Decision Guide

Build vs BuyAI Governance

Making the right decision for your organization's AI governance strategy. Compare the costs, benefits, and risks of building versus buying an AI governance platform.

Quick Comparison

At a glance: key factors that impact your decision

Time to Market
Build:12-18 months
Buy:1-2 weeks
Advantage: Buy
Total Cost (3 years)
Build:$1M - $5M+
Buy:$50K - $500K
Advantage: Buy
Customization
Build:Complete control
Buy:Configurable
Advantage: Build
Compliance Updates
Build:Manual tracking
Buy:Automatic updates
Advantage: Buy
Team Size Required
Build:10-15 specialists
Buy:2-3 administrators
Advantage: Buy
Risk Level
Build:High
Buy:Low
Advantage: Buy

Detailed Analysis

Deep dive into the pros and cons of each approach

Build In-House
Develop your own AI governance platform

12-18 months

Time to Value

$500K-$2M+

Initial Cost

Advantages

  • Complete control over features and functionality
  • Customized to exact business requirements
  • Full ownership of code and intellectual property
  • No vendor lock-in or licensing fees

Challenges

  • 12-18 months development timeline
  • High upfront development costs ($500K-$2M+)
  • Requires specialized AI governance expertise
  • Ongoing maintenance and security updates
  • Risk of project delays and scope creep
  • Need to build compliance frameworks from scratch
Buy VerifyWise
Deploy proven AI governance platform
Recommended

1-2 weeks

Time to Value

Free+

Starting Cost

Advantages

  • Deploy in days, not months
  • Pre-built compliance frameworks (EU AI Act, ISO 42001)
  • Proven in production environments
  • Regular updates and new features
  • Expert support and training included
  • Lower total cost of ownership
  • Immediate access to best practices

Considerations

  • Less customization than building from scratch
  • Subscription or licensing fees
  • Dependent on vendor roadmap
  • May include features you don't need

When to Build vs Buy

Choose the right approach based on your organization's needs

Consider Building When:
  • You have highly specialized requirements that no existing solution can meet
  • Your organization has significant in-house AI governance expertise
  • You have 12-18 months to wait for deployment
  • Budget exceeds $1M and includes ongoing maintenance costs
  • Intellectual property ownership is critical
Consider Buying When:
  • You need to deploy AI governance quickly (weeks, not months)
  • Standard compliance frameworks (EU AI Act, ISO 42001) meet your needs
  • You want to minimize risk and leverage proven solutions
  • Budget constraints require cost-effective solutions
  • You prefer to focus resources on your core business

Ready to Get Started?

Try VerifyWise today and see why most organizations choose to buy rather than build.

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