The Complete Guide to IT Outsourcing Models in 2025

Contrary to popular belief, outsourcing IT isn’t about handing off control or your problems. It’s finding smarter ways to get things done. Outsourcing can bring clarity, cost control, and consistency to your operations—just to name a few benefits. The key is choosing the model that fits your business goals, whether you’re offloading specific tasks, consolidating support, or looking for a full-service partner to handle everything end-to-end.

In this article, you’ll learn how to:

• Pick the right outsourcing model for your IT needs
• Understand the difference between outsourcing, out-tasking, and body leasing
• Balance control, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness
• Avoid common mistakes during outsourcing transitions
• See how other companies handled IT outsourcing—with real-life examples

What’s New in IT Outsourcing in 2025?

The IT outsourcing market in 2025 looks a lot different than it did even 2 years ago. It’s no longer just about offloading tasks. It’s about access.

Access to skills you can’t hire fast enough. Access to time when your roadmap is already packed. Access to technologies your internal team hasn’t had time to touch—because they’ve been too busy keeping legacy systems from setting themselves on fire.

IDC’s recent research sponsored by Comarch uncovered key 2025 trends in managed IT services, such as:

• 77% of respondents expect IT outsourcing providers to become a single, comprehensive source of expertise.
• For 41.3% of companies, skilled labor shortage is the top factor when considering using an external managed IT services provider.
• 86% of surveyed businesses deem clear SLAs and proven business value as “very” or “extremely important.”
• 33.8% of respondents plan to utilize the nearshore outsourcing model in the next 18 months.

Why Traditional Outsourcing Models Don’t Cut It Anymore

The days of handing over an entire system to a vendor and expecting them to “just run it” are fading. Traditional offshoring models were built for cost savings and predictable output—not for agile sprints, DevOps pipelines, or daily stand-ups across time zones. They made sense when IT was about stability. But today’s infrastructure is fluid, fast, and often spread across containerized microservices and multi-cloud environments.

At Comarch, we understand that today agility and scalability are essential. We begin each project by conducting a thorough analysis of a client’s specific needs. This allows us to create customized solutions that can evolve with the company.

Our IT services are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing easy adjustments to accommodate changes in workforce size, service offerings, or market conditions. Regular performance reviews ensure that our services meet client expectations and help optimize our offerings.

-        Paweł Wojas, Director of BU Comarch ICT Services

The Rise of Specialized Outsourcing and Niche Expertise

Instead of one-size-fits-all vendors, organizations are leaning into specialist partnerships—small, focused teams that live and breathe one thing: cloud-native transformation, AI model ops, secure-by-design APIs, you name it. According to IDC, 28.3% of respondents need additional or specialized IT services from their outsourcing provider.

Trying to keep up with every emerging technology trend using only internal resources is like trying to patch a production bug during a live deploy—stressful, error-prone, and likely to blow up in your face.

Modern outsourcing models have evolved to support innovation at the edge (literally and figuratively).

• Edge Computing & IoT Outsourcing Strategies

With data moving closer to the source, companies are outsourcing the design, deployment, and management of edge and IoT systems to specialists who understand the IT outsourcing challenges: latency, bandwidth, security, and scale—often in environments that don’t look anything like a clean enterprise data center.

• AI-Powered Software Development Outsourcing

The AI arms race is real — and no, your current dev team probably doesn’t have time to learn vector databases and fine-tune LLMs and refactor your monolith at the same time.

71% of large organizations in Western Europe expect providers to embed new technologies—such as AI and ML—into their services in the future. For 62%, an innovation-driven culture with investments in R&D and emerging tech is considered a very or extremely important criterion.

The best vendors help you build AI strategy into your software architecture from day one.

Traditional IT Outsourcing Models

Before we get into modern hybrid models and AI-driven partnerships, it’s worth revisiting the basics. Most IT outsourcing approaches still fall into a few well-worn categories—usually grouped by location, relationship, pricing structure, or the type of knowledge being outsourced.

Also, let's be honest: some of these “traditional” models are still alive and kicking in plenty of contracts.

Outsourcing is definitely changing. More and more companies are switching to hybrid or cloud-first models. But some businesses still find value in traditional outsourcing approaches, and that's completely understandable. It all depends on your company's needs. Adapt and find a model that aligns with your IT goals and the way you work.

