Owners making IT decisions alone
The owner or a finance lead signs off on technology spending without anyone to explain the trade-offs.
A virtual chief information officer
for companies without one on staff.
As part of Chrysalis managed IT, you get the planning a full-time chief information officer (CIO) would provide, on a part-time basis: a budget you can defend, a roadmap that matches where the business is going and regular reviews to keep both current.
- An annual IT budget tied to your business plan
- A multi-year technology roadmap
- Regular business reviews with your leadership team
What is a virtual CIO?
A virtual CIO (vCIO) is an outside IT leader who does the strategic work of a CIO part time, for companies that do not need one on staff. At Chrysalis, vCIO services are part of managed IT, not a separate purchase. They cover IT budgeting, a technology roadmap, vendor and license reviews, security and compliance priorities, and regular business reviews with your leadership team, without adding an executive to the payroll.
Who uses a virtual CIO
Companies where technology decisions carry real money and risk, but a full-time technology executive is not yet justified.
Companies with an IT manager but no strategy
Your IT person keeps things running and needs someone to plan budgets, priorities and projects with leadership.
Businesses in a period of change
An acquisition, a new location, a new compliance requirement or fast hiring makes buying technology one problem at a time too risky.
Companies whose customers ask hard questions
Larger customers, insurers or lenders want to see a security plan, a budget and someone who owns both.
What happens without IT leadership
Good day-to-day support keeps the lights on. It does not set direction.
Spending without a plan
Technology gets bought when something breaks, so costs arrive as surprises and nobody can say whether the money was well spent.
Risk nobody owns
Security, backup and compliance gaps sit on a list, if they are written down at all, with no owner and no date.
IT left out of business decisions
Growth plans, new services and hires get decided without asking what the systems behind them will need.
What our vCIO services include
Strategic IT leadership on a schedule that fits your business.
IT budgeting
An annual budget that separates recurring costs from planned projects and hardware refreshes, so leadership sees spending coming before it lands.
Technology roadmap
A phased plan that ties each upgrade, migration and security project to a business reason and a target quarter.
Regular business reviews
Scheduled meetings with your leadership to review support trends, risks, projects and spending, and to decide what comes next.
Vendor and license management
One view of the vendors, contracts and licenses you pay for, with renewals on the calendar before they come due.
Security and compliance priorities
A plain-language view of your risks and your insurer and compliance requirements, and the order to tackle them in.
Start with a risk assessment
A complimentary risk assessment is a practical starting point. It gives the first budget and roadmap something real to work from, instead of guesses about what needs attention.
Request a risk assessmentWhat a vCIO gives you
- A technology budget leadership agrees on before the year starts.
- A roadmap that shows what happens next quarter and why.
- Someone accountable for how technology supports the business, at the table when decisions get made.
From a Chrysalis client.
Charles Njilefack, director of information technology at ConTeras Industrial Group, on planning for the bigger picture with Chrysalis as the organization grows.
Read more client stories“Chrysalis has become a trusted technology partner for ConTeras Industrial Group. As our organization has grown and expanded across multiple companies and locations, Chrysalis has helped us bring greater consistency, security, and structure to our IT environment. Their team supports our day-to-day technology needs while also helping us plan for the bigger picture—from cybersecurity and Microsoft 365 to infrastructure, cloud services, user support, and the integration of new companies into our organization. What we value most is their commitment to understanding our business and working alongside our team. Chrysalis isn’t simply a company we call when something breaks; they are a technology partner focused on helping ConTeras operate securely, efficiently, and scale for the future.”
How vCIO service runs
Planning that runs alongside your managed IT support through the year, on a schedule you agree.
- 1
Discovery
We learn your business goals, current systems, spending and risks.
- 2
First plan
We build the first budget and roadmap with your leadership.
- 3
Regular reviews
Business reviews track progress, spending and new risks, and reset priorities where needed.
- 4
Adjust as you grow
When the business changes, the plan changes with it, so the roadmap stays useful instead of sitting in a drawer.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about virtual CIO services.
How is a vCIO different from an IT consultant?
A consultant usually works on one project or decision. A vCIO stays involved over time, owns the roadmap and budget with you and meets with leadership on a regular schedule. At Chrysalis, one-off projects go through IT consulting, and vCIO planning is part of managed IT.
How often will we meet?
The schedule is set in your plan, based on your size and how much is changing. Regular business reviews are the backbone, with contact in between when a decision comes up.
Do we need a vCIO if we already have an IT manager?
Often, yes. A vCIO works alongside your IT manager on budgets, strategy and reporting to leadership, while they keep running daily operations. For companies with in-house IT, this comes through co-managed IT.
Can we buy vCIO services on their own?
No. vCIO planning is part of Chrysalis managed IT, not a standalone purchase. Managed IT plans start at $125 per user per month, the final fee depends on the scope you agree, and your proposal lists what your plan covers. Compared with hiring a CIO, there is no executive salary or benefits to carry.
Can a vCIO help with compliance and cyber insurance?
Yes, on the technology side. Compliance requirements and the security controls cyber insurers commonly request feed into the roadmap and budget, and the vCIO plans those controls with your team. Requirements vary by insurer and policy, so coverage questions stay with your licensed insurance professional.
What should we bring to the first meeting?
Whatever you have on current IT costs, contracts and upcoming renewals, plus the business plans technology needs to support over the next few years. If that information is scattered across inboxes and invoices, pulling it together is part of the first piece of work.
Put IT leadership at the table
Tell us where the business is heading over the next few years and what worries you about your technology. We will explain how vCIO planning works within managed IT for a company your size. Call sales at 713.575.2608.
- Sales and new inquiries713.575.2608
- Client support713.575.2626
- Email[email protected]