> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.scaliocloud.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Scalio Cloud Consulting Engagement Process Explained > From first contact to project close, learn how Scalio Cloud structures consulting engagements to deliver measurable outcomes in weeks, not quarters. Every Scalio Cloud consulting engagement follows a consistent, transparent process designed to deliver value fast while staying aligned with your business goals. Here's what to expect from first contact through project completion. ## Engagement phases We learn about your environment, goals, and constraints. No technical access is required at this stage — just a conversation. We'll ask about your current setup, your pain points, and what a successful outcome looks like for your team. We send a scoped proposal with clearly defined deliverables, a realistic timeline, and transparent pricing. You can choose between a fixed-scope project, a retainer, or staff augmentation depending on how well-defined your requirements are and how closely you want our engineers to work within your team. We meet your team, get access to your environment, and align on success criteria and communication cadence. By the end of week one, everyone knows who is responsible for what and how we'll measure progress. Our engineers do the hands-on work with regular check-ins throughout. You receive weekly status updates, and we flag blockers early so nothing slips silently. You're never left wondering where things stand. We wrap up every engagement with a full documentation handover, a live knowledge transfer session with your team, and a post-engagement support period so you feel confident operating what we built together. ## Engagement types Not every problem fits the same model. Scalio Cloud offers three engagement structures so you can choose the one that best matches your needs and budget. **Fixed-scope project** — A defined set of deliverables, a fixed timeline, and a fixed price. This is the most common model and works best for migrations, configurations, security reviews, and other well-scoped initiatives. You know exactly what you're getting and what it costs before work begins. **Retainer** — A block of monthly hours dedicated to your organization for continuous advisory, governance oversight, and operational support. Retainers work well for teams that need ongoing Microsoft expertise without hiring a full-time specialist. **Staff augmentation** — A Scalio engineer embeds with your team for a defined period, working inside your tools, your processes, and your sprint cycles. This model is ideal when you need hands-on capacity fast and want someone who operates as a true extension of your team. ## What we need from you A successful engagement is a partnership. To get the most out of working with Scalio Cloud, you'll want to have the following in place before we kick off: * **A named internal point of contact** who can make decisions, provide approvals, and escalate internally when needed. * **Timely access** to the systems, documentation, and stakeholders we need to do the work — delays in access are the most common cause of project delays. * **Availability for weekly check-ins** so we can surface updates, answer questions, and resolve blockers together. * **Prompt feedback on deliverables** — the faster you review and respond, the faster we can iterate and close out the engagement. ## Timeline expectations Most fixed-scope engagements run between two and eight weeks. A focused security review typically completes in one to two weeks. A full Azure migration varies significantly based on the number of workloads, the complexity of your existing environment, and the availability of your team. We'll give you a realistic estimate in the proposal and flag risks early if the scope changes. [Contact our team](https://www.scaliocloud.com/#contact) to start with a free discovery call — no commitment required.