Is a Virtual CIO the Missing Piece in Your Puzzle? (Hint: Yes!)

So, when an in-person CIO isn’t an option, what can your organization do? Thanks to digital advancements, business owners can fulfill IT management within their network with the aid of a virtual CIO! Let’s review what responsibilities a CIO position entails and how a virtual CIO manages your business network equal—if not better—than the original. 

What is a CIO? 

As a role rising to popularity in the 1980s, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) position provides guidance and oversight of IT departments. Responsible for bridging communication between the company at-large and technical support, the ideal CIO often discusses how best to improve the business, whether through production processes, strategies, market activity, security, and information storage as it relates to company technology.  

Due to their importance, though, the role is quite expensive, with an average salary of $170,157 per year (in 2022). Unfortunately, many small and medium businesses looking for guidance typically can’t afford a CIO’s salary, forcing them to either ask an administrator to cover the responsibilities or outsource a consultant. These measures, though, are only bandages to temporarily cover an essential part of their business structure. So, how can businesses find a capable yet affordable solution to a traditional CIO? 

Virtual CIO Explained 

Virtual CIOs are a contracted worker or company that serves the same role and responsibilities required of traditional CIOs, only in the form of a software service. Designed to analyze and optimize a business’ digital structure and programs, virtual CIOs help guide companies towards improved processes in-line with new technological advancements. 

All the organization needs to do is subscribe to a virtual CIO provider, request a number of hours for consultation, and pay a monthly flat rate for the services the CIO provides.  

Virtual CIOs provide the IT support employees need to stay productive and organized. 

Benefits of Using a Virtual CIO 

Though human and virtual CIOs share many of the same responsibilities, many small and medium-sized companies gain advantages through these services beyond filling the role. Not only do virtual CIO services provide IT strategies but also more comprehensive document management. Using cloud storage, virtual CIOs keep information secured, which increases cybersecurity and organizational infrastructure from potential attacks. As a result, companies utilizing a virtual CIO gain the support and authority of an IT unit to improve daily processes without delay. Traditional CIOs, though, must rely strictly on the current software and the organization’s budget. 

Other benefits of using a virtual CIO include:  

• Flexible Road Mapping: With Virtual CIOs, companies gain access to technological innovation, expertise to optimize workflow, and document storage procedures. Virtual CIOs offer flexible services to customize according to how much IT support each company needs while staying within budget.  
• Improve Processes with New Technology: By following advancements in software and cybersecurity, virtual CIOs review which programs suit the company and guide business owners towards improving daily office production. Trained virtual CIOs will know how to best upgrade and integrate new tools without altering the network too much. 
• Identify Risks and Plan Backup Support: Particularly in cases where information is lost or breached, organizations need a way to recover information. With virtual CIOs, though, planning for Disaster Recovery is given advanced forethought to ensure production continues with separate information backups and security tests. Furthermore, routine check-ups are given to the company’s information systems to identify flaws and patch openings where hackers could come through.  
• Objective and Accessible Guidance: Despite most processes remaining digital, virtual CIOs still require a degree of human communication and contact with businesses. To best strategize improvements in a company, virtual CIOs learn about the organization’s structure, culture, and style to personalize the services needed to reach long-term goals. As a separate service, though, virtual CIOs offer an objective perspective of how to improve office production, which can be consulted at any time.  

Among all these qualities, though, by far the best part about virtual CIOs is the cost. Set at a flat monthly rate, businesses simply subscribe to the hours they need, saving money and receiving the high-quality support of a CIO. 

Integrate with Copy Systems, Inc. 

To secure high-quality IT support without breaking the budget, small and medium businesses can tap into the technological expertise of virtual CIOs to improve their services. At Copy Systems, Inc., clients can rest assured their networks and documents are professionally handled by our virtual CIO services. To start building your custom virtual CIO service, visit Copy Systems, Inc. today!