Why Virtual CIO Services Are The Hottest New Trend

If you’ve ever felt like there’s a missing link between your IT department and the rest of your company, it could be because you’re missing the services of a virtual CIO – or a Virtual Chief Information Officer.

You might be under the impression that hiring a full-time CIO is costly. And you’re right. However, hiring a CIO doesn’t have to come with the expense you’d normally assume. In fact, you can choose to outsource this role and use a virtual CIO.

What’s so great about outsourced virtual CIO services? We’re here to tell you! Keep reading to learn why virtual CIO services are trending and having a full-time CIO isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!

First, What is a Virtual CIO & What Do They Do?

A Chief Information Officer is hired to help manage a company’s IT staff and assets as well as set forth a technology strategy for the organization to use. A CIO has the responsibility of forecasting technology trends to ensure the business remains competitive.

Additionally, a CIO can help bridge the gap between your in-house IT department, other C-level executives, and various team members. This key employee can help translate complex computer-related problems and solutions into easily understood information for all team members.

A virtual CIO performs the same functions as a conventional CIO. Those duties are simply completed in a remote setting instead of the employee being in-house.

Top Benefits of a CIO

Having a full-time CIO allows your business the consistency of having all IT policies originate from the same person which can lead to a better understanding of rules as well as less confusion. Your organization will be able to streamline any implementation of new technologies, including hardware and software.

Your Chief Information Officer will also keep you informed of required updates, any major changes to systems, and be able to offer increased security of your company’s documents and files.

The role of a CIO will also include ensuring that your company’s confidential information remains private and help to make certain that all sensitive data is protected. Protecting your data will ultimately save your business money by avoiding breaches that can lead to the loss of sales, legal fines, or company secrets.

Why Use a Virtual CIO Instead of Hiring a Conventional CIO

There’s no doubt that having a full-time CIO is a necessity. Unfortunately, many small businesses choose to operate without a full-time CIO because they simply don’t have the budget for a full-time CIO’s salary and the ability to afford a traditional CIO’s compensation package. The vCIO helps remedy this.

Opting to use virtual CIO services (vCIO) will give your company the benefits of a CIO without having to cover the same costs that are usually associated with this type of employee.

A virtual CIO can easily fill the shoes of an in-house team member for a fraction of the cost. They provide the knowledge and expertise you’d expect from an in-house CIO and typically have experience working with a wide variety of companies. You’ll also find that their industry experience will help push the technological bounds of your organization.

Hiring Remote Workers is Trending

You probably already know this, but it’s worth mentioning: the number of remote workers has grown drastically – in fact, there are 44% more people working remotely than there were 5 years ago!

Your business has likely already outsourced a number of employees or has chosen to allow them to work from home. Part of the reason for this is because remote workers often charge less for their services, are happier, and are more productive than their in-house counterparts.

When you enlist the help of remote team members, you have a wider selection of talent to choose from. Your company will also require less office space, minimize overhead costs, and will typically receive the same (if not better) services as you would if the staff member were physically present.

Additionally, the people who tend to fill remote roles have better flexibility when it comes to their availability and working hours. This could mean that your virtual CIO is always available – or very close to it! This is a huge benefit, especially in the event of an IT emergency or when your systems aren’t working as well as they should be!

Finding Your Own vCIO

If you are in need of a virtual CIO or are considering appointing a virtual CIO, you’ll have a bit of research to do. Yes, you could technically hop online and look for individuals advertising their services as a vCIO but this can be risky and end poorly,

Instead, you might consider using a managed IT company that offers CIO as part of their services. You’ll have a dedicated virtual CIO at an affordable cost while still benefitting from their years and expertise in the industry.

If you choose to hire a company that offers vCIO services, be sure that they offer a complete assessment of your company’s existing technology and fully understands its limits. You also want to make sure that your chosen vCIO service can completely fulfill the needs of your organization. This will include helping identify any required changes in technology, software, hardware, or IT policy.

Our Virtual CIO Services Are Here to Help!

At Bastionpoint Technology, we pride ourselves on offering an array of information technology services at competitive costs. We can take care of managed IT needs, implement new phone systems, improve your IT infrastructure, and yes, we are here to fulfill the role as a vCIO for your business.

If you are interested in working with a virtual CIO or would like to know more about our virtual services, don’t hesitate to give one of our friendly representatives a call or submit a contact form! We’re happy to hear from you and want to show you exactly how your company can benefit from having a CIO on your team!