MSP and CIO: why you need both

When it comes to navigating the complexities of technology, businesses today are faced with a broad array of service providers.  

Amongst the most common are Managed Service Providers (MSPs), which offer a range of IT support services – such as your laptops, phones, email, document storage, and communications. Sometimes an MSP will take care of your website and business applications as well.  

Another increasingly common service is fractional IT leadership, which provides strategic guidance at the Board level. And Freeman Clarke is the largest and most experienced team of fractional IT leaders – we have a team of over 100 CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs who advise, lead, and deliver tech strategies that drive business growth. 

Many leaders of mid-sized businesses believe that having a good MSP is enough, and they can do without the expense of a CIO. Let’s have a look at each role and why in many cases it’s better – and even affordable – to have both.

What’s the difference between a CIO and an MSP?  

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) offer a broad range of IT support services, focussing on the day-to-day management, development and maintenance of your IT. These services often include: 

  • Monitoring and managing networks and systems 
  • Providing on-demand IT support and helpdesk services 
  • Ensuring cyber security and data protection 
  • Managing cloud services and storage solutions 
  • Offering hardware and software solutions 

Essentially, MSPs act as an outsourced IT department, keeping things running smoothly and handling routine tasks that keep businesses operational. 

Chief Information Officers (CIOs), on the other hand, can transform the profit and service of a business by improving systems and digital usage. 

Fractional CIOs focus on: 

  • Accountability for technology, teams and suppliers. 
  • Providing a clear oversight of process, systems, people, data and reporting improvements. 
  • Actively contributing to Board discussions and creating alignment between IT and business strategy. 
  • Driving integration, automation and transformation projects including ERP and online. 
  • Business improvements, risk, and cybersecurity management rather than just technology delivery. 

A fractional CIO or CTO serves as a senior technology executive on a part-time or interim basis, offering tailored strategies and advice, without the cost of a full-time hire.  

For more on fractional CIOs, see our page here. 

Who is Freeman Clarke? 

Freeman Clarke is not an MSP. Instead, we provide IT leadership in the form of fractional CIOs, CTOs, CISOs – essentially, Board-level tech leaders or advisors. Very simply, a member of our team can work with your business to provide guidance, direction, and innovation, aligning your IT to your businesses strategy to drive growth and competitive advantage. 

We take a proactive role in understanding your business’s specific needs and creating a roadmap for leveraging technology to achieve its goals. Indeed, a digital vision can start to create and lead new business opportunities and feed into your business goals. 

The key differences between Freeman Clarke and an MSP 

➤ Strategic leadership vs. day-to-day operations 

Freeman Clarke: A fractional IT leader focusses on long-term IT strategy, innovation, and transformation. The aim is to align technology with business objectives, ensuring that IT is not just functioning, but actually driving growth! Our leaders are senior executives who can guide the company’s IT direction, make strategic decisions, and lead projects that transform the business. 

MSP: MSPs typically focus on maintaining existing IT systems, ensuring they function efficiently and securely and responding to specific requests. While MSPs are critical for handling routine operations, they are not typically involved in high-level strategic planning or long-term business development. This can often lead to missed opportunities, as no-one is creating a vision for how to use IT as a platform for growth. 

➤ Customisation and tailored solutions 

Freeman Clarke: Our CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs work closely with business owners and leadership teams to create an IT strategy that is unique to each business. Every company has different needs, and our fractional executives bring industry-specific experience to design and implement a strategy that supports the organisation’s vision and style. 

MSP: MSPs offer a more standardised service, providing the same set of solutions to multiple clients. While MSPs do offer customisation in terms of service level agreements (SLAs) or specific tools, they generally work with a broad range of businesses and do not focus on creating bespoke strategies that align with a company’s broader business objectives. 

➤ Proactive vs. reactive approach 

Freeman Clarke: Our fractional IT leaders don’t just fix problems – they understand the business’s vision, anticipate future challenges and create digital transformation. This forward-thinking mindset allows companies to stay ahead of competitors by harnessing the latest technology trends, innovations, and strategies. 

MSP: MSPs respond to incidents or technical issues as they arise. Whilst they can help prevent problems through monitoring and maintenance, they are generally not involved in guiding businesses through strategic technological changes or business evolution.

➤ Cost-effective leadership 

Freeman Clarke: Many businesses cannot justify the expense of hiring a full-time CIO, CTO, or CISO. Freeman Clarke provides fractional executive leadership – allowing companies to access senior-level expertise at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. This makes it an ideal solution for SMEs and growing companies that need expert guidance but are not yet ready for a full-time senior IT leader. 

MSP: While MSPs are a cost-effective option for IT support, they do not typically provide the senior-level leadership and strategic thinking that a growing business needs. MSPs focus on keeping your systems running smoothly but do not provide the visionary leadership necessary for digital transformation or long-term IT planning. 

➤ Focus on business transformation vs. IT maintenance 

Freeman Clarke: The focus of Freeman Clarke is on business transformation through technology. Whether it’s optimising operations, improving customer experience, scaling for growth, or shoring up cyber security, Freeman Clarke’s fractional CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs look to align technology with business goals to drive change and achieve measurable results. 

MSP: MSPs are primarily concerned with keeping the lights on – maintaining your IT systems, networks, and infrastructure. While this is crucial, it does not have the same transformative impact as a strategic IT leadership team that is working to leverage technology for business innovation. 

When to choose Freeman Clarke 

Most businesses will use an MSP for routine IT support and system maintenance. But if your business wants to leverage technology to drive strategic change, Freeman Clarke is the right partner. Here’s why: 

  • Long-term IT strategy: Freeman Clarke will craft and implement a technology strategy that supports and enables your vision for your business.  
  • Digital transformation: Freeman Clarke helps businesses embrace digital innovation, from cloud migration to AI implementation. 
  • Executive-level leadership: With fractional CIOs or CTOs, Freeman Clarke provides high-level guidance without the expense of a full-time hire. 
  • Business-centric approach: We focus on how technology can solve business challenges, improve efficiency, and drive growth. 
  • Focus on security: Freeman Clarke CISOs are experts in helping businesses stay safe – and demonstrate compliance. 

If your business is ready to move beyond day-to-day IT management and embrace an IT strategy that enables efficiency and growth, Freeman Clarke can help. For a no-pressure, no strings conversation, get in touch