Who is the CIO, this pillar of corporate strategy?

The CIO/CIO plays an increasingly key role within companies. And this is all the more true since the digital transformation of organizations has become an essential growth lever.

But who exactly is this chief information officer? What range of tasks does he or she take on, and how far do his or her responsibilities extend? And above all, how does he or she constitute a pillar on which company management can rely to develop a strategy focused on team performance?

Let's take a look at the CIO's profile, with a detailed job description and a toolbox to help both future CIOs and recruiters get to grips with this multi-faceted profession.

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What is a DSI/CIO?

Definition of DSI/CIO

DSI is the acronym for Director of Information Systems, but also for Chief Information Officer.

We also come across this profession under other names:

• directeur informatique, or DI,
• Director of Organization and Information Systems, or DOSI,
• Information Systems and Digital Director, or DSIN,
• director of information systems and telecommunications,
• business information officer.

DSI in English?

Today, this position is increasingly referred to as chief information officer, or CIO.

Role of the CIO in a company

The CIO is in charge of the company's information system, i.e. all the hardware and software resources needed to transmit information:

• computers,
• software
• Internet network,
• servers
• storage systems,
• printing equipment,
• telecommunications systems, etc.

CIO/CIO responsibilities

But over the years, the CIO/CIO has moved away from purely technical missions to take on more and more responsibilities. Let's take a look.

☑️ The chief information officer is responsible for defining an information systems policy in line with both :

• the company's strategy and growth objectives,
• more global business, social and technological issues.

In short, the CIO ensures that all the company's staff and partners can work in conditions that guarantee optimum performance and productivity.

☑️ As a result, the CIO/CIO is responsible for issues linked to innovation and digital transformation, which implies constant technological monitoring.

☑️ Last but not least, the Chief Information Officer is often high up in the company's organization chart, and may even be a member of senior management. As such, he or she plays a managerial role with the company's IT teams, and also oversees activities with any external service providers.

The DSI/CIO job description

Detailed missions of the CIO

☑️ Strategic management of the company's information system, involving :

• auditing the information system,
• choosing the technologies to be used,
• organizing the deployment of these technologies,
• managing the maintenance of IT services,
• monitoring technological and legal developments,
• anticipating the company's needs in relation to future market challenges.

☑️ Assessing issues relating to risks, IT security and data security.

☑️ Define and manage budgets relating to information systems performance.

☑️ Reporting on various activities to management.

☑️ Advise and sensitize management to the challenges of optimizing IT resources.

☑️ Gathering and analyzing the IT needs of the company's various stakeholders.

☑️ Recruitment and management of IT teams.

☑️ Definition and management of a strategy to support the company's various stakeholders in their use of IT.

☑️ Strategic, operational and budgetary management of service providers and subcontractors.

☝️Le The position of CIO/CIO represents a significant cost for companies, particularly smaller ones. As a result, some companies call on the services of a time-sharing CIO. In most cases, the CIO works alone in carrying out the tasks entrusted to him/her.

How to become an IS/CIO?

There are several possible paths to a career as CIO/CIO. But as a general rule, two types of training open the way to this position:

• an engineering degree (Bac +5),
• IT training (Bac +5).
  

☝️ Note that it's rare to find junior CIOs. In fact, this job requires a certain number of years' experience (around 10 years), particularly in IT department management.

What skills does a CIO need?

• expertise in information systems,
• managerial skills,
• technology culture,
• project management,
• budget management,
• mastery of security and legal standards,
• knowledge of the main computer languages and operating systems,
• technical English.

What are the qualities of a CIO?

• organization and rigor,
• leadership skills,
• communication and interpersonal skills,
• ability to anticipate,
• teaching skills,
• curiosity.

How is the position of CIO evolving?

While the role of the Chief Information Officer has long been predominantly technical, this professional is increasingly involved in setting the company's overall strategy. That's why they often sit alongside senior management.

The result? The CIO/CIO profession is often seen as the culmination of a career in IT.

How much does a DSI/CIO earn?

CIO/CIO salaries vary according to the level of experience and the type of organization. But as a general rule, we find the following remunerations:

• for a junior profile 👉 around 70K euros per year,
• for a senior profile 👉 around 120K euros per year,
• for an expert profile 👉 around 180K euros per year.

The CIO's toolbox

The CIO, by virtue of his central role in the company's organization, is required to work with a wide range of tools.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the software that will help you succeed.

Project management software

🛠️ Trello or Project Online.

IT service management software, or ITSM

🛠️ LANDesk or Octopus-ITSM.

Computer security software

🛠️ Deep Security or Splunk Enterprise Security.

Network supervision software

🛠️ Centreon MAP or Pandora FMS.

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Future challenges for CIOs

The CIO/CIO is a key profile for today's companies, particularly those focused on innovation. By creating value and improving technical, and therefore human, performance, they make a real contribution to the growth of organizations.

Nevertheless, the world of IT is constantly evolving, and new challenges are emerging. Big Data, mobile usage, cloud computing, green IT, RGPD... these are today's challenges.

Companies can therefore no longer deny the need to optimize their information systems, and to get all their teams on board with change thanks to the chief information officer.