-        Grzegorz Gawron, Head of ICT Consulting at Comarch

Location-Based Models

Offshore Outsourcing

Work is outsourced to a provider in a distant country—typically with lower labor costs. Great for cost-cutting, but can come with time zone challenges and communication delays if not managed properly.

Nearshore Outsourcing

Outsourcing to a nearby country (think Eastern Europe for Western Europe, or Latin America for the US) is expected to become even more popular in the coming years. It offers easier collaboration and fewer time zone headaches—while still keeping costs in check.

Onshore Outsourcing

Everything stays within the same country. The most popular, seamless option in terms of compliance, communication, and quality control—but typically the most expensive.

Onsite Outsourcing

Third-party specialists work at your physical location. Useful when in-person collaboration is essential (e.g., for security, compliance, or highly integrated systems), but you’re still relying on an external vendor for talent.

Relationship-Based Models

Staff Augmentation

You “borrow” talent to plug into your existing team—usually on a short-term or skills-specific basis. Great when you need an extra pair of senior DevOps hands, not a whole team.

Dedicated Teams

You get a fully managed team from the vendor, but they work almost like your own unit. Ideal for long-term projects where you want continuity without hiring in-house.

Project/Service-Based Outsourcing

You hand over an entire project/service or deliverable to an external team. Good for clearly scoped work with firm deadlines. Bad for anything likely to shift halfway through.

Pricing Models

Fixed Price

You agree on a price upfront, regardless of how many hours it takes. Safe in theory—risky if the scope isn’t locked down tighter than your production environment.

Time and Materials

You pay for actual hours worked and resources used. More flexibility, but also more budget volatility. Works well for agile projects that evolve over time.

Outcome-Based Pricing

You pay based on results—like hitting delivery milestones or achieving uptime targets. Sounds ideal, but depends heavily on well-defined KPIs (and a vendor who’s actually motivated to hit them).

Knowledge-Based Models

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

You outsource specific business functions like IT support, HR systems, or finance operations. Think more about processes than tech stacks here. Mature and widely used—but only works well with clearly defined processes.

Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO)

This goes a level deeper—outsourcing high-value tasks that require specialized knowledge, such as data analysis, R&D, or compliance management. Useful when you need domain experts without hiring full-time staff.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced IT Outsourcing Strategies in 2025

It’s time to look at how things have evolved. In 2025, the complexity of IT environments demands advanced strategies that maximize agility, scalability, and innovation—without creating a vendor management nightmare.

Multisourcing: Orchestrating a Complex Ecosystem of Vendors

Rather than relying on a single vendor, multisourcing spreads the load across multiple specialized providers. The goal is to tap into the best of each vendor’s expertise while avoiding the risks of vendor lock-in.

Best practices include defining clear service level agreements (SLAs) and communication protocols. Pitfalls to avoid? Overcomplicating management and losing visibility into performance across all partners.

Hybrid/Blended Outsourcing: Combining Models for Optimal Flexibility

Hybrid outsourcing blends different models to create a custom-fit solution—think nearshore for flexibility, offshore for cost-efficiency, and onsite for sensitive data handling.

According to IDC’s research, the number of companies using a hybrid model is expected to more than double over the next 18 months—from 5.1% to 10.8%.

For example, a global retailer can leverage a combination of dedicated teams for R&D and offshore staff for support services, balancing cost with expertise. The flexibility is great, but the key is alignment—you need clear governance to make sure all parts of the puzzle fit together.

DevOps Outsourcing: Streamlining Software Development and Deployment

DevOps as a Service is another area gaining traction—67% of respondents plan to use an external provider within the next 18 months, more than double the 32.5% currently using it.

And it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Outsourcing DevOps is critical for ensuring continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD). By partnering with vendors who specialize in DevOps practices, like Comarch, you can streamline workflows and speed up release cycles. When done right, it enables more effective collaboration and faster innovation.

[At Comarch] we also follow industry best practices, which help ensure predictability and quicker delivery. When you combine those practices with our SLAs, it means more reliability and easier contract management for our clients.

-        Paweł Wojas, Director of BU Comarch ICT Services

Cloud-First Outsourcing: Embracing Cloud-Native Solutions

A cloud-first strategy today means truly embracing cloud-native architectures and leveraging hybrid cloud environments. Cloud-first outsourcing is working with partners who specialize in multi-cloud or hybrid cloud solutions, aligning your infrastructure with modern needs. It’s no surprise, then, that 77% of organizations already outsource managed cloud services, tapping into external expertise to handle the complexity.

