FAQs
Have Questions?
What does a virtual CTO actually do?
Sets technology direction rather than fixing things. That means a roadmap tied to your business goals, budget planning so spending is scheduled instead of reactive, vendor and contract oversight, risk and compliance posture, and a plan for the technical debt that accumulates when nobody owns the long view.
How is this different from having managed IT?
Managed IT keeps today working. A virtual CTO decides what next year looks like. Plenty of businesses have solid day-to-day support and still make technology decisions in a vacuum - buying tools nobody integrates, renewing contracts nobody reviewed. The two roles are complementary, not alternatives.
Do we need one if we already have an IT manager?
Often the IT manager is exactly who benefits. They usually know what needs fixing and lack the executive access to get it funded. A virtual CTO translates technical risk into business terms for owners and boards, which is a different job from running the environment.
What does it cost compared to hiring a CIO?
A fraction. That is the entire point of the fractional model - C-suite technology experience at a share of a full-time executive salary, because you are buying judgment and direction rather than 40 hours a week. Engagements are scoped to the cadence your business actually needs.
How much time do we actually get?
Set by the engagement rather than sold as a block of hours, because the value is in the planning cycle, not the clock. Typically that means regular strategy sessions, budget and roadmap reviews, and availability for the decisions that come up between them.
