vCIO: It’s Time To Take Off One of Your Hats

It’s time to face facts; technology is advancing at a pace that it is difficult for even the most dedicated IT professional to keep up, let alone an owner/operator who is responsible for maintaining the entire business. There comes the point in which a choice has to be made as to priorities and what you’re going to focus your attention on. There are only so many hats one person can wear, without compromising the business’ growth and stability. As the saying goes, “When you try to do everything, you often get nothing done” in other words, it’s time to take off a hat.

More and more SMBs are finding themselves left behind as they lack the resources to take advantage of, or the insight to fully understand how changes in technology are affecting their business. This inability to navigate the ebb and flow of technology is affecting their ability to be competitive and ultimately risking the survival of their business.

For an enterprise level business, the solution to such a dilemma would be to toss resources at the problem, which they have an abundance of. In this case, hiring a CIO (Chief Information Officer) would be an appropriate response. A CIO’s primary function is to provide the insights, strategies, and experience many businesses need to move their business forward. However such experience comes at a price, and the reality is the expense of a full-time, in-house CIO is prohibitive for many SMBs. You have to be smarter and take advantage of the solutions managed IT can provide your business.

Enter the vCIO (Virtual Chief Information Officer); this service provides the experience and knowledge of a CIO but is designed specifically for the SMB business model. A vCIO allows the small/medium business owner to have access to the same high-level expertise as larger firms do, but at a fraction of the cost.

Benefits that a vCIO can provide your business:

• Strategic planning linking IT to business objectives
• Experience and insights on technology trends and best practices
• Supplying IT project planning and management with an eye towards the future
• Developing an IT budget
• Flat-rate fee means no surprises or pay per intervention
• Develop a business continuity plan

The first order of business your vCIO will do is provide a comprehensive assessment of your organization’s technology, staff, and operations, allowing them to provide a personalized plan for your business.

Next, the vCIO will translate this information into actionable steps which will comprise your customized technology roadmap. This strategic plan will direct your business as to how to best utilize your existing technology more efficiently, as well as planning for the future.

Additionally, your vCIO will apply their expertise to leverage new technologies for the benefit of your company. By being able to predict industry trends, you vCIO can provide you the competitive edge over your competition, regardless of their size.

We understand the difficulty many SMB owners face when they have to wear multiple hats. Fuse Network’s vCIO service provides a turn-key solution to viewing your technology not as a burden, but as an asset to your business and an investment in your organization’s success.

For more information on how a vCIO can benefit your business or to learn more about the “Fuse Advantage,” contact us at 855-GET-FUSE (438-3873) or complete the contact form and we will show you the advantage of having a strategic technology plan for your business.