The upside? Scalability, agility, and cost optimization.

The downside? Proper management of hybrid cloud strategies and ensuring consistent integration across platforms.

Cybersecurity-Focused Outsourcing: MSSPs and Compliance Outsourcing

With cybersecurity threats evolving daily, outsourcing your security needs to Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) has become a necessity for most organizations. Over 69% of organizations currently outsource their security services. Whether it’s ensuring compliance with regulations or tackling threat detection and response, MSSPs take the heavy lifting off your internal team.

The trick is finding a partner who not only provides 24/7 monitoring but also understands your compliance and regulatory requirements down to the last detail. Remember: security outsourcing isn't just about tech — it’s about ensuring your data and systems stay locked down tight.

Examples and Case Studies of IT Outsourcing

BP: 580 Locations, One Outsourcing Strategy

Managing a WAN across almost 600 locations? Not exactly a light lift. BP realized that trying to handle it all in-house was slowing them down — so they outsourced the whole operation to Comarch. We took over network management (MPLS, VSAT, the full alphabet soup) and added Data Center services into the mix.

Instead of juggling vendors and patching together infrastructure on the fly, they gained a centralized, reliable setup—plus a disaster recovery plan that didn’t involve crossing fingers. With Comarch managing the stack, their IT team could finally stop putting out fires and start thinking long-term. The results speak for themselves: better connectivity, fewer outages, and a modern foundation that doesn’t break under pressure.

A Leading Automotive Systems Manufacturer: 12,000+ Users, Zero Chaos

A global Tier 1 supplier to the automotive industry needed more than just a patch here and a reboot there. With 12,000+ end-users and a tech stack that includes Oracle, Cisco, Microsoft, Hyper-V, VMware, and Commvault, the stakes were high. So, Comarch was chosen as the IT outsourcing provider.

From centralized Service Desk outsourcing to 24/7 infrastructure monitoring and management, Comarch has been taking care of servers, storage, and backup since 2011.

We took over from the previous outsourcer without disruptions, helping the client avoid a painful knowledge transfer headache. It resulted in smoother internal workflows, stable operations, and predictable costs that don’t jump out of nowhere.

ThyssenKrupp: Outsourcing Infrastructure Modernization

ThyssenKrupp, a global industrial conglomerate active across multiple sectors, partnered with Comarch to carry out a large-scale IT infrastructure harmonization project in its automotive division, spanning 23 sites worldwide. With outdated systems, fragmented network environments, and inconsistent workstation standards, the organization faced rising operational risk and limited scalability.

We provided outsourced support to streamline and modernize the client's IT landscape. The project included on-site assessments, domain migrations for over 2,500 users, LAN infrastructure standardization, mailbox migration (6,000+ accounts), and the rollout of Skype for Business for more than 10,000 employees. Crucially, many legacy workstations were replaced and upgraded, reducing security exposure and improving system reliability.

By outsourcing infrastructure modernization to Comarch, ThyssenKrupp was able to reduce complexity, improve internal communication, and create a more unified digital environment—without overstretching internal IT resources.

ESO: From Body-Leasing to Service-Based

When European Southern Observatory needed a fresh approach to IT support, they looked to outsourcing to align performance with precision.

Operating across office facilities in Germany and Chile and astronomical observatories in Chilean Atacama Desert, with around 700 end users, ESO had been relying on a mix of outsourcing and body leasing. While this setup got the job done, it wasn’t scalable or easy to manage. Tasks were carried out by external staff, and the billing was based on hours and people involved—not outcomes.

Comarch passed all prequalification stages and won contracts for both Germany and Chile. We provided end-to-end IT out-tasking services across both regions. That included Service Desk, workstation support, network and server admin, telecom systems, database and virtualization support, and more.

The real win? Consistency across borders. All facilities were supported by a single partner, with experienced Comarch engineers working both on-site (Chile) and remotely (from Kraków) for the German HQ. ESO benefited from high-quality service backed by certified experts, transparent SLAs, and a cost model that supported both performance and budget planning.

Regulatory & Compliance Challenges in Outsourcing

Outsourcing is much more than optimizing costs and speeding up delivery. There's a bit of paperwork that needs to be handled—especially when it comes to compliance. And let's face it: nothing ruins an outsourcing deal faster than a regulatory slip-up.

