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... without paying an executive CIO salary
  

• Provide input and feedback in the overall business strategy and budgeting process, not only for I.T.
• Manage and safeguard key data, communications, hardware and software
• Help improve process efficiency and reduce cost using technology
• Be an active part of an executive team with a mission of profitability and productivity

1. The Balance of Three Fundamentals
   
   With the SMECIO.Com RETAINED CIO service, you will get a service headed by an individual whose immediate concern is to generate a unique balance between the areas of Business, I.T. and Finance a.k.a the BUDGET. Like the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words, so here's a little diagram to illustrate the concerted effort to create a focus point, right at the heart of the three fundamentals.
   
   

   [Note: Click on the diagram to see an enlarged version]
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

2. Technology Balance
   
   In today's ever changing I.T. world, one needs to be conversant in multiple technologies to harness the best for the business in question. Here at SMECIO.Com, technology is broadly classified as Traditional Proprietary Technology (i.e. Microsoft operating system and other copyright software) and  Open Source Technology (i.e. Linux operating system and other copyLEFT software). The SMECIO.Com RETAINED CIO service is well-positioned to take advantage of each of these technology classifications as well-versed and well-experienced subject matter experts.
   
   

3. Balance of the Management and I.T. Team
   
   As part of the executive management team, the SMECIO.Com RETAINED CIO plays another important role in his ability to perform as a bridge between the executive management and the existing I.T. team. As this bridge, the SMECIO.Com RETAINED CIO must bring significant value to both parties, managing a typical high-tension relationship for the best of the business. The following diagram showcases the typical "bridge-work" scenario for the SMECIO.Com RETAINED CIO.
   
   

   [Note: Click on the diagram to see an enlarged version]
   

   
   

   

1. Fact-Finding and Information Gathering
   Working closely with the CEO and the executive management during the initial stage of the engagement to gain a deeper understanding of the organization's business goals, strategic plan and its industry competitive position.
   

2. Evaluation and Analysis
   Using the information and facts gathered, an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization is carried out using an I.T. perspective, actively relating the I.T. needs of the organization to its business goals and underlying strategic plan.
   

3. Planning and Goal Setting
   Together with the CEO and the executive management, a recommended road map is presented with reference to the prior evaluation and analysis and shall include specific milestones and achievements as required.
   

4. Deployment Management and Review
   Actual deployment of the road map is carried out by internal/external parties with significant management as required. Upon deployment completion, an active review is presented.

• Strategic Planning :: To develop and implement a realistic growth strategy that leverages technology to help your company become a high-performance business. Develop a big picture that realistically defines your information network as a strategic business tool to give your organization a competitive advantage. To provide input and feedback to the overall business strategy and decision making process.
     
• Rationalizing and managing your I.T. budget :: Understand which I.T. investments make business sense. Recommend models for Total Cost of Ownership, Return on Investment and Risk Management that relate to your short-term and long-term business strategy. Define an I.T. budget that supports business growth, and manage the budget in step with actual business results and perceived opportunities.
     
• Business process improvement and re-engineering :: Analyze current work flows and processes within your business and between your business and outside organizations. Use information technology to help you improve or redesign business processes in order to enhance collaboration with suppliers, partners and customers to maximize performance and achieve your business goals more quickly.
     
• Data analysis :: Conduct data analysis to identify product trends in sales and consequently help focus technology marketing efforts towards more profitable products.
     
• Contract and vendor negotiations :: Qualify vendors and evaluate products and services that support your business objectives and are in line with your I.T. budget. Negotiate contracts to maximize the business impact of your budgeted I.T. investments and to meet cash flow requirements. Monitor product performance guarantees, service level agreements, and special upgrade opportunities.
     
• I.T. security :: Define a complete security strategy that covers security policies and procedures, a secure I.T. infrastructure, security monitoring and virus protection software for local and remote users, regular security patches, and emergency response plans for security breaches.
     
• In-House training :: Create and develop a series of training and coaching methods for the internal I.T. staff.
     
• Data center management :: Design a robust data center for web-based e-commerce, management information, corporate intranets, or mission-critical application servers. Establish procedures to keep critical applications current and deploy software that reduces costs by automating management tasks and consolidating information. Define required backup and restore procedures.
     
• Network management :: Design a secure, cost-effective network framework that provides the performance, availability and expandability required to support your business objectives. Provide telecommuters and mobile workers with fast, reliable and secure connections. Use appropriate network monitoring software to anticipate problems, identify bottlenecks, and track usage.
     
• Desktop management :: Develop a comprehensive plan for desktop management that includes procedures for adding, moving and changing computers, help desk services, asset tracking, software revision control, configuration standards, automated management software, and support for mobile devices such as notebooks, PDAs and wireless products.
     
• Disaster recovery :: Create a disaster recovery plan that includes analyzing the vulnerability of your network infrastructure and critical data, addresses disaster scenarios such as hardware failure, natural catastrophes or hacker attacks, defines backup procedures and backup system validation, describes an effective and affordable power backup system, specifies virus protection software, incorporates an appropriate level of system redundancy, and proposes off-site backup and recovery procedures.