The Hidden Risks of DIY Data Integration
You want a unified reporting system. A single place to bring together data from all your existing business tools so you can make smarter, faster business decisions.
So how hard can it be to wire up a few APIs? With a bit of database experience, someone on your team can probably get things rolling, right?
But as anyone who’s managed live data knows, multi-system integration comes with near-constant connection chaos. The obvious problems are frustrating— midnight troubleshooting, one-off scripts, and surprise API changes. But the hidden ones? They’re expensive, risky, and often irreversible.
Security Risks Behind the Dashboard
One of the biggest dangers with DIY data management is the risk of security blind spots and noncompliance with regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, or internal audit requirements. At Roghnu, we maintain SOC 2 Type II certification, which demonstrates strict controls for data security and privacy. This compliance alone can cost $20,000–$30,000 per year to maintain.
This type of secure infrastructure typically comes with sticker shock. Even a “free” data connector may not be free at the usage tier you need. You’ll need to upgrade servers, manage licenses, and perform pentesting to keep things secure. Suddenly, you’re looking at a full-time job for a database administrator.
Bus Factor = 1
If your internal data tool is being pieced together by a single hero, you’ve got all your eggs in one brain, so to speak.
What happens if that person leaves the company? Or worse yet, has a medical emergency, leaving them unable to share access or documentation?
The phrase “bus factor” refers to the number of people who would need to get hit by a bus before a project or system falls apart. A bus factor of 1 means you’re one unlucky event away from major disruption.
Red Flags in DIY Data Management
Even well-intentioned internal solutions can start to show strain as systems grow more complex. What begins as a practical workaround can evolve into a brittle, high-maintenance setup that’s hard to scale or secure.
Here are some common signs your data integration approach might need a second look:
You're relying on one person to maintain all your data connections
Reporting is delayed or unreliable due to broken or outdated scripts
You’ve hit a wall trying to connect a niche or custom software tool
Security reviews or audits leave your team scrambling
You’re unsure if sensitive data is properly encrypted or stored
You’ve upgraded servers or tools just to keep your DIY setup running
There’s no documentation. Just someone’s memory or local notes
You’re still waiting on “that one dashboard” to finally get finished
Future-Proof Data, More Powerful than Ever
By the time companies come to us, they already know their reporting setup isn’t working. They’ve seen some of the red flags, and they’re ready for a more reliable solution.
The Roghnu Data Portal is a managed system that brings together all your business data in one place, with built-in security, monitoring, and support. You get fast, secure access to the data you need, when you need it, without any fussing.
If you’re still patching things together, give us a call. We’ll help you build a unified, worry-free data system— with a team you can count on and infrastructure you don’t have to babysit.
