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By Dave Warner, Systems Engineer at Cenetric
So you’ve got a tricky situation in your business and you’re on the hunt for the best way to address it. But how? Should you build a custom solution — or should you try to make the best of what you have and find a way around the issue?
The costs of workarounds
Custom software is pricey and time-consuming to build, leaving your wallet lighter and your problem growing while you wait. These downsides lead some companies to get “creative” and start trying less expensive, faster workarounds. But are they really cheaper? Maybe not.
When you consider the potential costs of a software workaround that leaves your business vulnerable to cyberattack, data breaches or regulatory compliance issues, you might think twice.
For instance, the average cost of a data breach in 2024 was nearly $5 million, according to IBM. What’s more, it took affected companies an average of 258 days to discover and fix the breach, and 78% of companies that experienced one took more than 100 days to recover.
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Other times, companies take the chance on a workaround because they have a tech stack that’s too complex to replace with something off the shelf. They’ve got tech debt — the value lost in hanging on to outdated or inefficient previous tech investments — and feel stuck. So they end up adding even more complexity by creating a workaround.
In either case, the risk of slapping a bandage on a problem or using questionable methods to fix issues just isn’t worth it.
Take a new approach instead
A better strategy is to take existing software and use it in a new way (safely). It’s not an iffy workaround — it’s an implementation of existing technology using industry best practices. Whether you have an existing IT staff or are trying to figure it all out on your own, sometimes it’s more efficient and secure to let a dedicated team of experienced professionals guide you to the right solution so you know you’ll be protected.
Recently the Cenetric team had the opportunity to help a client who needed the expanded features of QuickBooks Desktop but the convenience of QuickBooks Online to help their distributed workforce operate efficiently from anywhere. Rather than cost the client essential functionality or tie them to a physical server, we put their desktop version of QuickBooks in the cloud.
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When it comes to financial data, security always has to be a top priority. The Cenetric team used Microsoft Azure, which has robust security and compliance measures, to host the client’s data. We also restricted it so that the only way to access the data is through a user’s dedicated Windows 365 virtual machine, limiting potential avenues of cyberattack. If needed, we can further restrict it to only allow access from specific IP addresses or VPN connections.
The client now has a convenient, secure way for their finance team to do their work, even when they’re not physically in the office. It’s a good reminder that you don’t have to stick to “the way we’ve always done it” or sidestep best practices to be productive.
Know when to seek out help from pros
Don’t sacrifice security in the name of efficiency when it comes to solving complex software issues. You can have both, but you often need someone with broader experience to help you find the best solution in terms of cost, productivity and security.
Do you need responsive, expert IT services you can trust — or do you have a unique technology challenge to tackle? Let’s talk about it. Whether you’re in Kansas City or beyond, Cenetric has the experience to help.