Plan outsourcing strategically. Control risks. Ensure compliance.

Outsourcing Management

Professional outsourcing management is essential for organizations seeking to utilize the benefits of outsourcing while minimizing the associated risks.

  • 01Legally sound design of your outsourcing arrangements in accordance with regulatory requirements
  • 02Minimization of operational, financial, and reputational risks
  • 03Increased transparency and manageability of your outsourcing arrangements
  • 04Optimization of the cost structure and quality of outsourced services
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11+Years of experience
120+Employees
540+Projects
ISO 27001certified

Outsourcing Management

Systematic outsourcing management encompasses the strategic planning, professional management, and continuous monitoring of outsourcing relationships. It creates the necessary balance between cost savings, operational efficiency, and adequate risk control.

Our approach covers all aspects of outsourcing management — from strategic alignment through service provider selection and contract design to continuous monitoring. We support you in developing a tailored, regulatorily compliant outsourcing management framework.

3 service modules

Service scope

01

Strategic Alignment

Development of a tailored outsourcing strategy and policy.

  • Definition of strategic objectives and governance principles
  • Development of an outsourcing policy and risk strategy
  • Integration into the organizational structure
  • Alignment with compliance and regulatory requirements
02

Contract Management

Legally sound design of outsourcing contracts and service level agreements.

  • Development of regulatorily compliant contract templates
  • Definition of appropriate service level agreements
  • Planning and safeguarding of exit strategies
  • Support during contract negotiations
03

Service Provider Selection

Structured selection and assessment of potential service providers.

  • Development of a due diligence framework
  • Conducting risk analyses and criticality assessments
  • Assessment of supply chains and sub-service providers
  • Implementation of third-party management

5 phases

Our Approach

Our approach to outsourcing management is systematic, practice-oriented, and tailored to your specific requirements.

  1. Analysis of the status quo and identification of optimization potential

  2. Development of a tailored outsourcing strategy and policy

  3. Implementation of processes and responsibilities

  4. Establishment of an effective control and monitoring system

  5. Continuous improvement and adaptation to new requirements

Sarah Richter

Your contact

Sarah Richter

Head of Information Security, Cyber Security

10+ years of experience, CISA, CISM, Lead Auditor, DORA, NIS2, BCM, Cyber and Information Security

+49 69 913 113-01 info@advisori.de LinkedIn
Professional outsourcing management is more than a regulatory obligation — it is a strategic lever for greater efficiency, cost control, and risk minimization. Organizations that excel in this area gain a clear competitive advantage.
ADVISORI expert opinion

Our Strengths

  • 01Comprehensive expertise in designing regulatorily compliant outsourcing frameworks
  • 02Experience in implementing outsourcing management across various industries
  • 03Combination of legal, technical, and process-related know-how
  • 04Support during reviews and audits by regulators and external auditors

Expert Tip

Regulatory requirements for outsourcing management are being continuously tightened. Proactively adapting your outsourcing management to current regulations such as MaRisk, BAIT, or EBA Guidelines helps to avoid costly remediation.

7 QUESTIONS, BRIEFLY ANSWERED

Frequently asked questions about Outsourcing Management

What is outsourcing management under EBA outsourcing guidelines?

Outsourcing management under the EBA outsourcing guidelines is the systematic governance of all outsourced activities and processes at a financial institution. The EBA requires a risk analysis before every outsourcing decision, classification into material and non-material outsourcing, appointment of a central outsourcing officer, and maintenance of a comprehensive outsourcing register. The goal is to retain full control and regulatory accountability despite outsourcing arrangements.

What is material outsourcing in banking?

Material outsourcing (also called critical or important outsourcing) occurs when the outsourced activity is of significant importance for banking operations, financial services, or other institution-typical functions. Classification is based on a risk analysis considering factors such as criticality for business operations, substitutability of the service provider, and impact on the risk profile. Material outsourcing arrangements are subject to enhanced requirements for contracts, governance, and regulatory notification.

What role does the outsourcing officer play under EBA and MaRisk?

The central outsourcing officer consolidates the governance and monitoring of all outsourcing risks across the institution. They must be positioned in an organizational unit that reports directly to senior management. Responsibilities include coordinating risk analyses, maintaining the outsourcing register, ongoing monitoring of service providers, and reporting to the management board. MaRisk 6.0 explicitly established this role, and the EBA guidelines reinforce it across all EU financial institutions.

How does DORA change outsourcing management for banks?

DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act, Art. 28‑44) introduces dedicated rules for ICT third-party risk management. From 2025, banks must separate ICT third-party providers (governed by DORA with specific contracts, risk assessments, resilience testing, and an EU-wide register of information) from non-ICT service providers (governed by EBA/MaRisk outsourcing rules). The EBA is updating its outsourcing guidelines for non-ICT services, expected April 2026, extending similar principles to all third-party arrangements.

What must be included in a banking outsourcing register?

An outsourcing register is a central documentation of all outsourcing arrangements at a financial institution. Mandatory contents include: contract parameters, estimated costs and budgets (updated annually), information, audit and access rights for material outsourcing, classification as material or non-material, risk analysis results, and exit strategy details. The register must be available to regulators on request and is subject to annual review and update.

What is the difference between EBA outsourcing guidelines and DORA?

The EBA outsourcing guidelines provide the general framework for managing outsourcing risks at financial institutions, covering all types of outsourcing. DORA specifically regulates ICT third-party risks with requirements for digital operational resilience, including ICT risk management, resilience testing, and an EU-wide information register. Going forward, ICT arrangements fall under DORA exclusively, while the EBA is extending its guidelines to cover all non-ICT third-party arrangements beyond traditional outsourcing.

How does ADVISORI support outsourcing management for banks?

ADVISORI supports banks and financial institutions across the entire outsourcing management lifecycle: from developing outsourcing policies and strategies, through conducting risk analyses and due diligence assessments, to implementing the outsourcing register and ongoing vendor governance. We ensure compliance with EBA outsourcing guidelines, DORA, MaRisk AT 9, and BAIT, and prepare you for regulatory examinations. Our health check identifies gaps in existing outsourcing structures.