Outsourcing IT services has become a common strategy for businesses looking to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and gain access to specific expertise. However, with so many different types of IT outsourcing options available, it can be challenging to decide which one is the best fit for your business. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the different types of IT outsourcing and their functions.
What are the Different Types of IT Outsourcing?
Complete IT Outsourcing
Complete IT Outsourcing, also known as full IT outsourcing, is a business model in which a company partners with an outside firm to handle all of their IT functions. This can include strategy, hardware procurement, network infrastructure, applications, and user support. The provider passes responsibility for the entire IT function and becomes the single point of contact for all IT-related issues.
Help Desk/User Support
Help desk or user support IT refers to the department or function outside of the company that is responsible for providing technical assistance to users of the company’s IT systems. The help desk or user support team is typically the first point of contact for users who have questions or issues related to IT systems, such as computer hardware, software, and network infrastructure when the company’s IT department may not have the time or resources to resolve issues.
Infrastructure Outsourcing
Infrastructure Outsourcing includes the transfer of responsibility for the management and maintenance of an organization’s IT infrastructure, such as servers, networks, and storage systems, to a third-party provider.
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
BPO Outsourcing includes the transfer of non-core business procedures, such as finance, customer service, and human resources, to a third-party provider. BPO providers often control IT systems and technologies to program and improve processes.
Staff Augmentation
Staff Augmentation Outsourcing includes the hiring of IT professionals on a contract basis to enhance an organization’s existing staff. The most common use-case for staff augmentation is when a company decides to outsource their IT, but they want to keep their usual IT people around. The outsourcing provider can hire their new client’s IT people and dedicate them to providing on-site support for that client.
Project-based Outsourcing
Project-based Outsourcing is used to outsource a specific IT project, such as the development of a new software application or the implementation of a new IT system, to a third-party provider.
IT Outsourcing is helpful in a way that it can help businesses increase efficiency, reduce costs, and gain the IT expertise needed. With many different types of IT outsourcing options available, it is crucial to thoroughly consider which one is the best fit for you. To hear more about IT Outsourcing & our managed services, take a look at the IT Outsourcing & Managed Services page.