Fractional CIO services are a valuable asset for businesses hoping to develop and implement comprehensive IT initiatives to improve productivity and security. To make the most of these strategies, businesses must have the proper resources to bring them to life—and an IT solutions company that offers a wide selection of practical services can be just that resource.
Today’s post will explore the collaboration between CIO and managed technology services and how, together, they can change your business for the better.
Fractional CIO and Managed IT: What’s the Connection?
Let’s start with the basics. CIO stands for chief information officer, which is the in-house person who manages your IT strategy, making sure it aligns with the business’s overall goals. A fractional CIO, also known as a part-time CIO, virtual CIO, or vCIO, is often part of a third-party company and offers these services to businesses that don’t have the resources or need for a full-time CIO.
While the CIO handles the soft side of IT strategies, managed IT support takes care of the hard services. As the CIO works with executives to develop IT plans and strategies, an IT solutions company can provide concrete services and action items that make these goals a reality and allow you to see them through.
Your CIO and IT techs can work together to create the perfect technology strategy, combining their expertise to ensure both the theoretical and practical sides of your IT lineup and support your business’s overall growth and success.
See It in Action
This perfect pairing of a virtual CIO and an IT solutions company can strengthen your security and productivity, giving your business that competitive edge it needs to thrive. Take a look at how different managed IT services and input from your CIO can complement each other:
Cybersecurity
With the rise in both the frequency and sophistication of cyberthreats, cybersecurity is one of the most important aspects of your IT strategy. A CIO identifies company assets that need special protection, key security concerns, etc. Meanwhile, your IT solutions company contributes its knowledge of current threats and implements advanced programs and tools to protect resources.
Data Security & Backup Solutions
A CIO develops a comprehensive data management and backup strategy, ensuring that critical information is securely stored and easily accessible, assessing storage needs, identifying critical data, and implementing policies. IT techs can then launch and support storage platforms, backup schedules, recovery plans, and the necessary software to keep everything organized.
Business Continuity Planning
Your CIO’s detailed knowledge of your business allows them to identify risks, set priorities, and create strategies to maintain operations during unexpected events like cyberattacks or natural disasters. An IT solutions company supports these efforts by providing 24/7 monitoring, rapid response to incidents, and reliable failover systems to keep your business running smoothly.
Cloud Computing
The CIO is instrumental in evaluating and selecting the best cloud solutions that ensure scalability, security, and cost-efficiency. They oversee cloud migration and integration with existing systems. Professional techs provide hands-on support by running the actual migration, setting up your infrastructure, implementing proper security, and offering continued monitoring and support.
Tech Support
CIOs and IT teams can work together to choose the most effective applications to support business operations. While your CIO contributes insights about business goals and processes, IT techs provide expertise on popular apps. Once launched, an IT solutions company can offer help desk support for these tools and troubleshoot other issues to keep operations running smoothly.
Employee Security Training
By initiating cybersecurity training programs tailored to your business and employees, CIOs can develop a security-conscious culture focused on the specific threats targeting your industry. Managed IT services support these efforts by delivering engaging, up-to-date training and conducting realistic drills to strengthen your organization’s most important line of defense.
Get the Best of Both Worlds with AIS
At AIS, we believe in providing all of the resources you need for a reliable, efficient IT infrastructure.
You can enjoy our flexible vCIO services as your sole support or as a complement to your in-house CIO’s expertise. And when it comes time to put strategies into place, you’ll have access to our comprehensive suite of premium IT services, designed to make your business safe and successful.
Explore our service offerings or talk with a team member to get started on your newer, stronger IT.