When most people think of IT, they think of fixing problems, servers going down, emails getting hacked, or updates that never seem to install right. But behind the scenes, Applied Innovation’s vCIOs (virtual Chief Information Officers) are doing much more than reacting. They’re planning. Advising. And most of all, building trust.
We spoke with Matt Brown, our vCIO Manager, to offer a peek behind the curtain at what our vCIOs really do and why that work matters to businesses of all sizes.
More Than a Troubleshooter: A Trusted Advisor
“We, as vCIOs, want to build a partnership based on trust. We don’t want to be transactional and reactive. We strive to be proactive and help business leaders plan as much as possible.” – Matt Brown, vCIO Manager at Applied Innovation
That’s the foundation of the vCIO-client relationship: trust. While our technical teams respond to the day-to-day challenges, the vCIO is the strategic voice helping leaders map out their technology spend, prepare for growth, and reduce risk. It’s not just about IT. It’s about business goals, and how the right tools and planning can support them.
Planning for the Future, Not Just Fighting Fires
Every business has to deal with unexpected tech issues, malicious emails, servers dying, and workstations going offline. But Matt emphasizes that a good vCIO works to “take the surprises out of IT,” by building long-term roadmaps and planning for sustainable growth.
“A great vCIO builds technology roadmaps that help a business map out their IT spend,” he says. “Sure, there are always going to be fires to put out, but our job is to minimize those surprises.”
That includes strategic guidance on cybersecurity, compliance, infrastructure upgrades, and vendor decisions.
Security Is Always on the Table
According to Matt, nearly every conversation vCIOs have with clients touches on security in some form. And that’s no surprise. Cyber threats are evolving constantly, and every organization, no matter its size, is a target.
“No company is too small to be targeted by the bad actors out there trying to get in,” Matt explains. “Security measures and best practices are in place to help, not hinder, business.”
By working closely with clients, Applied’s vCIOs help strike the right balance between protection and productivity.
What Makes a Strong Relationship? Trust + Communication
So what makes the vCIO relationship work?
“Any strong relationship is based on trust,” Matt says. “The strongest relationships are those where the customer shares their business needs and goals, and we share how technology can help them meet those goals.”
That two-way communication is key. Our vCIOs aren’t just advising from afar; They’re embedded in the business, working side-by-side with leadership to drive real outcomes.
Want to Know Where Your IT Strategy Stands?
If your technology planning still feels reactive, or if you’re not sure whether your current IT is helping or hindering your goals, our vCIOs are here to help.
Let’s take the guesswork out of your IT roadmap. Let’s build a partnership based on trust.