The vCIO collaborates with and advises client’s IT departments and performs the same functions as a conventional CIO. Those duties include formulating strategic IT goals, planning the IT budget, analyzing and reworking business processes and facilitating technology changes. The vCIO can help customers maintain their IT infrastructure, keeping the lights on but can also provide more forward looking services. For example, a vCIO can work with customers to plan a technology roadmap, identify opportunities to use new technology tools. If a client lacks an internal IT department or has a very limited IT staff, the client may grant wider decision-making authority and technology deployment responsibilities to the vCIO. The main difference between the vCIO function and other technical advisory services is that the vCIO takes a broader view of the client, focusing on business and IT alignment. As with traditional CIO’s, a Virtual CIO often helps with Technology Roadmaps, Business Process Improvements, and Business Technology Strategy.

The key business benefit of retaining a Virtual CIO is that they provide the same expertise and capability of a full-time CIO without the associated level of overhead and benefits associated with adding another top level executive. Virtual CIOs may find roles among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which typically aren’t able to afford a traditional CIO’s compensation package. The vCIO can provide cost-avoidance advantages in a couple of ways, depending on the pricing structure. The client organization brings in the vCIO to consult on technology decisions only as needed. This approach is usually less expensive than paying for a full-time CIO’s salary and benefits. While cost avoidance is one benefit of a virtual CIO, customers can find other advantages as well. On the human resources side, the customer avoids the time-consuming and potentially expensive process of hiring a full-time CIO.