Practical technology leadership for small and growing businesses, from a single project to ongoing contract IT leadership.
Most companies run their technology reactively — responding to breakdowns, chasing point solutions, and deferring strategic decisions. We change that. Our IT strategy engagements produce a clear, practical technology roadmap that aligns every initiative to your business objectives.
Small and growing businesses without a CIO or IT Director, with or without an IT team, that need a clear plan for where their technology should go next.
Digital transformation is one of the most overused terms in business — and one of the most mismanaged initiatives. We bring structured program leadership to complex transformation efforts, ensuring they deliver measurable outcomes rather than expensive disappointments.
Companies facing competitive pressure from digitally native rivals, running aging legacy systems, or seeking to unlock data as a strategic asset.
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It's a business risk. I help you understand where you're exposed, fix the gaps that matter most, and make sure you can recover quickly if something goes wrong.
Businesses that handle customer or financial data, have had a security scare, or simply don't know how exposed they are.
Technology vendors are expert negotiators. Most organizations are not. We level the playing field — from RFP development through contract negotiation — and build the internal discipline to manage vendor relationships strategically.
Organizations with a fragmented vendor landscape, approaching major contract renewals, or seeking to reduce SaaS sprawl and reclaim budget.
Leadership transitions create technology risk. Whether your CIO has departed, you're between hires, or you're navigating a merger, we provide experienced executive coverage that maintains continuity, manages your team, and prepares the organization for the next permanent leader.
Organizations facing an unexpected IT leadership departure, a merger, or growth that has outpaced their current IT leadership.
A fractional CIO is an experienced Chief Information Officer who works with your business part-time or on a project basis instead of as a full-time employee. You get senior IT leadership, such as an IT roadmap, budget, vendor management, and cybersecurity direction, without the cost of a full-time executive.
Often, yes. Businesses without an IT department usually have technology spread across vendors, devices, and accounts that nobody owns. A fractional CIO takes stock of what you have, identifies the biggest risks, and builds a practical plan, then helps you choose and manage the right providers to carry it out.
A managed service provider runs day-to-day IT tasks like help desk and patching. A fractional CIO sets direction: what to invest in, which risks to fix first, how to budget, and whether your vendors, including your MSP, are delivering. Many small businesses benefit from having both.
Engagements are flexible. You can bring Duran in for a specific project, on-site or remote, such as an IT assessment, roadmap, migration, or disaster recovery upgrade. Or you can work with him as a contract resource who plans and manages your IT team, IT roadmap, and IT operations for as much time as you need.
Yes. Through trusted partners, The Practical CIO brings in experienced engineers for hands-on work, including Cisco networking, VMware and virtualization, Windows Server, Linux, storage and backup, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity.
The Practical CIO is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and serves clients nationwide. Most work is done remotely, with on-site support available when a project needs it.
Duran Holycross has more than 25 years of technology leadership experience, including roles as CIO for the Monroe County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Vice President of Information Systems at Guidance Software, Senior Director of SaaS and DevOps at McAfee, and Deputy Director of Technology and Innovation for the City of Albuquerque. He holds ITIL 4 Strategist and MCSE certifications.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call to talk through your technology priorities, or download the free IT Health Check, a 15-question self-assessment that shows where your business is exposed and what to fix first.
Bring me in for a defined piece of work, on-site or remote, at your request. I scope it, lead it, and see it through.
Work with me as a contract resource who plans and manages your IT team, your IT roadmap, and your day-to-day IT operations, for as much time as you need.
Not sure which fits? Book a free 30-minute call and we'll figure it out together.
Through trusted partners, I bring in experienced engineers for the hands-on work, so your projects get the right expertise without you having to hire, vet, or manage specialists yourself.
Let's have a candid 30-minute conversation about your technology priorities. No pitch, no pressure.
