Exclaimer has unveiled the findings of its 2025 ‘Build vs. Buy: The True Cost of DIY IT Solutions’ report, offering a comprehensive look at how global IT and security leaders are reevaluating the real costs, risks, and benefits of developing software internally versus purchasing from trusted vendors.
Based on insights from over 2,000 decision-makers, the report highlights a striking trend: 71% of in-house-developed projects are eventually abandoned. Dubbed ‘The DIY Mirage,’ this phenomenon exposes the illusion of control and efficiency that diminishes as maintenance burdens, compliance challenges, and long-term costs escalate.
The research also uncovers regional differences: in the UK, 33% of teams build in-house primarily to meet compliance and data residency requirements, while in the US, 28% do so mainly to integrate with legacy systems. However, this pursuit of speed often leads to higher costs and operational issues, with US IT leaders reporting a 74% downtime rate from internal tools compared to 50% in the UK.
“Every IT leader faces the question: do you build or do you buy? The data shows that while building in-house may seem like maintaining control, it often comes at the expense of time, security, and scalability. We’ve seen how operational burdens can quickly overwhelm teams when they’re forced to maintain tools that were never designed to scale. This research provides organisations with a clear view: true efficiency isn’t about owning every line of code, but about freeing teams to focus on growth and innovation,” said Paul Hammond, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Exclaimer.
The report underscores a widening gap between perceived efficiency and actual outcomes. Despite nearly half of IT teams preferring to develop their own tools, only 8% of these projects are delivered on time, and just 11% remain within budget. In reality, over half take 1.6 to 2 times longer than planned, and 46% of projects end up costing nearly twice their initial budget.
Furthermore, ongoing maintenance demands are significant: 63% of teams spend between 10 and 50 hours monthly maintaining internal tools, while 66% spend an additional $20,000 to $100,000 annually just to keep systems operational. Security concerns are also prominent, with 64% reporting security-related downtime and 31% citing compliance and data protection as major barriers. This transforms what may have started as a cost-saving initiative into a long-term liability.
A startling 71% of IT and security leaders admit to building tools internally only to abandon them later, with the figure rising to 81% among CIOs and 73% among CTOs. Despite confidence in their own builds — 59% of US leaders believe they offer better protection — downtime remains a universal challenge, underscoring the risks of DIY approaches.
The report highlights a clear industry trend: organisations are increasingly turning to specialised vendors. When asked why they prefer buying over building, 30% of IT leaders cited faster deployment, 29% pointed to access to expertise, and 28% emphasised reliability.
Regional differences influence this shift. UK teams, driven by regulatory pressures (33%), lean towards vendor solutions to ensure compliance and control. Conversely, US teams, traditionally focused on speed (23%), are now embracing vendor partnerships for quicker scalability and reduced maintenance burdens. Overall, the trend indicates that buying from trusted providers now outweighs building for control, as organisations prioritise efficiency, security, and predictable performance.
