Fractional CIO Services
Outsourced IT Leadership for Future-Focused Businesses
Gain the technology expertise you need without the full-time commitment. Our CIOs provide strategic guidance and empower you to focus on what you do best – running your business.
- Up to 50% in cost savings compared to a full-time CIO
- Strategic advisory, with the expertise to implement your vision too
- Trusted by 320+ middle-market businesses, nonprofits, and startups
Trusted by Your Peers for 30+ Years
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
Our technology is a mess, and I don’t know where to start.
We have no IT strategy or roadmap. We’re patching problems as they come up instead of planning for the future.
We need an IT voice in the C-suite, without a full-time hire.
There’s no one advocating for technology at the executive table, so it’s often an afterthought.
Our IT spend is out of control, without ROI to show for it.
We have too many redundant systems and licenses, and we need help negotiating better vendor contracts.
Trust us—you’re not alone. And a fractional CIO may be the right solution.
Reclaim Control of Your Tech Stack with On-Demand CIO Support
Focus on what you love—leading your business—while we manage your IT infrastructure. We provide the leadership and support you need to make informed decisions, improve your technology, and achieve your business goals.
End the break/fix cycle with an IT strategy
No more reactive IT decisions. Our Fractional CIOs help you build a personalized IT roadmap that’s actionable, specific, and aligned with your business goals.
- IT Roadmap Creation
- Cybersecurity & Data Protection Strategy
- Scalable Technology Architecture & Planning
Gain an IT leader who’s invested in your future
Get the strategic voice you need, precisely when you need it. With SC&H, you’ll have a trusted voice at the executive table to advocate for your IT needs.
- Executive-Level Leadership
- IT Governance & Policy Development
- Digital Transformation Guidance
- Cyber Insurance Planning
Spend smarter, see results faster
Our Fractional CIOs help you control your IT spend and make every dollar count. We’ll ensure your tech investments directly boost your bottom line with measurable ROI.
- System & Process Optimization
- Vendor Negotiations
- ROI-Focused Budget Planning
“Our business moves very quickly and we often have to pivot along the way. When we tell SC&H we need to change our approach, they’ll huddle and two days later come back and say, ‘No problem, let’s do this.’ A lot of companies can’t do that.”
Fractional CIO vs Virtual CIO: What’s the Difference?
Not all CIO services are created equal. Virtual CIOs, or vCIOs, are on the rise – but many are overpriced and underwhelming, acting more like salespeople than strategic partners. Here’s how our Fractional CIOs deliver genuine executive leadership:
SC&H Fractional CIOs
True strategic IT leader: Acts as a trusted advisor, providing executive voice within your leadership team.
Decades of experience: Every team member has years of deep IT expertise, often as former CIOs themselves. They don’t just talk strategy; they’ve executed it.
Thoughtful, personalized guidance: We engage directly with your team & leadership weekly, and we always pick up the phone when you call.
Transparent billing: Our billing is tied to measurable ROI, so you’ll get more out of your IT budget, every time.
Other vCIO Services
Sales-oriented service: “Strategy” often revolves around selling their latest offerings or basic IT solutions.
Bait-and-switch leadership: The senior expert sells, while junior staff end up doing the work. They talk about what IT should be, but lack the experience to execute it.
Inconsistent, surface-level support: They’re MIA when you need them most, with less frequent check-ins and generic advice.
High prices, little ROI: Your bill keeps going up without a clear reason, leaving you wondering what you paid for.
Scalable IT Solutions For Your Business
Whether you’re looking for long-term support or bridging the gap between CIOs, we offer customized support that fits your exact needs and budget.
Small & Medium Businesses
You’ve grown beyond basic IT support, but aren’t ready for a full-time CIO. We offer the strategic IT leadership you need to scale efficiently, optimize operations, and gain a competitive edge, all without a full executive salary.
Non-Profits
Every dollar counts for your mission. We help you develop cost-effective, impactful IT strategies that boost operational efficiency, data security, and donor engagement, so your technology budget serves your cause while delivering ROI.
Startups and Scale-ups
Rapid growth means constantly evolving IT needs. Our Fractional CIOs provide agile strategy with speed and velocity, from day one. We help you build a tech stack that supports innovation and avoids costly mistakes.
Why Businesses Love Working with SC&H
You’re never just a number here. At SC&H, we’re genuinely invested in your success. We listen intently and align our solutions with what you need, not what’s convenient, so you can grow your business with confidence.
Impact in as little as a week:
We begin every engagement with a holistic assessment, but if we catch any urgent issues, we take action immediately.
Experienced leaders:
You won’t be taking advice from junior staff. Experience matters! That’s why your team is led by a CIO for short- and long-term ROI.
Made-for-you solutions:
No more generic, pre-built plans or paying for services you don’t need. Each engagement is customized to fit your needs and budget.
Software-agnostic approach:
We can adapt to your existing system or recommend a new solution based solely on your needs, not vendor partnerships.
100% in-house support:
Skip the third-party headaches. Choose SC&H for faster response times and better communication – all within your time zone.
Customer Stories
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake
Breaking the poverty cycle with better technology
read the story
Fractional CIO FAQs
A Fractional CIO is a senior-level IT executive who works with your company part-time to provide strategic technology leadership. They offer the expertise of a full-time CIO without the cost or long-term commitment, focusing on aligning IT with your business goals.
Our Fractional CIOs typically engage on a week-to-week basis, often dedicating 8-16 hours per week to your business. This consistent presence ensures deep understanding of your operations and effective, ongoing strategic oversight.
You can expect a clearer IT strategy, more predictable and optimized IT costs, stronger cybersecurity postures, and improved alignment between your technology investments and business objectives. Our goal is to help you use technology as a competitive advantage to achieve your growth targets.
No, we don’t replace your current IT team or managed service provider (MSP). Our Fractional CIOs work with your existing resources. We provide the high-level strategic direction and leadership that often complements an internal IT department or an MSP, ensuring all IT efforts align with your business goals.
The length of an engagement varies based on your specific needs and goals. Many clients engage our Fractional CIOs for long-term partnerships, providing ongoing strategic oversight as their business evolves. Other engagements might focus on specific projects like a major digital transformation or a comprehensive IT strategy overhaul, lasting several months to a year.
Our onboarding process starts with a 6-12 week assessment, with 8 weeks being the sweet spot. During the first 4 weeks, we focus on deeply understanding your business, its challenges, and current IT landscape, culminating in a midpoint presentation of our initial findings. The following 4 weeks involve translating those insights into a real, actionable, and specific strategic IT plan. This plan is designed with enough detail that you could even implement it yourself, giving you clear direction from day one.
Absolutely. A Fractional CIO is an ideal solution during leadership transitions. If your current CIO is leaving, you’re actively recruiting, or you simply have a temporary gap in executive IT leadership, we can step in immediately. We’ll provide seamless strategic guidance, maintain momentum on key initiatives, and ensure your IT operations remain aligned with your business goals until you find a permanent hire.
Your business is unique. Your CIO shouldn’t be generic.
Feeling overwhelmed by technology complexities? Looking for an IT partner who truly gets you? Let’s chat. Our fractional CIOs are here to listen to your needs, tackle your challenges, and help you focus on what you do best.
