Buying Guides

Decision-oriented guides for technology leaders evaluating services, tradeoffs, and implementation risks.

This library is written for teams that need a decision framework before contacting vendors. Each piece defines category scope, selection criteria, operating tradeoffs, and common failure patterns seen during procurement and implementation.

The practical way to use these guides is to convert each section into your evaluation checklist. Use the criteria to structure internal alignment, define non-negotiable controls, and remove providers that cannot prove fit for your delivery model, risk posture, or timeline.

A strong outcome from this page is a short list of verifiable requirements and interview questions, not a broad market overview. If a provider cannot provide concrete evidence against those requirements, remove it early and keep the process focused on execution quality.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Buying Guide

AI Governance and Evaluation Tooling: A CTO Buyer's Guide to Shipping Production-Ready AI Systems (2026)

Strategic decision framework for CTOs selecting AI governance and evaluation infrastructure - covering maturity-stage requirements, procurement criteria, and common buying mistakes that delay production deployment.

Mira VossApr 23, 2026
Buying Guide

Enterprise Frontend Stack Selection: A Buying Guide for 3 to 5 Year Technology Bets (2026)

Decision framework for enterprise frontend framework selection and architecture patterns that survive a 3 to 5 year horizon, covering framework fit, micro-frontend decisions, design system build-vs-buy, and Core Web Vitals governance.

Rowan QuillApr 23, 2026
Buying Guide

Mobile Engineering Strategy: A Buying Guide for Native, Cross-Platform, and Web at Enterprise Scale (2026)

Decision framework for selecting a mobile engineering path - native iOS and Android, cross-platform (React Native, Flutter, Kotlin Multiplatform), or progressive web - with evaluation criteria, hiring-market signals, and regulatory constraints for 2026 enterprise buyers.

Ishan VelApr 23, 2026
Buying Guide

Build vs. Partner: A CTO's Decision Framework for AI Agent Capabilities (2026)

Structured decision framework for CTOs evaluating whether to build AI agent capabilities internally, engage external partners, or adopt a hybrid model - with evaluation criteria for each path.

Rowan QuillApr 21, 2026
Buying Guide

Kubernetes Upgrade Buying Guide for CTOs

A practical buyer guide for selecting service partners that can help platform teams run safe, repeatable Kubernetes upgrade programs at multi-cluster scale.

Rowan QuillMar 3, 2026
Buying Guide

LLM Security: A Systems-First Framework for Securing AI Applications

A comprehensive framework for securing LLM-powered applications. Covers the five control layers, attack surface analysis, and the scoring rubric used across StackAuthority LLM security research and rankings.

Talia RuneFeb 24, 2026
Buying Guide

Cloud Cost Allocation for Platform Teams: A CTO Buyer’s Guide

A decision guide for engineering leaders selecting partners that can implement cloud cost allocation models for platform teams without slowing delivery.

Mira VossFeb 16, 2026