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We all know that the sheer pace of technology has meant that small to medium organisations have access to the same type of solutions as those employed by the larger enterprises and for less money than ever before. That's great news.

Cloud Computing, Open Source software, the loud crashing sound of hardware costs falling: this remarkable evolutionary cycle has levelled the playing field for everyone.

The bad news is that the vast number of options available to you also means that the market is incredibly complex; there is arguably too much choice. You've not only got to know your stuff, you need enough foresight to understand which technologies are going to not only stand the test of time but which will be able to grow and adapt with your business.

YOU NEED AN I.T. STRATEGY BUT NOT A FULL TIME CIO?
It is fair to say that most large Enterprises may have much of this nailed with the function of their CIO's, but where does that leave you if you're an SME or a dynamically growing company? Understandably you'll be focused on the tactical issues of the business, your budgets will be tighter and you're probably juggling a number of projects at any one time, with very little time or energy for strategic planning.

However, you're in as much need of an effective IT strategy as your larger counterparts and not just from a competitive standpoint. Market pressure, government and industry regulations, a seemingly insurmountable risk of cyber-crime and security threats - these are all critical issues to you as an organisation and most worryingly for you, serve as a distraction from what's really important, running your business.

THERE IS AN ANSWER
At Q Associates we have recently launched our Simply CIO service which enables organisations to have all of the benefits of an in-house CIO but with a very different cost model. We understand what it's like to run a business and how important it is to realise its goals and ambitions. We can help organisations create an IT strategy that is aligned with the goals of the business but as importantly, regularly review and execute against it.

In other words, you have all the benefits of an intelligent CIO but at a fraction of the cost. We know more than most that technology moves at a frightening pace; we live and breathe it every day.

FOR WHEN YOU NEED A SPECIALIST
There was a time when outsourcing was synonymous with hidden cost or perceived lack of control, but the market has unquestionably moved on. Costs are no longer hidden, on the contrary they become transparent and measurable. We pay £X for our IT, it needs to deliver £Y, you can't run and you can't hide. If technology is going to help you drive more revenue and more customers, then let's not be afraid to shine a spotlight on it.

Control of course is the other factor. The virtual CIO's role is to take the ambitions and goals of the business and provide a technology strategy and delivery mechanism which you can execute and measure against. Arguably if this is something that you either don't have or are struggling to pull together internally due to either resource or time, then outsourcing the function of the CIO puts you firmly back in control of your strategy.

Play your cards right your and your costs could be dramatically reduced and the management and support of your infrastructure could be radically simplified - plus you get an IT strategy that is aligned to the business in a meaningful way.
More info: www.qassociates.co.uk