Advisory
A virtual CIO for organisations without one.
Technology leadership without the headcount. A named practice lead sets the direction, holds your providers to a standard and reports to your board in one page.
The position
Someone on your side of the table.
Most organisations of your size have a provider who runs the systems and nobody who decides what the systems should be. Proposals arrive, renewals roll over, and the board asks questions nobody can answer in a sentence.
A virtual CIO fills that seat. We do not resell, so the advice stays independent of what gets bought. We know what good delivery looks like, so we can tell when you are getting it.
What a virtual CIO does
Four responsibilities, held by one person.
-
Technology strategy tied to your plan
A three-year technology roadmap in plain language, reviewed each quarter with your leadership team and revised when your plan changes.
-
Independent vendor advice
We do not resell hardware or software. We recommend what fits, negotiate on your behalf and tell you when the answer is to do nothing.
-
A budget you can defend
A technology budget that shows the board what each line does, what it replaces and what happens if you cut it.
-
Risk and compliance oversight
Essential Eight, ISO 27001, PCI DSS and cyber insurance requirements tracked in one register and reported in one page.
Engagement model
Three ways to engage.
Scope is agreed in writing before we start. We do not publish prices because the right tier depends on your size and what is already in place.
-
Advisory Days
A set number of days each month with a practice lead. Vendor reviews, project oversight, board papers and second opinions on proposals you have received.
-
Fractional CIO
A named practice lead who sits in your leadership meetings, owns the technology roadmap and budget, and manages your providers on your behalf.
-
Board Program
Quarterly technology and cyber risk reporting for boards and audit committees, with a standing agenda item and a one-page dashboard.
Month one
What you get in the first month.
- A written inventory of every system, subscription, contract and renewal date.
- A cyber risk snapshot against the Essential Eight with the three fixes that matter most.
- A licensing review with savings identified and approved.
- A one-page technology roadmap for the next twelve months.
- A named practice lead with a direct number.
Questions
Before you call.
- Do we need a virtual CIO if we already have an IT provider?
- Yes, if nobody on your side is setting the direction and checking the invoices. We work alongside your provider, hold them to a standard and tell you when they are doing well.
- How is this different from a managed service provider?
- A managed service provider runs your systems. A virtual CIO decides what those systems should be, what they should cost and what risk you are carrying. We offer both, and keep the advice independent of the delivery.
- What size of organisation is this for?
- Organisations of 10 to 200 people who need technology leadership but cannot justify a full-time CIO. Our clients include not-for-profits, professional services firms and manufacturers.
- Do you resell hardware or software?
- No. We recommend and negotiate, and you buy direct or through a vendor of your choice. That is how the advice stays independent.
- How quickly can you start?
- Most engagements start within two weeks of an agreed scope. Month one delivers an inventory, a cyber risk snapshot, a licensing review and a twelve-month roadmap.
Start here
Start with a conversation.
Thirty minutes with a practice lead. You tell us where you are, we tell you which tier fits and what month one would deliver.