When to Upgrade From IT Staff to CIO The two acronyms have different responsibilities. Find out which position is right for your company.

Q: When does my business need to move beyond an IT staff to a CIO?

A: Let's start with an explanation: A chief information officer ensures that your company procures, implements and operates the best IT systems and services to run the business—both now and five years down the line. What separates the CIO from the IT guy, whose job is to "keep the IT lights on," is the ability to function as part of the executive team.

We talked to serial entrepreneur Karl Treier, CEO of Cloud Computing Advisors in Cincinnati, for his take on making the transition.