Not every spreadsheet is a problem. But some are ticking time bombs. Use this checklist to assess yours.
The Checklist
- Multiple editors: Do more than 2 people edit this? Risk of conflicts and data loss.
- Complex formulas: Does it contain formulas only one person understands? Single point of failure.
- Manual updates: Do you copy data between this and other systems? Error risk.
- No backup: Would losing this file cause significant disruption? Data loss risk.
- Compliance data: Does it contain data needed for regulatory compliance? Audit risk.
- Personal data: Does it contain names, contact details, or employment records? GDPR risk.
- Size: More than 1,000 rows or 10 tabs? Performance and complexity risk.
- Age: In use for more than 2 years without review? Accumulation risk.
If 3 or more apply, your spreadsheet is a risk. If 5 or more, it’s urgent. A custom application would eliminate all of these issues.
Got a Spreadsheet That's Driving You Mad?
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