Independent IT Consulting
IT consulting services in Seattle
Make your next technology decision with a clear view of what the business needs, what is already in place and which options deserve consideration.
A 30-minute initial advisory conversation with Brian Wade, Founder & Principal Advisor. What happens in a Technology Assessment?
Caisson provides independent IT consulting for organizations in Seattle and beyond. We help business and IT leaders assess needs, set priorities, compare technologies and providers, and plan an appropriate direction. Your goals, requirements, risk, existing contracts, cost and long-term strategy guide the work.
When an independent IT advisor can help
Several decisions are connected
A move, expansion or new way of working affects connectivity, phones, cloud access and security. You need to understand the dependencies before choosing providers.
The options are difficult to compare
Proposals use different assumptions, include overlapping features or leave support responsibilities unclear. You want to compare them against common requirements.
Current arrangements need review
Contracts are approaching renewal, costs are changing or services no longer match the business. You need a practical view of what to retain and what to reconsider.
Put business requirements before technology choices
We begin with what prompted the decision and what a useful outcome would look like. Your IT team or existing provider can help explain the current environment, technical constraints and work already underway.
- Business goals, users, locations and critical workflows
- Existing services, providers, contracts and renewal dates
- Known risks, service concerns and dependencies
- Budget, decision ownership, timing and transition constraints
We assess the needs and open questions using the information available. If technical testing or specialist analysis is needed, we help clarify the scope and who should carry it out.
Compare technologies and providers on the same basis
A useful comparison goes beyond a product list or monthly price. We consider how each option meets your requirements, what it depends on and what responsibilities it introduces.
Business and technical fit
Capabilities, integration requirements, user needs, existing investments and room for change.
Costs and commitments
Recurring charges, implementation costs, contract terms, renewals and the implications of changing direction.
Delivery and accountability
Who installs, configures, migrates, operates and supports each part of the solution, and how issues are escalated.
We explain the alternatives and trade-offs behind our recommendation. Keeping an existing service may be the right choice when it continues to meet the need.
Connect your IT priorities across the five foundations
The work focuses on the areas relevant to your decision. We consider how connectivity, communications, cloud, cybersecurity and AI affect one another without requiring every engagement to cover all five.
- Connectivity and communications: requirements for locations, customer calls, collaboration and resilience.
- Cloud: application placement, access, recovery priorities, costs and provider responsibilities.
- Cybersecurity: known concerns, existing coverage and security-provider selection in the context of business risk.
- Artificial Intelligence: a practical use case, readiness, data considerations and criteria for evaluating value.
Agree a practical recommendation and next step
We help you understand what should happen first, what information is still needed and which decisions can wait. Recommendations reflect your business priorities, current commitments and the people responsible for carrying out the work.
The initial Technology Assessment is a 30-minute advisory conversation that may identify a need for a focused provider comparison or further review. Any deeper Technology Foundation Review or other advisory engagement is separately scoped. Timing, commercial arrangements and any written deliverables are agreed before further work begins.
Work alongside your IT team and selected providers
Caisson's advisory role
Understand requirements, assess needs, compare technologies and providers, recommend appropriate solutions, coordinate selected providers and provide ongoing guidance and advocacy.
Provider and client IT responsibilities
Technical installation, configuration, migration, monitoring, operation, and support typically sit with the applicable provider and/or client IT team. Responsibilities are clarified for the agreed work.
During a transition, Caisson can coordinate provider conversations and help keep requirements and open issues clear. Afterward, we remain available for provider decisions, service escalations, renewals and changing needs. Any additional Caisson delivery role would be specifically defined and agreed as part of the scope.
Advice grounded in real business decisions
Brian Wade founded Caisson in 2004. You work directly with an advisor who considers the business situation, provider alternatives, and long-term implications of the decision.
Fryer-Knowles
Telecom alternatives and existing contract timing shaped a decision to improve connectivity and reduce costs.
Ignite Financial Services
An office move created an opportunity to modernize an aging phone system with Zoom Phone.
Questions about IT consulting
Do you provide managed IT services or a help desk?
Caisson's role is independent advice, provider evaluation, coordination and ongoing advocacy. Your provider and/or IT team delivers technical operations and support. If you need a managed service, we can help evaluate appropriate provider options.
Can you help with a cloud migration decision?
Yes. We can assess business needs, compare approaches and providers, and clarify costs, dependencies and responsibilities. The applicable provider and/or your IT team performs the technical migration, configuration, testing and ongoing support.
Will the initial assessment include an audit or written roadmap?
The initial Technology Assessment is a 30-minute advisory conversation. Technical testing, a detailed audit and a written report are not included. Any deeper Technology Foundation Review or other advisory engagement is separately scoped. Any written recommendations are agreed as part of that scope.
How is Caisson compensated?
Caisson may receive compensation from a selected provider in some engagements, and we explain the arrangement where applicable. Recommendations are based on fit with your organization. Read our approach to provider options and compensation.
Bring your IT decision into focus
Share the business change, provider choice or unresolved question in front of you. Brian can help clarify the priorities and an appropriate next step.
Existing clients can start with a renewal, provider issue or new requirement.