Like in other business domains this is a "make or buy" decision. To decide of course you need enough data about the situation at hand: - initial costs - keep

Like in other business domains this is a "make or buy" decision. To decide of course you need enough data about the situation at hand: - initial costs - keep system running costs - other pro/con items like "availability" (e.g. you can use a local server even if there is issues with your companies internet access) that can be prioritized and rationalized with methods like the cost-utility analysis or the cost-benefit analysis I think it is hard to give general advice on what to do in such cases.