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There is some great benefit to operating applications on your own computers/servers, no question about it. I think the issues start to emerge when users want to access those applications remotely. There is a ton of existing open source (a.k.a. "free") software out there that is very established, and won't drive you crazy on patching or bug detecting/fixing, but patching is a way of life for a production application and not everything is updated as easy as a Windows client.

Most of the business people I run across either don't know how to put it all together (it's just a wee bit more complicated to build a CRM or Contact Management server than installing quickbooks!) or they have the technical skills but lack the time to put it together and maintain it. Keep in mind the hidden costs of doing it yourself - if you want to access your application from outside your office, the minute you expose that server/app to the internet, you are a potential target. Unless you have the time and inclination to stay on top of the security, I would argue that you put yourself at higher risk than with a hosted solution provider.

If you do decide to self-host an application, AND you want to reach it from outside your office, AND you are not adept at network/systems security, consider hiring a reputable IT consultant that can secure you network, your server and application, and revisit you periodically to keep things "secure". This and backing-up your data are probably the two biggest weaknesses I see in small businesses (and even the big guys). There are a lot of options, including establishing a VPN to your office, that enhance security and make it harder for someone to get your confidential data on your servers.

There are a lot of options, and opinions in this area - it's really not an easy decision. Think about the "true" cost of doing it yourself as you evaluate all of these options.

Hi , I'm stoppin by to let ya know Im still working on it.

will it be safer? it will be on your own server as someone else pointed out.
Will it be unhackable, uncrackable.. and some super control systems that will be unpenetrable by even aliens ? .. i dont know about that lol

What I'm making is a PHP/MYSQL database system for contacts. You can use it on your own server. there will be no code and no ability for anyone else but you to see whats in your database. It wont be a super security system that Pentagon would like to use..but , the idea is to just allow people to store their contacts on their own server.. with the intention to stop the potential prying eyes from saying= "they sell a lot of products, ..these are their contacts... hmmm"

Im making it as a free program, I obviously wont make any super guarantees about it..it'll be free, it'll work.. and you will be able to have PHP programmers develop off of it to make it bigger, better ..whatever you want..but the core system will work. First I'm making the database part, then over time I might like to add new scripts that you can add on to it. A nidea already would be if you would like to send an email to all your contacts, or if you only want to select specific ones.. that kinda stuff.

If you want, have your programmers go through it, toss it around, try to exploit it..and beef it up if you find anything you think could be better.

this thread is turning into a pimp street for Contact Database hosts.

I finished the Contact database program. Its basic ,but it works and can be modified and added on by PHP programmers.

It'll get you pointed in the direction of having your own database and interface.
All those peoples that want you to buy theirs ..will be back to argue over the design of it, so that will be interetsing.

but here's the program - the install tutorial is inside the zip file.
http://www.ezprintsolutions.com//database_dashboard.php

add to it, make custom programs for it..do what ever you want.
All the functions work as I just went through it a last time a few minutes ago.
It serves as a working foundat
ional system. It's free.. best part.

I believe it will also work as a good introduction to people that have not had much experience with databases and programs.

BTW, what encryption are those 'pay to use' database contact sites using? Could they be hijacked?
Are they havens for hacker attacks ..since they store mass business info within them?

You can use this program for free.. there's nothing in it that will allow me or anyone to read your information.
Follow the Read_Me.txt file for setting it up.

Use it if you want.. dont use it if you dont want to. No guarantees, no claims or big promises. It's just a program I made for businesses that
want to persue having their own contact databases.
If you know anyone that knows PHP - they can read the language pretty easily to see there are no spywares or other crap codes.
If you find anything you believe could make this program better - let me know

If you ever need printing for your business - letterhead, brochures, postcards, business cards etc .
check out http://www.ezprintsolutions.com

Could you perhaps post a couple of larger screen shots so that we could view what it looks like? Thanks for all of your hard work setting this up.

I put up a couple screen shots for you.
I'm being moderated now and some of my posts not going through.
The two posts above this one with the URL to the database program the URLs have been tampered
I tried to correct that, but the posts were moderated and then never showed up on this board.

I dont know if its just a glitch with the message board software or not? I cant see why my posts about this would be getting blocked or moderated..
so if this post makes it through their moderating glitch, http://www.ezprintsolutions.com/database_
dashboard.php and click the smaller image to open the larger ones.

For everyone following this thread I thought I'd mention a new service that just became available - http://jobblogs.cc

"JobBlogs is most readily described as CRM, relationship and
management lite. It serves up a nice, intuitive and quick workspace
which allows for the aggregation of contact information, email and
documents and links and stakeholder comments all in one location. Their
name is a mashup of Job and Blogs - not blogs in the traditional sense
but in the sense of being enablers of two way communication and idea
collaboration."

"It’s a good solution for anyone handling large number of customer
interactions - service based industries being the most obvious - anyone
that requires daily coordination of a dynamic set of different data
streams."

In regards to your need for an online contact database, I can help you in a cost affective way.

I would implement a fully-functional web application, that would allow you and your staff to login via intranent or internet and update customer database.

This could be a back end login to your companies website, and the app itself could entail anything that you can envision.

Mike - http://www.freeits.net

If you have not yet found a qualified company, please do visit my company home page.

http://www.freeits.net

Mike Stratton, Integrity Technology Specialists
(330)802-0285