Unlock your business’s potential with our fractional Chief Information Officer (CIO) services. Dave partners with board directors, executive teams and managers to align technology with your strategic goals, overseeing the technology landscape, securing the environment, driving innovation, and maximising efficiency.
From strategic IT planning and vendor management to IT budgeting and digital transformation, Dave ensures your organisation has a clear, actionable technology roadmap to support growth and success - all while ensuring alignment with industry-leading security standards, frameworks and directives.
“As a fractional CIO, I integrate with your existing IT environment by collaborating with internal IT teams, guiding external contractors, supporting IT managers, partnering with MSPs, and aligning with other established IT relationships.
As an independent voice, my goal is to enhance your organisation’s IT strategy, drive innovation, and ensure that every partnership works in harmony towards your business objectives."
What is a fractional CIO?
Serving as the strategic technology leader for an organisation, a fractional or virtual Chief Information Officer (CIO) is an outsourced, part-time, or on-demand role that provides strategic IT leadership to organisations without requiring a full-time CIO. The role of a fractional CIO is to provide independent, expert guidance on technology strategy, IT management, and alignment of technology initiatives with business goals. Unlike a traditional CIO, a fractional CIO does not work full-time onsite but rather offers services on a flexible, part-time, or contract basis. This can be particularly advantageous for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that require high-level IT strategies and management without the commitment of a full-time CIO. A fractional CIO is often referred to as a vCIO.
GDPR (General Data Proection Regulation)
A regulation governing data protection and privacy in the EU, mandating stringent security controls to protect personal data.
CIS Controls
A prioritised set of cybersecurity best practices designed to mitigate the most common and significant cyber risks.
ISO-27001
An international standard for managing information security, providing a framework to protect data and ensure compliance with best practices.
NIS 2 Directive
A European directive enhancing cybersecurity requirements for critical and essential service providers, mandating risk management, incident reporting, and resilience measures.
Cyber Essentials
A UK government-backed certification scheme providing basic cybersecurity controls to protect organisations against common cyberattacks.
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act)
An EU directive ensuring the financial sector’s operational resilience against ICT-related disruptions and cyber threats.
ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)
A framework for IT service management, including guidance for managing cybersecurity and risk in IT operations.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
A risk-based framework from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats.
Develop and Execute IT Strategy and Roadmap
Aligned to business goals.
IT Governance and Compliance
Frameworks, Standards and Audits.
Cybersecurity Oversight
Ensuring appropriate security measures, controls, and technologies are in place.
Stakeholder Management and Communication
Representation on and presentation to the executive team, board of directors, and other stakeholders.
Vendor Management and Contract Negotiation
Relationship and partnership management.
IT Budgeting and Financial Management
Cost optimisation, Forecasting Strategic Investments.
Digital Transformation and Innovation
Leveraging emerging technologies to improve business processes and customer experience.
IT Infrastructure Management
Ensure the reliability, scalability, and security of the organisation’s IT systems and services.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting
Monitor IT performance against established KPIs and benchmarks.
Strategic Thinking
Align IT strategies with business goals and objectives. Long-term planning and identifying future technology trends and opportunities.
Leadership and Management
Manage IT teams and driving change. Foster collaboration across departments and stakeholders.
Technical Expertise
Deep understanding of IT infrastructure, software, hardware, networking, cloud and cybersecurity.
Change Management
Proficiency in managing change, especially in digital transformation projects. Ability to manage change and lead teams through transitions.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Effective interaction with executives, board members, and non-technical staff. Present complex technical concepts in plain language.
Financial Acumen
Proficiency in budgeting, cost management, ROI analysis, and strategic investments.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
Strong analytical skills and ability to navigate complex IT challenges and find innovative solutions.
Vendor Management
Expertise in managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and overseeing vendor performance.
An independent voice
Unincumbered or afflliated with any third parties. Free to champion your interests and priorities
Cost Efficiency
A cost-effective alternative to hiring a full-time CIO reducing overhead costs associated with a full-time executive role while delivering high-level expertise.
Strategic IT Leadership
Offering strategic guidance and leadership in technology planning and execution ensuring that IT investments are aligned with business objectives and deliver value.
Access to Expertise
Provides access to a seasoned professional with extensive experience across various industries and technologies. Brings best practices and knowledge from working with hundreds of clients and multiple industries.
Scalability and Flexibility
Offers scalable services that can be adjusted based on the organisation’s needs, such as part-time, on-demand, or project-based support.
Improved IT Governance and Compliance
Enhances IT governance by establishing robust policies, procedures, and frameworks ensuring compliance with industry standards, regulations, and legal requirements.
Focus on Core Competencies
Allows the organisation’s internal teams to focus on core business functions while the fractional CIO manages the strategic direction of IT.
About Dave
As a Chartered IT Professional with almost 20 years of experience operating a successful IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) company, Dave has a proven track record of delivering exceptional IT solutions that drive business success. After founding and building his own MSP organisation from the ground up, Dave led it to become a thriving enterprise serving hundreds of clients across a wide range of industries. His strategic thinking, hands-on experience, and deep understanding of the technology landscape allowed him to navigate complex challenges, streamline operations, and foster innovation.
Following the successful exit and sale of his MSP business, Dave now brings his wealth of experience to help organisations bridge the gap between technology and business strategy. His passion lies in empowering businesses to harness the full potential of their technology investments, ensuring they align with strategic goals and drive long-term growth.
“I believe in straight-talking, honest and impartial advice. I bring a hands-on approach to every engagement, treating your business with the same care and dedication as my own."
Board Representation and Reporting
Serve as a technology advisor on the board of directors, providing insights on IT strategy and risk management. Deliver clear, concise reports to the board to support informed decision-making.
IT Governance and Strategy Alignment
Align IT governance with overall business strategy.
Establish frameworks to ensure IT investments deliver value.
IT Health Checks and Risk Assessments
Conduct comprehensive IT assessments.
Identify risks, vulnerabilities, and gaps in infrastructure and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.
Creation and Review of IT Policies
Develop tailored IT policies
Regularly review and update policies for compliance.
Information Security Management System (ISMS) Development
Design and implement a robust ISMS framework (e.g., ISO 27001).
Regularly review and audit ISMS for effectiveness.
IT Audits and Compliance Checks
Perform regular IT audits to ensure compliance.
Identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations.
Infrastructure Reviews and Optimisation
Assess existing IT infrastructure for efficiency.
Identify opportunities for cost reduction and performance improvement.
Development of IT Roadmaps
Create strategic IT roadmaps aligned with business goals.
Outline actionable steps for future technology adoption.
Cybersecurity Strategy and Incident Response Planning
Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
Establish and test incident response plans.
Vendor Management and Negotiations
Manage vendor relationships and service quality.
Negotiate contracts and service-level agreements (SLAs).
Technology Change Management
Support planning and implementation of technology changes.
Ensure smooth adoption and minimal disruption to operations.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting
Set up key performance indicators (KPIs) for IT performance.
Provide regular reports and insights to stakeholders.
Advisory on Emerging Technologies
Provide insights on the latest technology trends.
Evaluate and recommend new technologies aligned with business needs.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
Develop and test business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
Ensure plans are regularly updated and tested.
Technical Due Diligence
Assisting purchasing entities evaluate potential acquisitions.
Thorough review of security risks and evaluation of current security practices.
IT Expert Witness in Legal Cases
Expert testimony and technical analysis in legal proceedings.