XaaS Journal

Virtual CIO services allow a business to outsource the responsibilities of a chief information officer (CIO) to a services provider or consultant. Virtual CIO services often include short-term and long-term IT strategy, evaluating new technologies for use in the company’s operations, and disaster recovery planning.

Why It Matters to Your Customers

Even if your clients have in-house IT resources, they may need guidance to look at the big picture when it comes to their IT environments. It is easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks, keeping systems updated and running, and not take the time to develop an IT roadmap or consider the benefits that migrating to new technology can provide regarding productivity or efficiency. Your client may also lack experience with budgeting for a tech upgrade, managing an IT migration with minimal disruption to operations, or achieving maximum stakeholder buy-in.

Outsourcing CIO tasks to a services provider can also represent significant cost savings. A virtual CIO services provider will often charge less per month than the cost of hiring an experienced full-time professional to fill the role in-house. The services provider will also have staff and processes in place to be responsive 24/7, something that could not be expected of an in-house CIO.

Why Virtual CIO Services is an Opportunity  

By functioning as a CIO for your clients, you will expand and solidify your relationship with your client. As an outsourced CIO, you will learn the details of many aspects of your client’s business, which can reveal additional opportunities to provide solutions or services. You can charge a monthly fee to act as an outsourced CIO or bundle virtual CIO services with other offerings that you provide, such as managed security, Infrastructure as a Service, or wireless device management.