Most small business owners think CIO stands for "Chief I-Fix-Everything Officer" and CISO means "Chief I-Worry-About-Security Officer." In this episode, Noel Bradford (actual CIO/CISO) breaks down what these executive roles actually do and why your business desperately needs this strategic thinking - without the six-figure salary.

Discover how fractional CIO/CISO services let 20-100 employee businesses access Fortune 500 expertise for £15,000-35,000 annually instead of £120,000+ for full-time hiring.

What You'll Learn

• The Real Difference Between CIO and CISO: Technology strategy vs security strategy (and why one person can do both).
• Why Dave from IT Needs Help: The unfair burden of strategic decisions on operational staff.
• Fractional Services Explained: How to get executive-level guidance for 8-12 hours per month.
• ROI Reality Check: Technology inefficiencies probably cost you more than £15k annually
• Finding Quality Providers: Red flags vs genuine executive experience.
• Integration Strategy: Treating fractional executives like Non-Executive Directors.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic technology and security leadership isn't just for large corporations.
• Fractional services cost £15,000-35,000 annually vs £120,000+ for full-time hiring
• Sound fractional executives enhance internal capabilities rather than replacing them.
• Treat fractional CIO/CISO like Non-Executive Directors - invite them to board meetings.
• Start with a current state assessment (£3,000-6,000) before ongoing engagement.

Diagnostic Questions

You probably need fractional CIO/CISO services if you answer "yes" to several of these:

• Technology decisions are made reactively rather than strategically
• Increasing tech spending without clear ROI visibility
• Security/compliance concerns are constantly pushed down the priority list
• Internal IT person making strategic decisions while handling operations
• Current systems won't scale with business growth plans
• Regulatory compliance anxiety about technology approaches

Episode Highlights

Real-World Example: A 15-person marketing agency saved £300/month and improved security by consolidating from multiple cloud storage solutions to a single strategic platform.

Cost Comparison: Fractional services at £150-350/hour for 8 hours monthly vs full-time CIO/CISO at £100,000-180,000 annually plus benefits and normal staffing costs.

Next Steps

1. Honest self-assessment of current technology/security decision-making
2. Calculate the annual cost of technology inefficiencies and security risks
3. Research fractional providers with genuine senior executive experience
4. Consider starting with the current state assessment project

Connect With Us

Hit subscribe, leave a review mentioning whether you're considering fractional services, and share with business owners making technology decisions without strategic guidance.

Remember: You don't need enterprise budgets to get enterprise thinking. And be kind to Dave - he's doing his best.

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