Technology strategy and CTO-level guidance

Technology strategy is a plan for what your business should do with its technology next, in what order, and what it should cost. We give you CTO-level guidance without the cost of a full-time CTO.

It's for businesses where technology decisions get made in a hurry, when something breaks, or where every vendor has an answer and nobody is looking at the whole picture. We learn how your business works first, then look at the technology as a whole.

We do this whether or not we run your IT. The plan is yours, and you can take it to anyone.

Book your free IT assessment (opens in a new tab)Send us a message

Is it time to put a plan behind your technology?

Every vendor has an answer, and nobody is looking at the whole picture
Technology decisions get made in a hurry, when something breaks
You're paying for tools that overlap, and nobody can say which ones matter
A new location, an acquisition or new staff keeps running into IT surprises
You've been given a quote and aren't sure it's the right one

What does technology strategy include?

Technology planning: what to change, in what order, and why
Projects: office moves, new locations, migrations, network rebuilds
Vendor guidance, and a second look at quotes you've been given
Backing up your in-house IT person on the work they don't have time for
Regular strategy reviews, so the plan keeps up with the business

These are examples of what we do, not the limit of it.

What does technology strategy involve?

Technology strategy means looking at your technology as a whole and deciding what to change, in what order, and why. We start with how your business works, then set priorities and a budget, and check in regularly so decisions aren't made in a hurry.

It covers projects such as office moves, new locations, migrations and network rebuilds. It also covers guidance on vendors and a second look at quotes you've been given.

What affects the cost of technology strategy?

The cost of technology strategy depends on how much technology there is to look at, how many people and locations are involved, and how much is already in place and in good shape.

It also depends on whether you want a plan once, regular reviews, or help carrying out projects. The quickest way to a real figure is a free IT assessment: a 30-minute call, no pitch.

Technology strategy or a full-time CTO?

A full-time CTO is the right answer when technology is the business itself, or when the work fills every week. Technology strategy gives you CTO-level guidance without the cost of a full-time CTO, which suits a business that needs steady direction but not a full-time executive.

People sometimes call this a fractional CTO: senior technology guidance without a full-time hire.

How does IT consulting fit into technology strategy?

IT consulting is the part of technology strategy for a single question or project: whether to move to the cloud, what to do about an old server, whether a quote is fair. You get straight answers whether or not we run your IT.

Technology strategy is the bigger view. It puts those answers in order, so each project fits a plan.

Who needs technology strategy, and who can do without?

Technology strategy fits a business that is growing, opening a location, buying another business, or paying for tools that overlap. It also suits a business with an in-house IT person who could use a senior second opinion.

If your technology is simple, works well, and is looked after by someone you trust, you may only need an occasional second opinion. We'll tell you honestly which side you're on.

What goes wrong without technology strategy?

Usually it's slow rather than dramatic. Decisions get made when something breaks, tools overlap, and growth plans keep running into IT surprises.

Each of these is easier to handle when it's seen early. A plan puts them in order, so you choose the next step instead of reacting to the last problem.

How we start

1
A free IT assessment: a 30-minute call, then a look at how your business runs and what you have.
2
A written plan of what to fix, simplify, automate and build, in order, with priorities and a budget you can follow.
3
Regular strategy reviews, so decisions are made early and the plan keeps pace with the business.

Questions

Do we have to use you for the work?

No. The plan is yours, and you can take it to anyone. If you'd like us to do the work we can, and if you have an in-house IT person or another provider, we work alongside them.

Can you look at a quote we've been given?

Yes. A second look at a quote is part of vendor guidance. We check that it matches what you need, and tell you what's missing or what you could leave out.

Is this the same as managed IT?

No. Managed IT is the day-to-day care of your computers, accounts and network. Technology strategy is the planning above it: what to change, in what order, and why. Many businesses use both, and you can have either one on its own.

How do we start?

With a free IT assessment: a 30-minute call, then a look at how your business runs and what you have.

Talk it through with us. Thirty minutes, no pitch.

We work with growing businesses across the US, remotely and on-site.