We Have IT at Home: The Case for a Fractional CIO
- Steven Lee
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
I've talked to many company leaders, and a refrain I hear often is "Steven, it is nice to meet you, but we already have an IT Manager (Director, CIO, etc)." At SMBs, the IT Manager often wears many hats, doing what they can to keep systems running, helping users, and working with management to plan future IT investments. What's also common is that they already outsource several IT functions to MSPs or professional services organizations.
So if this is the case, why would adding a Fractional CIO make sense? There isn't one straight answer, but here are the situations I've seen with past clients:
No Capacity: The client's IT Manager is talented and hardworking, but they're overloaded. Their focus has been on keeping the lights on, and they just haven't had the time to develop new strategic capabilities, such as AI or meeting more demanding European privacy requirements, like GDPR.
Skills Gap: The IT manager possesses excellent skills in some areas, but lacks experience in others. For example, I've been contracted to serve as the Qualified Individual to implement the FTC Safeguards Rule on behalf of a client with an IT Manager who possesses outstanding technical skills but is not confident in writing and implementing security policies.
Experienced Hands Needed: The company is growing, and the CIO needs another set of experienced hands to oversee a critical project or area. This is common in merger or acquisition scenarios or in companies expanding into new regions.
Strategic Perspective: Many IT Managers think tactically, and they are very good at meeting current needs. However, a company's needs can change rapidly, and a company's infrastructure and systems must keep pace while still running efficiently and meeting security requirements. This is a tricky balancing act, and a second set of eyes to provide guidance and best practices can allow an organization to avoid unnecessary costs or make bad decisions.
Still unsure if engagement with a Fractional CIO makes sense for your organization? Schedule a free, no-obligation session with me. We'll talk through your issues and come up with some options. I'm not a salesman, so there will be no high-pressure sales tactics —just conversation about how we can solve your problems.
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