Fractional CIO vs managed IT provider vs full-time CIO
Three ways to cover technology leadership, and what each one is for.
A managed IT provider runs day-to-day support. A fractional CIO sets direction, owns the roadmap and oversees vendors part-time, from A$2,500 a month at InnovateX Solutions. A full-time CIO does the same work as an employee. The first two often work together, with the provider running support and the fractional CIO setting direction.
Reviewed 21 October 2026
What each option is for
| Managed IT provider | Fractional CIO | Full-time CIO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main role | Runs day-to-day support, devices, accounts and fixes | Sets direction, owns the roadmap, oversees vendors and risk | Sets direction and leads an internal team |
| Who they work for | Their own business, under a service contract | You, as an independent senior adviser | You, as an employee |
| Typical cadence | Ongoing tickets and monitoring | About 4 to 16 or more hours a month | Full time |
| Cost at InnovateX | Not offered by InnovateX | From A$2,500 a month, 30 days’ notice | Salary, super and recruitment |
| Best fit | Keeping systems running | 20 to 200 staff without a technology executive | Large or technology-heavy organisations |
How they work together
Most growing businesses already have a managed IT provider. The gap is usually ownership. The provider keeps things running, but nobody inside the business owns the roadmap, the budget or the risk. A fractional CIO fills that gap and gives the provider clear direction.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Who decides where the next major technology spend goes?
- Who checks vendor proposals and renewals against your priorities?
- Who reports technology and AI risk to the board or owners?
- Could one person cover those decisions in a few hours a week?
If the last answer is yes, a fractional CIO is usually the better fit. See the Fractional CIO and CTO tiers or try Next Move.
