IP or not your IP - that is the question!

I am interested to understand what, if anything companies like Microsoft are doing to alleviate the concerns of customers being forced to use 3rd party products to integrate and use Microsoft technologies – specifically Project Online and VSTS. Microsoft removed the in-built integration between their own products in September 2016, advocating that customers use 3rd party products instead.

We’ve had several companies approach us with this specific problem of integration.  Although we understand Microsoft has pushed out the solution to Microsoft Partners, the problem comes when the customers are themselves development houses and have real concerns about the protection of their IP which is sitting in VSTS. Essentially use of a 3rd party integration product may expose such IP to agents outside of their business and that’s a real concern, especially when high level admin rights are needed to install and operate such products. 

In the current business modern business world where there is increasing emphasis on security and protection of data, is it sufficient for Microsoft to advocate use of 3rd party apps in environments where a customer’s IP is then (potentially) put at risk ?   

How are other companies dealing with this issue ?

Has anyone actually been affected by the use of a 3rd party integration product that has resulted in IP being “lost” or “stolen” ?

Are the concerns really valid ?  After all giving out security credentials even via an app, would not be considered “safe” in most normal circumstances.

Interested to know what others think, and moreover how customers concerns have been alleviated by this concern ?

Thanks !

About the author: Kelvin Kirby is a senior business consultant working on SharePoint and Project Online deployments (amongst other things!). He specializes in advising companies on IT strategy and how to leverage best ROI from investments in Microsoft technologies. Kelvin has acted as an advisor and consultant to over 700 companies and has been in the IT industry for over 30 years. He is a multi-award winning CEO of a Microsoft Gold Partner company focused on Microsoft based cloud solutions. Kelvin can be contacted via email at [email protected].