as-needed basis. Serving as an integral part of your team, your CIO will take a hands-on approach to moving your business forward, both operationally and financially.
While the role of a part-time CIO/CTO varies based on the specific needs of each company, here are some of the services we provide our customers:
- A strategic IT roadmap that is executed and adjusted annually;
- Proactive management and support of IT staff, outsourcers and other vendors;
- Management of critical operational processes resulting in increased system reliability and up time;
- An experienced eye looking for cost savings and operational improvements;
- A mentor with definitive answers for IT staff;
- Access to a broad network of seasoned IT professionals.
How We Work
Our work varies from client to client, but generally has three main phases:
- We start with a short discovery process, documenting the Company’s existing IT assets and processes. The purpose of this stage is to ensure that the IT strategy is aligned with the Company’s overall business The output of this process is an IT roadmap that is approved by company management.
- We then get to work, executing on the specific projects that were agreed upon in the roadmap to optimize use of assets, introduce new products, cut costs, improve security, and ensure that backups are performed and that DR and BCP are in place.
- Once the ‘heavy lifting’ to put new processes in place is completed, we work with the company to help manage the IT function on an on-going basis and update the strategic roadmap annually to ensure it is aligned with any new business needs and the realities of a changing ecosystem and competitive landscape.
Practically speaking, some of our time is spent on site to learn the business needs, understand the culture, and interact with the internal company teams, while part of the work is performed remotely, including monitoring and responding to alerts and emails, managing projects, working with vendors, and ensuring the company’s queries and IT needs are met at all times.