GDPR, CCPA, and Data Localization Laws

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) have set the gold standard for data protection laws. Both laws require stricter data management and reporting, so any outsourcing partner handling personal data must meet these stringent criteria.

Not to mention the new data localization laws—countries increasingly want their citizens' data kept in their home territory. So, if you're outsourcing to a data center across the world, you'd better make sure it’s compliant with these laws—or risk hefty fines.

Compliance is a growing concern, especially in those highly regulated industries. Businesses should partner with providers who understand the specific laws regarding their sector to protect their business and maintain customers’ trust.

-        Marcin Trzaskowski, ICT Cloud Director at Comarch

Compliance Challenges in Cross-Border Outsourcing

Cross-border outsourcing brings its own set of headaches, from navigating different privacy laws to dealing with cross-jurisdictional issues (aka: which court do you go to if something goes wrong?).

For instance, data flowing between the EU and non-EU countries could be subject to Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) to ensure compliance with the GDPR. And no, just having an office in Dublin doesn't mean you're automatically in the clear.
Keep an eye on changing regulations, and if you’re outsourcing in regions with volatile legal systems—due diligence is your best friend here.

Industry-Specific Regulations (Healthcare, Finance, Government Sectors)

If you're in an industry like healthcare, finance, or the government sector, outsourcing compliance can feel like walking through a minefield.

In healthcare, HIPAA sets strict rules around how patient data is handled and protected. In finance, PCI DSS is the gold standard for securing payment information. Additionally, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) ensures that financial institutions and their outsourcing partners maintain operational resilience and continuity, protecting against disruptions. And in government agencies, things get even more complex—with additional oversight, regulations, and scrutiny.

When outsourcing in these sectors, you need vendors who are deeply versed in the unique compliance requirements of your industry.

Security and Compliance Certifications: SOC 2, NIS 2, ISO

When evaluating outsourcing partners, don't just ask if they're compliant—ask how. This is where security and compliance certifications come in.

• SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) focuses on how organizations manage data based on 5 trust principles: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. If your outsourcing partner handles customer data, you want to see that SOC 2 badge.
• NIS 2 (Network and Information Systems Directive 2) is the EU’s upgraded cybersecurity directive. It applies to “essential and important entities”—like energy providers, health tech firms, cloud services—and raises the bar for incident reporting, risk management, and vendor oversight.
• ISO/IEC 27001 remains a gold standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It shows your vendor has structured processes in place to manage risk and protect data.

These aren't just stickers on a website footer. They’re evidence that your outsourcing partner has undergone third-party audits and actually knows what “data security” means.

Strategic Framework for IT Outsourcing in 2025

When to Outsource vs. Build In-House

Business alignment is step zero. Before you start googling vendors or drafting RFPs, you need a clear rationale: why are you outsourcing, and what are you hoping to achieve?

• Core vs. Non-Core Functions: Keep what makes you unique in-house. Outsource the rest. If you're a fintech company, you probably want to build your own trading engine—not manage your own email servers.
• Scalability and Agility: Need to scale a team by 30 engineers in six weeks? Outsourcing might be your best shot.

Evaluate Cost vs. Value: The Real Impact of Outsourcing

Outsourcing has long been promoted as a cost-saving miracle. It certainly can be—but cost shouldn't be the only metric on the dashboard. Interestingly, 77% of companies expect providers to become strategic partners focused more on value than cost in the future.

• Beyond Cost Savings: Measure real business outcomes—faster time to market, higher productivity, better access to specialized talent.
• KPIs Matter: Define them before the project starts. SLA compliance, velocity, incident resolution time—whatever fits your needs.
• TCO Reality Check: Watch for hidden costs like onboarding, vendor churn, and escalating support requirements. If it sounds too cheap to be true, it probably is.

Select the Right IT Outsourcing Model

There’s no one-size-fits-all.

• Start with Needs, Not Trends: Does your organization need agility, predictability, cost-efficiency, or niche skills? That determines the model—not what your competitor is doing.
• Model Comparisons:
  • Fixed-Price: Good for well-defined, short-term projects. Bad if requirements change.
  • Time and Materials: Great for flexibility, risky if the scope is fuzzy and your vendor loves meetings.
  • Outcome-Based: High reward, high risk. Best used when you can clearly define the “outcome.”
• Vendor Due Diligence: Check their references, financials, and whether they’ve delivered projects similar to yours—successfully, not just eventually.
• Risk Mitigation: Plan for vendor exit, lock-in clauses, IP protection, and continuity of IT outsourcing services. Hope for the best, contract for the worst.

