Advisory · Fractional CIO
Executive technology leadership, without a full-time hire.
As your fractional CIO, NSI owns technology strategy, budget, and vendor accountability, and reports to your leadership team and board. You get CIO-level judgment for a predictable monthly fee.
Who it is for
Organizations that need a CIO's judgment, not necessarily a CIO's salary.
- Organizations that have outgrown ad hoc IT but cannot yet justify a full-time technology executive.
- Organizations between IT leaders that need steady leadership during the transition.
- Boards and executive directors who want independent oversight of technology risk and spending.
- Organizations working with an outside IT provider that need someone on their side of the table.
What is included
Strategy, spending, and accountability in one role.
IT strategy and roadmap
A multi-year plan tied to your mission, growth, and regulatory requirements.
Budget and cost optimization
Licensing, telecom, and vendor spend reviewed and right-sized.
Vendor and provider management
Contracts, service levels, and managed service providers held accountable.
Security and compliance oversight
Policies, risk reviews, and readiness for audits and cyber insurance.
Board and leadership reporting
Plain-language updates on risk, progress, and investment decisions.
Project and procurement oversight
Major initiatives scoped, sourced, and delivered on budget.
Included as standard
Monthly Environment Health Scorecard
The scorecard anchors every leadership and board update: one page that connects technology risk, spending, and roadmap progress to the decisions in front of you.
- Risk and health trends your board can read in five minutes
- Budget and contract status alongside roadmap milestones
- Decisions needed from leadership, with clear options
- Network and Wi-Fi
- Security posture
- Backup and recovery
- Microsoft 365 health
- Device lifecycle
1 action recommended: extend offsite backup retention to 90 days.
Business outcomes
Predictable technology spend
A budget leadership understands, with fewer surprises and less waste.
Reduced risk
Clear ownership of security, continuity, and compliance decisions.
Technology aligned to strategy
Every investment traced back to an organizational goal.
Engagement options
Flexible models for where you are today.
- Ongoing retainer: a set number of leadership hours each month.
- Interim CIO: full leadership coverage during a transition or search.
- Project-based: leadership for a defined initiative, such as a migration or audit.
- 01
Discovery and assessment
We document your environment, risks, contracts, and spending.
- 02
90-day plan
Quick wins and priorities agreed with leadership.
- 03
Ongoing leadership
Regular leadership meetings, vendor management, and reporting.
- 04
Annual roadmap review
Strategy and budget refreshed for the year ahead.