Virtual CIO Services

Like a new sunrise, ForgeTSX vCIO brings clarity, direction, and a fresh start to your IT strategy—with tiered pricing and white-label options available for partners, MSPs, and consultants.

vCIO Checklist

01. Strategic Technology Leadership

We deliver Fortune 500 and DoD-level CIO expertise to growth-minded organizations—empowering secure digital transformation, streamlining operations, and positioning your business for the future. Delivered through an OnDemand model—offering expert leadership without the burden of a long-term contract.

Start your day with a free scoping call to explore how ForgeTSx can help you.

02. Who needs a Virtual CIO (vCIO) ?

Mid-market companies without a dedicated CIO
Startups preparing to scale rapidly or position for acquisition
Government contractors navigating complex security and compliance demands
Organizations seeking short-term, high-impact IT leadership
Teams in need of a strategic Change Agent to maximize technology ROI

Explore the vCIO Checklist to see how a Virtual CIO can bring value to your organization.

03. Why ForgeTSx as a vCIO?

Led by Jeffrey L. Lush—former CIO, CISO and CDO for the U.S. Air Force, former CTO at Dell Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Chief Technologist at HPE.—ForgeTSx delivers:

40+ years of executive experience across private sector and DoD
TS/SCI clearance and global digital transformation expertise
Proven ROI-driven outcomes, including recent $23M in annual savings from cloud migration and system consolidation

04. Core vCIO Services

1. Strategic & Advisory

IT strategy aligned with business KPIs
Digital transformation planning (see ForgeTSx Digital Transformation Blueprint)
AI/ML and emerging tech roadmap (see ForgeTSx Data Governance Blueprint)
Cybersecurity architecture guidance (see ForgeTSx Security Framework)

2. Operational Oversight

Executive IT input for leadership teams
SaaS & infrastructure optimization
Vendor management and contract review
Modernization of applications and systems
Automation for routine tasks to maximize staff efficiency and resource utilization

3. Governance & Compliance

Data governance frameworks (see ForgeTSx Data Governance Blueprint)
NIST, HIPAA, GDPR compliance (see ForgeTSx Security Framework)
Risk management and audit prep
Business continuity and DR planning

05. Flexible vCIO Engagement Models

🟩 Tier 1: Essentials vCIO

Best For: Startups & small orgs prepping for scale
Monthly Cost: $1,500/month

Up to 8 hours of strategic IT advisory per month
1-year IT roadmap (updated annually)
Security hygiene and compliance baseline review
Tech stack and licensing evaluation
1 vendor contract review per quarter
1 monthly executive call (60 min)
Cancel anytime with 15-day notice

🟦 Tier 2: Growth vCIO

Best For: Scaling firms needing executive IT direction
Monthly Cost: $4,300/month

Up to 16 hours/month of vCIO time
Quarterly tech and security strategy refresh
Full IT budget planning + ROI guidance
Vendor & compliance management
1 quarterly board presentation prep
Staff coaching for IT/IS leads
Priority response within 48 hours

🟥 Tier 3: Strategic vCIO

Best For: Contractors, regulated industries, or digital transformation
Monthly Cost: $8,250/month

Up to 32 hours/month (scalable on need)
Embedded vCIO: strategic planning, risk oversight, executive reporting
Audit readiness for NIST, CMMC, ISO, etc.
Business continuity & cybersecurity posture management
IT hiring/interview support
On-call for incident response (business hours)
Same-day response SLA

🟨 Add-On Services (Flat-Rate)

Cybersecurity Gap Assessment: $3,500
Cloud Architecture Roadmap: $4,200
M&A Due Diligence (IT): $6,250
On-Site (4 hours) Executive Visit (U.S. or EU): $2,500/visit

🧩 Engagement Options

Monthly rolling contracts. No long-term lock-in.
Custom advisory or project rate: $230/hour (billed by the minute, no rounding)
15% discounts available for 6- or 12-month prepayment

🔁 White Label vCIO

Monthly Cost to Partners: $6,875/month (wholesale)
Suggested Resale Price: $8,500–$10,000/month

Includes:

Up to 32 hours/month of white-labeled vCIO support
Branded as your company’s CIO or Strategy Executive
Private onboarding with your team to align on brand voice, client needs, SLAs
White-labeled documentation (roadmaps, assessments, reporting)
Support for 1–3 client accounts (shared hour pool)
Optional joint sales calls (as “Senior Consultant”), travel charges not included
Response SLA: 48 hours or better

🧩 Add-On (Optional for Partners)

Additional hours: $200/hour (wholesale)
On-site visit (up to 4 hours) branded as your consultant: $2,000/visit
Private strategy session for your team (training, upsell prep): $350/hr

🔐 White Label Guidelines

You maintain client ownership and invoicing
We deliver all services under your logo or brand template
NDAs and non-compete agreements included
Ideal for boutique firms looking to compete with larger vCIO agencies

More information about the ForgeTSx White-Label

06. Recent Engagements

Consolidated 13 USAF systems into cloud platforms (SAP, Canvas, O365)
Delivered Zero Trust for 300K+ global users
Built $12M cybersecurity pipeline for startup
Launched Data Governance Framework & Automation at US Air Force Europe / Africa