Balance In-House Teams with External Partners

Only 7.6% of companies are probably going to outsource all of their IT functions and services to an external provider in the next 18 months. A hybrid IT setup—part internal team, part external—is the default in 2025. The challenge? Making them play nicely together.

• Hybrid Models Done Right: Your in-house team handles strategic initiatives; the outsourced partner picks up the scalable, operational tasks.
• Managing Relationships: Set expectations clearly. Use proper contract governance, escalation paths, and SLAs that don't require a legal degree to interpret.
• Agile + DevOps Integration: Don’t force-fit waterfall vendors into your sprint cycles. Choose partners who understand your delivery culture and can plug into your tooling, rituals, and velocity expectations.

Our [DevOps] team has many years of experience in implementing and maintaining successful customer loyalty solutions across this wide range of environments, from Comarch Infraspace Cloud and industry giants like AWS and Azure to on-premise data centers.

-        Mariusz Krzyżak, DevOps Director & Cloud Solutions Architect at Comarch

Measure Performance and Demonstrate ROI

If you can’t measure it, it’s just a hopeful invoice.

• Modern KPIs: In 2025, think beyond uptime and ticket resolution. Look at innovation velocity, feature adoption, customer experience scores, and security posture improvements.
• Calculating ROI: Model the value of faster releases, reduced downtime, and access to hard-to-hire talent.
• Benchmarking: Compare performance against industry norms. Not just to brag, but to understand if your outsourcing partner is coasting or actually delivering.

Mitigating Risks of IT Outsourcing in 2025

• Communication Clashes: Favor overlap hours, use clear documentation, and don’t underestimate the power of a good project manager who speaks both “tech” and “human.”
• Data Security & Privacy: Stick to vendors with strong security credentials (SOC 2, ISO 27001, etc.), conduct regular audits, and get clear on data residency and encryption standards.
• Intellectual Property Protection: Lock down IP rights in your contract. Avoid vague language. Make sure code ownership, usage rights, and NDA terms are spelled out and enforceable.
• Quality Control & Performance: Define KPIs upfront, do code reviews, require testing protocols, and use performance-based clauses in your contracts.
• Vendor Lock-In: Use open standards, retain system access, and document everything. Build exit strategies into the contract from day one.
• Choosing the Right Partner:
  • Do they understand your industry?
  • Can they scale with you?
  • Do they have relevant experience?
  • Do their developers stay longer than six months?
  • Are they the type to vanish during sprint planning?

TL;DR

1. In 2025, IT outsourcing is changing. With talent shortages and tech evolving faster than your backlog, smart sourcing is survival.
2. The “classic models” are just the starting point. Offshore, onshore, staff augmentation—useful, yes. But the real magic happens when you start blending models to fit real-world needs.
3. Security and compliance are non-negotiable. Regulations don’t care if your vendor was “super cost-effective.” Think SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA—or think again.
4. Cost is only part of the equation. The value lies in faster releases, access to niche skills, and being able to say “yes” to innovation instead of “maybe next quarter.”
5. Outsourcing isn’t “set it and forget it.” Relationships, SLAs, and quality control—all need ongoing attention.
6. The right partner can make or break your strategy. Look for technical depth, cultural fit, and a track record that goes beyond pretty PowerPoint decks.

Wrapping Up: The Future is Nearshore (Literally)

As outsourcing evolves, so do the trends. Over the next 18 months, a staggering 70% of companies are expected to increase their investment in nearshoring. The writing’s on the wall: if you’re not considering nearshoring yet, you’re already behind. Businesses scramble to secure faster turnaround times, reduce risks, and tap into highly skilled talent pools, so your choice of IT outsourcing model matters. The future of IT outsourcing is getting closer to home—literally. Don’t miss the boat.

At Comarch, we pride ourselves on our flexibility. Whatever your needs are—whether it's IT outsourcing, cloud services, or specialized support—we tailor our solutions to fit your exact requirements. There's no upselling, just honest, straightforward advice focused on what truly benefits your business. So, stop wondering and schedule a free, non-binding consultation or dive into our managed IT services offering. See how we can support your goals.