There is one feature whose inclusion is never debated: security. Regardless of purpose or priority, everyone can agree that if information is vital enough to track and analyze, it must be protected. Inevitably, a system is triaged. Core functionality moves to the head of the line while other features are delayed for subsequent releases. The one feature that almost always winds up 'cored out' is security...

The choice between packaged and custom software is never easy. There are costs and benefits to each approach. Complicating matters is the fact that the true costs and benefits are often difficult to see until one or the other is fully implemented and being used in a production environment. Of course, by that time, it is too late...