"Why Can't I Manage It Myself?"
Most Firms Don't Need a Full-Time CTO, CIO, or CISO Because of Their Size
If we were building a house, most of us would not decide to do it without an architect and an excellent general contractor. Let's face it: This is where we will raise and keep our family safe, in addition to it being the most considerable single personal expense. We would not make this investment by downloading a plan from Google and then running the project ourselves. Doing so would result in budget and timeline overruns and a design or layout meant for the masses but not meeting our family's specific needs.
So why do so many companies decide to do a similar thing with their technology and data security? We tend to see a junior technologist, an executive admin, or the CFO making the decisions on the direction of the firm's technology/security roadmap. This is the equivalent of hiring the apprentice plumber in the build-out of your house. You then learn that you do not have enough baseboard heating to heat your home in the dead of winter. Years later, when you have teenagers, you find out that you cannot run two showers at the same time.
While the public cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) have transformed how businesses operate, providing even the smallest companies with affordable access to systems once only accessible to large-cap firms is a good idea. However, it is often overlooked how the overall collective of applications, data, and reporting needs to work together. Failing to look at the business workflow and the collective systems that support them may not always present issues immediately, but growing companies often find their staff doing manual work and asking for more resources. This results in attempting to find qualified resources in this challenging hiring market and burned-out or unhappy employees finding themselves completing mindless tasks day in and day out.
This problem is not unique to any one company or industry. Just look at your personal life. How many of us would say our smartphone has made us more productive and afforded us more free time? I have worked with clients of all sizes, including hedge funds, private equity, broker-dealers, and managed service providers (MSPs), and all of them struggle with this. Yes, I said the MSPs — even the firms that advise and support all your technology and cybersecurity needs, struggle with this problem.
The Solution
It's simple, invest in the correct plan and select a strategic advisor with CTO/CIO and CISO experience. These resources don't need to be full-time but you must choose someone you trust and can call on regularly as your business requirements evolve and the technology and cyber threat landscape changes. Work with this individual to detail your business workflows and build a technology road map that helps you maintain security and become more efficient. Make sure this individual not only creates the plan but stays with you throughout the execution of this plan and ensure they have a realistic vision of what is required.
After implementation, your strategic technology advisor should meet with you and your MSP periodically to check on any changes or reoccurring issues in the environment that might require a modification to your road map. This person should bring new ideas and updates on existing and new software products that could aid in the growth or scale of your business.
Our Services
Information Security Consulting
With cybercrime on the rise, including insider threats, it's more important than ever before to safeguard your digital assets. The damages and reputational loss from a cyber hack or data breach could jeopardize your entire business. IT Portfolio Advisors can build a roadmap to IT security based on your budget and risk profile. We can help you discover the best tools and solutions that keep your data safe.
More Value From Tech Assets
Many enterprises don't leverage their existing systems and services. For example, a firm might not utilize its managed service provider (MSP) in the way it should. IT Portfolio Advisors believes all technology should improve performance, productivity, and profitability. We can create a road map that helps you fully realize your software and systems without spending more money. We can also advise you on making better use of your MSP.
Exceptional Consultancy Services
Many firms have an in-house "expert" who advises them on tech-related issues. However, using a reputable consultant who has worked with some of the world's biggest companies can provide you with more value. IT Portfolio Advisors can guide your internal tech leaders or board members by finding solutions to everyday tech problems. As a result, you can improve workloads, scale your infrastructure, and enhance day-to-day operations.