As your business grows, so do your technology needs. Because technology is rapidly evolving, many organizations seek more help to manage their IT, such as a Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO).
One of the most appealing things about utilizing a vCIO is that they can either work with your current IT team or replace it to provide full support to you and your employees.
The roles of a vCIO sometimes vary based on the needs of a business, but there are specific responsibilities every vCIO should possess. This raises the following question:
"How do I know the difference between a good vCIO and a bad one?"
By the way, we’re AIS, an office technology company—and we’re glad you stumbled across us! We’ve been providing IT support for over 20 years and are here to give you well-versed and top-tier insight on what to look for when searching for a vCIO.
After reading this article, you’ll feel much more confident about who you partner with based on what qualities a particular vCIO can offer your company and employees.
What Makes a Good vCIO?
A vCIO typically works remotely, hence the word “Virtual” in the name. This means that your entire IT infrastructure is managed by a person or team of people monitoring your systems at all times of the day.
When looking at the bare minimum, a good vCIO must be able to:
- Formulate strategic and long-term IT goals
- Develop a thorough technology roadmap specific to your business, employee, and customer needs
- Review and maintain all IT infrastructures
- Organize and assess vendor management
- Suggest new or enhanced technology recommendations
- Plan the IT budget, either monthly or quarterly
- Provide IT expertise and leadership
A vCIO can be a significant competitive advantage for small businesses in supporting growth and profitability. A great vCIO takes a broader view of the customer and company, focusing on business and IT alignment.
A Good vCIO is Knowledgeable and Qualified
A vCIO is responsible for the strategic insight on how technology drives a business forward. Essentially, a vCIO is the bridge between a company's technology and business sides that links together to meet business objectives and goals.
By outsourcing your IT needs with a vCIO, you can tap into an expert who is up to speed on the most current technology trends and is currently solving business technology problems like yours.
An experienced vCIO takes the time to map out your current technology and what you might need in the future. They will then stay on top of the plans so your business can compete with others that might have a CIO or more vast resources.
A vCIO is beneficial as they can objectively examine your current practices and processes and then make well-educated technology recommendations to improve your business strategies and goals.
A Good vCIO Focuses on Your Network Security
Nowadays, security is an essential factor for any business, large or small. However, small businesses are typically the most prominent target for cyber attacks.
Take a look at the following security measures that a good vCIO should be responsible for measuring:
- Data Protection and Security: Data loss, accidental or by theft, is among businesses' most significant concerns. A good vCIO could offer complete protection with a secure firewall, servers, malware, and virus protection. They can even ensure that patches and networks are up-to-date to prevent opportunities for entrance.
- Risk Assessment: A detailed report and analysis of your company’s existing IT infrastructure, management, security, processes, and performance. The assessment aims to identify opportunities for improvement and get a comprehensive view of the current state of your existing network. This helps you make more informed and strategic business decisions.
Data Protection and Security: Data loss, accidental or by theft, is one the most significant concerns for businesses. A good vCIO could offer complete protection with a secure firewall, servers, malware, and virus protection. They can even ensure patches and networks are up-to-date to prevent opportunities for entrance.
- Continuous Diagnostic Monitoring: Proactive security and 24/7 monitoring of your network allow attempted hacks to be spotted early and anti-virus patches and other software updates to be done quickly. Your overworked IT staff may schedule a patch update a few days after it's available, which means you could be at higher risk of hacking. A vCIO is responsible for keeping network protections up-to-date to eliminate potential gaps in your network's security.
A Good vCIO Integrates & Migrates New & Old Technology
Nowadays, information grows fast and spreads fast. It might even seem challenging to keep up with new and emerging technology trends.
A great vCIO will help move your data and share information safely and effectively. They help mitigate the risk of data loss, eliminate unreliable data, and even establish data storage and access plans.
Your business and employee data is essential, and there’s probably much of it. Having peace of mind knowing your data is in the right place at the correct times is priceless if you ask us.
The Final Say: Finding a Good vCIO
We barely scratched the surface regarding qualities that make a good vCIO vs. a bad vCIO. But we wanted to give you some basics to point you in the right direction as you search for the best vCIO for your business. So, be sure to ask the following questions when evaluating vCIOs:
1. What are your qualifications, and what knowledgeable qualities can you apply to my business?
2. What specific solutions will you implement to ensure my network and devices are more secure and safe from online hackers?
3. What steps do you take to ensure as little downtime as possible when integrating my old and new systems?
Now that you’re more familiar with what to look for from a vCIO, we’ve got a great next step for you to take to learn even more—especially regarding cost. Read our article, How Much Do Managed IT Services Cost With AIS?
At AIS, we’re not just an office technology company. We’re your go-to news source as you search for answers or solutions to improve or expand the IT at your business. We are dedicated to helping you reach your goals by providing you with relevant and helpful information. To learn more about a vCIO or any of our services, make sure to reach out to us today.
