Your business is growing and your IT infrastructure is becoming increasingly complex. Sooner or later, you face a question: hire a full-time system administrator or outsource your IT? This article will help you make an informed decision.
The Real Cost of an In-House IT Specialist in Ukraine
When managers think about an in-house IT specialist, they usually only see the salary. But the real cost is significantly higher.
Direct Costs
According to DOU and Work.ua data at the beginning of 2026:
- System administrator salary: 25,000–55,000 UAH/month (depending on experience and city)
- Social contributions and taxes: additional ~22% of salary
- Vacation and sick leave: ≈ 2 months per year equivalent
- Training and certifications: 15,000–50,000 UAH/year
Total: from 450,000 to 950,000 UAH/year — and that’s for just one specialist.
Hidden Costs
- Work equipment — laptop, software licenses
- Recruitment and onboarding time — on average 2–3 months before a new specialist is fully up to speed
- Turnover risk — if your only IT specialist leaves, you’re left without support
- Mobilization risk — a reality for Ukrainian business in 2024–2026
What IT Outsourcing Includes
A professional IT outsourcing company provides not just “someone to fix the computer” but a comprehensive service:
Basic Support Level
- 24/7 server and network monitoring
- Incident response within 1–4 hours (depending on SLA)
- Server, email, and backup administration
- End-user workstation support
Advanced Level
- IT infrastructure planning and modernization
- Cybersecurity: antivirus, firewall, staff training
- Cloud migration or hybrid solutions
- IT consulting and budgeting
Outsourcing Cost
For small and medium businesses (10–50 workstations):
- Basic package: from 8,000 to 20,000 UAH/month
- Comprehensive package: from 15,000 to 45,000 UAH/month
Total: from 96,000 to 540,000 UAH/year — and that’s for a team of specialists, not a single person.
Comparison Table
| Criteria | In-House Specialist | IT Outsourcing |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | 450,000–950,000 UAH | 96,000–540,000 UAH |
| Availability | Business hours (8 hrs/day) | 24/7 per SLA |
| Competencies | 1 specialist | Team with diverse expertise |
| Scalability | Need to hire more | Flexible per contract |
| Loss risk | Resignation = 0 support | Contract guarantees service |
| Response time | Depends on workload | Fixed SLA |
| Business knowledge | Deep | Takes time to learn |
When an In-House Specialist Is the Better Choice
There are situations where an in-house IT specialist is justified:
- Large companies (100+ workstations) — the workload justifies full-time employment
- Specialized software — if your work depends on niche systems requiring constant on-site presence
- Restricted facilities — where IT infrastructure cannot be serviced by external contractors
- Continuous development needs — actively evolving internal systems
When Outsourcing Wins
For most small and medium enterprises, outsourcing is more efficient:
- Fewer than 50 workstations — not enough workload for a full-time position
- Standard IT infrastructure — Windows, Office 365, standard servers
- Cybersecurity needs — one specialist physically cannot be an expert in everything
- Wartime conditions — mobilization risks, relocations, labor market instability
The Hybrid Model: Best of Both Worlds
Some companies choose a hybrid model:
- In-house specialist handles daily user support and business process knowledge
- Outsourcing — server infrastructure, cybersecurity, strategic planning
This allows having “your person” on-site while also gaining team expertise.
Real Case: How a Business Saves with Outsourcing
A Kyiv trading company, 35 workstations:
- Before outsourcing: in-house specialist at 40,000 UAH/month + social contributions = ~600,000 UAH/year. Response time — whenever available. No server monitoring. Backups “when remembered.”
- After switching to outsourcing: comprehensive package at 25,000 UAH/month = 300,000 UAH/year. 24/7 monitoring, 2-hour SLA, monthly reports, verified backups.
Savings: 300,000 UAH/year with better service quality.
What to Look for When Choosing an IT Outsourcer
If you’ve decided to try outsourcing, check:
- SLA — clearly defined response and recovery times
- Experience — years in the market, client testimonials
- Team — specialists in various domains (networks, servers, security)
- Monitoring — proactive monitoring, not just reactive problem-solving
- Reporting — regular infrastructure status reports
- Security — NDA, access policies, how they protect your data
Conclusion
For most small and medium businesses in Ukraine, IT outsourcing is a more cost-effective and less risky option. You get a team instead of one person, predictable costs instead of surprises, and protection from personnel-related risks.
IT-Premium has been providing comprehensive IT outsourcing for businesses for over 17 years. Contact us for a free consultation and personalized cost estimate for your company.