Director of IT: A management-level position responsible for analyzing and directing all IT-related activities of an organization with supervisory responsibilities for all staff assigned to the IT department.
Accountable for ensuring continuity of computer services for computer users throughout an organization through planning, technical leadership, and project coordination.
Chief Information/Technology Officer (CIO/CTO): A chief-level position that works with CEO and/or COO and is responsible for the direction and application of a company’s IT strategy, programs, and investments.
Provides business insights and drives initiatives to improve business processes and company performance. Responsible for overseeing, leading, and developing IT leadership talent.
Provides business insights and drives initiatives to improve business processes and company performance. Responsible for overseeing, leading, and developing IT leadership talent.
The easy-to-understand version: the CIO strategizes and sits behind a desk and in owner meetings while the Director of IT rolls up their sleeves, implements decisions, and runs the IT support group.
As you can see, there ARE differences between these two positions. Both skill sets are important to the success of a business’s technology. Like most small to medium-sized businesses, you probably haven’t even thought of the benefits of IT strategies – just of the daily grind of “my computer is working today”. And when asked about whether you should employ a Director of IT, the answer is, “we have a helpdesk tech that keeps our computers running”.
Virtual Director of IT
In management, directors are often tasked with the daily executive and administrative duties. Wearing multiple hats is a commonplace. In the world of Information Technology, this
also holds true. What is unique about a help desk or support group is that when budgets are cut, IT is usually the first to feel it from a personnel standpoint. Because of this, IT departments may lack the proper staff and specialized skills and knowledge to optimize business operations.
How can a virtual Director of IT work for you? Keep your help desk personnel for the day-to-day issues that arise and let DataPath Solutions roll up our sleeves for the higher-end stuff.
We are able to leverage multiple resources to provide as much or as little support at whatever level you need, and perform the duties that a full-time Director of IT would do – an entire Smart Technology Team rather than a single person…..and we do it for a fraction of the cost.
Virtual CIO/CTO
Like the virtual Director of IT, when you use DataPath Solutions as your CIO/CTO, you get our expert Smart Technology Team — not just an individual.
Common sense: an entire team is able to provide a broader range of experiences and thought processes than one person.
Our expert team members will work with you in realizing the optimal utilization of your current technology, in forward-thinking practices, and assist in moving towards the correct technological directions to support your business practices and goals; all of those being part of the definition of what a Chief Information/Technology Officer is. And since your sized business doesn’t need a full-time CIO/CTO (costing well into a six-figure salary), DataPath Solutions can provide this important function for pennies on
the salary-dollar.