SERVICES / Advisory & Enterprise Architecture
ADVISORY & ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE
Strategy from people who actually deliver.
Virtual CTO services, technology strategy development, AI implementation roadmapping, and compliance posture advisory. We work alongside your leadership team to shape decisions, informed by twenty years of running real production environments, not consulting deck theory.
WHAT WE ADVISE ON
Six advisory disciplines
Virtual CTO (vCTO)
Board-level technology leadership without the full-time hire. Strategic input, vendor governance, technology budget oversight, M&A diligence support.
Technology Strategy Development
12-24 month technology roadmaps anchored to commercial goals. Where the business is heading and what the stack needs to look like to get there.
AI & Automation Strategy
Where to apply AI in your business and where not to. Use-case prioritisation, ROI modelling, risk and governance framework, vendor and platform selection.
Compliance Posture Advisory
Which frameworks actually apply to you, what scope is realistic, and how to sequence Essential 8 / ISO 27001 / SOC 2 work so each phase compounds.
Security Strategy
Risk register development, control framework selection, incident response readiness, board-level security reporting. The strategic posture above the technology.
Technology Due Diligence
For acquisitions and mergers, assess the target's technology debt, compliance posture, security exposure, integration complexity and operational risk.
WHY ADVISORY FROM AN MSP
Strategy grounded in execution.
Most strategy advisories sell slide decks. We deliver written recommendations grounded in twenty years of operating real production environments. Every roadmap we propose is one we'd be willing to execute ourselves, which sharpens the recommendations considerably.
When you engage us for advisory we'll be honest about the limits, we run a managed services business. We'll tell you which recommendations are partner-agnostic and which assume continued engagement with us. You decide.
ENGAGEMENT MODELS
Three ways to engage
Choose the model that fits your governance and budget cycle.
PROJECT
Fixed-scope engagement
A defined deliverable, technology strategy document, AI use-case roadmap, compliance posture assessment, M&A due diligence report. Typical 4-8 weeks, fixed quote.
vCTO RETAINER · MOST COMMON
Ongoing advisory
Monthly retainer providing executive availability, board meetings, leadership team sessions, vendor reviews, technology decisions. Pricing scaled to seniority and time commitment.
EMBEDDED
Embedded advisory
A senior leader embedded as interim CTO or Head of Technology for a defined period, typically 3-12 months. Used during transitions, scaling phases or post-acquisition integration.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Common questions
Is this the same as a fractional CTO?
Yes, vCTO and fractional CTO are essentially the same concept. Engagement is typically a monthly retainer with defined availability and deliverables.
How does this differ from your AI & Automation service?
Advisory is about strategy, where to apply AI, ROI modelling, governance. Our AI & Automation service is about implementation. Many clients engage both, sequentially.
How does this differ from your Cybersecurity service?
Advisory is the strategic posture, risk register, control framework, board reporting. Our Cybersecurity service is the operational delivery.
Are you objective if you also do delivery?
Not entirely, and we're upfront about this. We mark which recommendations are partner-agnostic and which assume continued engagement. If you want fully independent advisory we'll refer you elsewhere.
What's the pricing model?
Project work is fixed-quoted against a written scope. vCTO retainer pricing depends on seniority and monthly time commitment. Embedded advisory is the most expensive model.
Do you sit on the board?
Not formally. vCTO is an advisory role, not a director appointment. We attend board meetings as required and contribute to board papers on technology topics.
What's a typical engagement length?
vCTO retainers: 12-month initial term, renewable. Fixed-scope projects: 4-12 weeks. Embedded advisory: 3-12 months.
Need strategic technology advice without hiring a full-time CTO?
30 minutes with one of our advisory leads. Tell us the decision you're facing or the strategy gap you've identified. If we can help, we'll propose an engagement.
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