EdgePoint Strategy
// Field notes

Technology leadership notes for manufacturers and distributors.

Perspective on the decisions, risks, and practical work behind business technology.

Articles on fractional CIO leadership, cybersecurity, AI enablement, AI agents, and the work of making systems fit the business.

Featured

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AI StrategyNov 3, 2026

What is a fractional CAIO, and when does a mid-market company need one?

A fractional CAIO is a part-time chief AI officer who ties AI use to business outcomes for a mid-market manufacturer or distributor. The role owns priorities, employee capability, process redesign, tool choice, acceptable use, and how the company measures value.

By EdgePoint Strategy
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Technology LeadershipNov 2, 2026

How much does a fractional CIO cost? 2026 rates, retainers, and pricing models

Fractional CIO cost explained with public 2026 benchmarks: hourly rates, monthly retainers, project fees, and a full-time salary comparison for mid-market manufacturers and distributors.

By EdgePoint Strategy
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CybersecurityNov 2, 2026

How much does a fractional CISO cost? 2026 rates, retainers, and pricing models

Fractional CISO and virtual CISO cost for mid-market manufacturers and distributors: published 2026 hourly rates, monthly retainers, project fees, and how to compare a full-time hire or an MSP security add-on.

By EdgePoint Strategy
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Notes on real technology decisions.

  1. Technology Leadership

    Upgrade or replace your ERP: a decision guide for manufacturers and distributors

    How owners, presidents, CFOs, and operations leaders can decide whether to upgrade an ERP, extend it with a targeted integration or add-on, or replace it.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  2. Cybersecurity

    Before you enable Microsoft 365 Copilot on CUI work: what to check first

    Copilot in a government cloud still uses each person's existing access. For manufacturers and distributors that handle CUI, check the contract, the permissions, and the labels before you assign licenses.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  3. AI Strategy

    What is a fractional CAIO, and when does a mid-market company need one?

    A fractional CAIO is a part-time chief AI officer who ties AI use to business outcomes for a mid-market manufacturer or distributor. The role owns priorities, employee capability, process redesign, tool choice, acceptable use, and how the company measures value.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  4. Technology Leadership

    Fractional CIO vs managed IT provider (MSP): what's the difference and do you need both?

    Fractional CIO vs MSP, including virtual CIO offerings: who should own technology strategy, who should run daily IT, where the conflicts sit, and how to decide if a manufacturer or distributor needs one, the other, or both.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  5. Technology Leadership

    How much does a fractional CIO cost? 2026 rates, retainers, and pricing models

    Fractional CIO cost explained with public 2026 benchmarks: hourly rates, monthly retainers, project fees, and a full-time salary comparison for mid-market manufacturers and distributors.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  6. Cybersecurity

    How much does a fractional CISO cost? 2026 rates, retainers, and pricing models

    Fractional CISO and virtual CISO cost for mid-market manufacturers and distributors: published 2026 hourly rates, monthly retainers, project fees, and how to compare a full-time hire or an MSP security add-on.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  7. AI Strategy

    AI in production needs an owner, not another pilot

    Move a useful AI pilot into production by assigning operating ownership, controls, measures, support, and a clear stop decision.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  8. Best Practices

    Vendor renewal season: questions to ask before signing another three-year term

    Use the renewal window to test business fit, service, risk, exit terms, and real adoption before extending a long technology contract.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  9. Technology Leadership

    The hidden cost of a departing plant expert

    How to identify, transfer, and preserve practical plant knowledge before a retirement or departure turns routine work into operating risk.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  10. Cybersecurity

    What should actually happen in a ransomware tabletop exercise?

    A ransomware tabletop should expose decisions, dependencies, and recovery assumptions through a realistic discussion, then produce owned follow-up work.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  11. Technology Leadership

    The spreadsheet that runs the plant: when to replace it and when not to

    A practical guide to deciding when a critical plant spreadsheet needs stronger controls, a better tool, or simply clearer ownership.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  12. AI Strategy

    Before you buy an AI tool, map the decision it will influence

    A practical method for defining the decision, evidence, human judgment, and feedback needed before selecting an AI product.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  13. Best Practices

    Your ERP is not the only problem: finding the handoffs that create rework

    Before replacing an ERP, examine the cross-functional handoffs where incomplete data, unclear ownership, and workarounds create avoidable rework.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  14. Cybersecurity

    CMMC preparation: what smaller defense suppliers should do first

    Practical first steps for smaller defense suppliers: confirm current contract requirements, define the information boundary, and organize assessment evidence.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  15. Technology Leadership

    What a useful technology roadmap looks like at a mid-market company

    A useful roadmap connects business decisions, operating dependencies, and realistic delivery capacity without becoming a decorative timeline.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  16. Industry Insights

    The IT budget is not the strategy: setting better technology priorities for 2026

    A practical way for mid-market leaders to turn an annual technology budget into a short list of business priorities, decisions, and tradeoffs.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  17. Best Practices

    Planning ransomware recovery for manufacturing operations

    Prepare recovery priorities, decision authority, trusted backups, communications, and operating checks before a ransomware incident disrupts production.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  18. Industry Insights

    Choosing technology leadership: hire, fractional support, or both

    Compare internal hiring, fractional CIO support, and provider oversight by responsibility, workload, continuity, and the actual cost of the work.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  19. AI Strategy

    AI implementation reality check: three manufacturing decisions

    How to evaluate manufacturing AI ideas through data readiness, workflow fit, human review, and a bounded pilot, using hypothetical examples.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  20. Cybersecurity

    CMMC preparation: connect requirements with manufacturing operations

    Organize CMMC preparation around confirmed contract requirements, information boundaries, provider responsibilities, evidence, and practical operating changes.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  21. Technology Leadership

    The manufacturing CIO decision: match leadership to the work

    How manufacturers can divide technology direction, operational support, and delivery responsibilities without assuming a particular executive hiring model.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
  22. Technology Leadership

    5 signs your manufacturing business may need fractional CIO support

    Five operating signals that call for clearer technology priorities, investment decisions, provider responsibilities, and delivery oversight.

    By EdgePoint StrategyRead article
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