SBK Consulting Consulting
Zero Vendor Conflicts · 100% Independent

IT Strategy & Advisory Services

Fractional executive leadership without the full-time cost. Our vCTO and vCISO services bring Citibank, JP Morgan, and IBM-caliber technology guidance to midsize businesses — at a fraction of the price and with zero vendor conflicts.

IT Strategy & Advisory Services

What We Deliver

vCTO Services (Fractional CTO)

Executive-level technology leadership on a fractional basis. We handle strategic roadmapping, vendor management, and executive translation — bridging the gap between your technical team and business objectives. Standard tier: 8-12 hours per month.

  • Technology strategy and 12-month roadmap development
  • Vendor evaluation, selection, and negotiation without bias
  • IT budget review and cost optimization (20-35% savings typical)
  • Board and executive presentation preparation
  • Build vs. buy analysis and technology stack decisions

vCISO Services (Fractional CISO)

Security program leadership without the full-time executive hire. We provide compliance oversight, risk management, and incident response leadership — the same caliber of expertise Fortune 500 companies rely on. Standard tier: 10-15 hours per month.

  • Security program development and oversight
  • Compliance framework implementation (HIPAA, SOC 2, NIST)
  • Risk assessment and ongoing risk management
  • Security policy development and review
  • Incident response leadership and planning

IT Strategy Development

A 3-year strategic technology roadmap aligned to your business objectives. Not a vendor pitch deck — an honest assessment of where you are, where you need to go, and what it will take to get there.

  • Current state assessment and gap analysis
  • 3-year strategic roadmap with quarterly milestones
  • Technology investment prioritization
  • Competitive technology benchmarking
  • Board-ready strategic presentation

Technology Roadmapping

Detailed execution plans that translate strategy into action. Quarterly milestones, budget allocations, and resource requirements — everything your team needs to execute with confidence.

  • Quarterly milestone planning with dependencies
  • Budget allocation and forecasting
  • Resource requirements and hiring plans
  • Vendor evaluation timeline
  • Risk mitigation strategies

IT Budget Optimization

Most IT budgets carry 20-35% waste in redundant licenses, oversized contracts, and underutilized services. We find it and help you redirect those dollars to strategic initiatives that drive growth.

  • Comprehensive spend analysis across all IT categories
  • License optimization and consolidation
  • Vendor contract renegotiation support
  • Cloud cost optimization
  • Investment reallocation recommendations

Vendor Selection & Management

Objective vendor evaluation without commissions, kickbacks, or referral fees. We work for you, not the vendor — and that independence has defined every engagement since 2010.

  • RFP development and distribution
  • Vendor evaluation with weighted scoring
  • Contract review and negotiation support
  • Implementation oversight
  • Ongoing vendor performance monitoring

M&A Technology Due Diligence

Technology risk assessment for mergers, acquisitions, and investments. We identify hidden tech debt, integration complexity, and true migration costs before the deal closes — so you negotiate from a position of knowledge.

  • Technology infrastructure assessment
  • Security posture and compliance evaluation
  • Integration complexity analysis
  • Hidden cost identification (tech debt, licensing, migration)
  • Risk-adjusted valuation recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fractional CTO and how does it work?
A fractional CTO provides executive-level technology leadership on a part-time basis, typically 8-24 hours per month on a monthly retainer. You get strategic roadmapping, vendor management, and board-level guidance without the full-time salary commitment. The engagement scales with your needs and can ramp up during critical initiatives.
How much does a vCISO cost compared to hiring a full-time CISO?
A fractional vCISO costs a fraction of a full-time CISO salary — which typically runs well into six figures plus benefits, equity, and overhead. You get the same caliber of security leadership with the flexibility to scale up or down as your needs evolve. Contact us for pricing based on your scope and requirements.
When should a company hire a fractional CTO vs a full-time CTO?
A fractional CTO is typically the right choice for companies under 300 employees, organizations without a full-time technology leadership need, businesses in a rapid growth phase needing strategic guidance, or teams tackling specific initiatives like cloud migration or digital transformation. Once technology becomes central to revenue generation and daily operations, a full-time hire makes sense.
What should an IT strategy include?
A comprehensive IT strategy includes a 3-year roadmap with quarterly milestones, a budget plan with investment priorities, a vendor strategy, a security and compliance framework, and workforce planning. It should be specific to your business goals — not a generic template. We tailor every strategy to your industry, growth stage, and competitive landscape.
How do you ensure vendor-neutral recommendations?
SBK holds zero vendor partnerships, accepts no commissions, and receives no referral fees. Our revenue comes exclusively from consulting engagements with clients. This independence has been a core operating principle since 2010 and is documented in every engagement agreement. When we recommend a vendor, it is because they are the best fit for your needs.

Explore Our Other Services

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

Vendor-neutral security assessments, penetration testing, and incident response planning — built to protect your business, not sell you products.

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Compliance & Regulatory Services

Navigate complex regulatory requirements with expert guidance. We prepare you for audits and certifications without steering you toward unnecessary tooling.

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Managed IT Services

Co-managed IT support, infrastructure monitoring, and help desk services designed to augment your team — not replace it.

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Cloud Consulting & Digital Transformation

Platform-agnostic cloud strategy and migration planning. We recommend the right cloud for your workload — not the one that pays us referral fees.

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Technology Services for Nonprofits

Purpose-built IT programs for nonprofits. We help you maximize donated technology, meet grant compliance, and stretch every dollar.

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Ready for Honest IT Advice?

Schedule a no-obligation consultation with our team. We'll assess your needs, answer your questions, and give you a straight answer — even if that answer is "you don't need us."

(718) 407-4169
contact@sbkconsultants.com