Even if small and medium businesses have their own IT staff, it would still require a virtual CIO (Chief Information Officer) to fill the gaps that exist among the IT workforce. Usually, the managed service provider offers a bouquet of services covering almost every aspect of the IT domain, including security. By their own right can play the role of CIO. This is especially helpful for small businesses that cannot employ an executive to take advantage of technology to drive revenue and consider the big picture of IT. Therefore, it is not hard to understand why SMBs need a virtual CIO who can strategically align technology with business goals.
Unless small businesses can make proper use of technology, it will never be possible for business owners to realize their dreams of growth and expansion. With limited resources and finances, the only way to achieve growth by harnessing technology is to fall back upon a virtual CIO who can deliver the right results and pave the way to take the business to new heights. Read about The European Business Review.
The role of virtual CIO
Virtual CIO’s scope includes setting goals for the company, drafting roadmaps, and creating budgets besides advising and implementing all technical projects. Engaging a virtual CIO saves costs for SMBs as they can make hourly payments instead of paying for any retainers. This gives flexibility to business owners to avail their services according to the business needs.
Virtual CIOs are entitled to provide advice for any problem, or they might specialize in any specific vertical or industry. SMBs need not stay tied to any single CIO but can consult several of them if needed. It allows small businesses to get the best of both worlds as they can access a massive pool of highly beneficial resources.
Here is how virtual CIOs can help small businesses.
Technology roadmap
Any entrepreneur who wants to improve the business performance should have a clear vision about where he wants to see his business in the next few years and even plan for immediate improvements. Virtual CIOs give a shot in the arm to business owners by providing IT plans and strategies for leveraging IT solutions to realize the business goals both in the short and long term.
Security and disaster management
Having a disaster recovery plan in place well ahead of any mishap is the way to keep away small businesses out of harm’s way due to cyber-attacks and other security threats. The virtual CIO will assess the business’s risks and develop some strategy for disaster management for a prompt response to any crisis before it can affect the business operations. The plan includes ways of maintaining business continuity in the face of any natural disaster or outage too. Since security breaches can cripple businesses, the role of the virtual CIO acquires immense importance.
The virtual CIO plays the role of a specialized IT expert who can keep a close watch on the systems round the clock without ever allowing the slightest slip to derail the business.
