In a $20M to $100M company, the line between "Partner" and "Vendor" is often blurred. When your CIO seat is vacant, that blur becomes a liability. I call this the Vendor Authority Vacuum.
The Symptom: You’re receiving invoices for "emergency upgrades" or new seat licenses that you don't remember authorizing. When you ask why, the answer is usually: "It was necessary for stability."
The Reality: Without executive oversight, vendors begin to "self-govern." They start making roadmap decisions based on their profit margins and service ease, not your business outcomes.
The Check:
- When was the last time a major technical spend was challenged by someone who doesn't work for the vendor?
- Does your MSP have the "Power of the Pen" on your infrastructure roadmap?
If the answer is yes, you’ve lost the Perimeter.
The Continuity Goal: Re-establish a Strategic Proxy. During a leadership transition, all vendor communications must flow through an objective gatekeeper. Your goal is to stop "Scope Creep" and ensure that no long-term contracts are signed until your permanent CIO is in the chair to vet them.
Don't let your vendors decide what your company looks like in three years.
Want the 1-page 7-Gate Continuity Protocol checklist? I'll walk you through it on a 30 minute call.
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