How much does an outsourced CIO cost for a 50-employee SME?
The cost of an outsourced CIO depends primarily on the time spent on the project, the complexity of the company's IT infrastructure, and the responsibilities assigned. For an SME with 50 employees, the key question is determining the necessary level of oversight rather than seeking a universal flat rate.
Why the number of employees is not enough to determine the price
Two companies with 50 employees can have very different IT needs.
A company with a standardized cloud environment, a reliable provider and few business software applications will not have the same requirements as a multi-site company using several ERPs, specific applications or legacy infrastructures.
The main cost factors are:
The number of sites and their organization.
The complexity of business applications.
The level of maturity in cybersecurity.
The number of service providers to coordinate.
Ongoing transformation projects.
The desired frequency of attendance.
The operational responsibilities entrusted to the CIO.
What budget should I plan for?
For illustrative purposes only, assuming a daily rate of €900 to €1,300 excluding VAT, different levels of intervention can be considered.
1 day per month €900 to €1,300
2 days per month, €1,800 to €2,600
4 days per month, €3,600 to €5,200
These amounts are examples of calculations and not an ANDIRIS price list or an exhaustive list of market prices. A personalized quote remains essential.
An initial audit phase, an exceptional project or a crisis intervention may be subject to a separate budget.
What does the support of an outsourced CIO include?
An outsourced CIO is not simply a technician billed by the day.
Its mission covers:
The IT strategy: needs analysis, roadmap definition, project prioritization, and budget control. The CIO ensures that technological investments are aligned with the company's objectives.
Cybersecurity: risk assessment, data protection, backup control, access security, and incident management preparedness. The goal is to protect the company and ensure business continuity.
Managing service providers: coordinating suppliers, analyzing and negotiating contracts, monitoring commitments, and optimizing costs. The CIO ensures a comprehensive and independent view of the information system.
Business projects: modernization of ERP and CRM systems, deployment of Microsoft 365, cloud migration, dematerialization and automation of processes to improve team efficiency.
Artificial intelligence: identifying opportunities, choosing solutions, automating tasks and supporting users, in a secure and confidentiality-respecting environment.
Management monitoring: regular meetings, dashboards, budget and project tracking, team coordination and clear reporting to facilitate management decisions.
What costs are generally not included?
It is important to distinguish the CIO's fees from the company's IT expenses.
Software licenses, cloud subscriptions, equipment, managed services, specific developments and supplier interventions are generally budgeted separately.
The CIO helps precisely to organize and control these expenses.
How to evaluate the return on investment?
The return on investment of an outsourced IT department is not limited to reducing bills.
It can be measured by:
The removal of unused licenses or services.
Reducing service interruptions.
Improving project completion times.
Reducing IT risks.
Making the best use of existing software.
Management time freed up thanks to structured delegation.
Potential savings must be assessed based on real data, without promising an automatic percentage reduction.
How ANDIRIS defines its support
ANDIRIS begins by understanding the organization and needs of the company.
A diagnostic helps to identify priority issues and to tailor a coherent support plan.
A roadmap is then developed with the manager, and subsequently implemented through regular monitoring.
The goal is not to increase the number of consulting days, but to mobilize the necessary skills to secure decisions and sustainably improve IT performance.
Conclusion
For an SME with 50 employees, the budget for an outsourced CIO should be considered an investment in governance, risk management and performance.
Do you want to know the level of support that is right for your company?
ANDIRIS helps you assess your needs and define an IT organization proportionate to your business.