When Finance proposes new budgeting and forecasting software, IT teams often hear the same message: “It’s just for planning.” But IT knows it’s more complex. Planning platforms are not lightweight tools. They:

  • Contain sensitive financial data
  • Store payroll and employee information
  • Integrate with ERP systems
  • Support board and executive reporting
  • Influence strategic decision-making

The conversation is no longer about whether Finance needs better forecasting. The real discussion  is whether the chosen platform meets enterprise IT standards for security, scalability, and governance.

Solver CPM Software is a powerful cloud-based solution that consolidates financial and key data into a single platform, removing much of the time and frustration often associated with budgeting. Increasingly, IT teams are comfortable approving modern planning platforms like Solver. Here are five reasons why.

1. Built on Trusted Enterprise Infrastructure

Solver is built on Microsoft Azure, with global data centres across regions including Australia, the US, Canada, and Ireland. For organisations already operating within the Microsoft ecosystem, this removes a significant layer of risk and complexity.

This is not a niche or standalone environment. It is enterprise-grade infrastructure that aligns with existing IT architecture and governance frameworks. For IT teams, that familiarity matters.

2. Security That Is Independently Verified

Security claims are not enough. IT teams need more than marketing promises; they need security that is independently audited.

Solver maintains:

  • SOC 2 certification and Health Insurance Portability compliance
  • Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance

These standards demonstrate that controls are tested and audited by external parties. This provides confidence that data security, privacy, and operational processes meet recognised benchmarks.

3. Data Protection, Encryption and Recovery

Each Solver customer operates within a dedicated Azure SQL database, ensuring isolation and control over data. For many mid-sized organisations, this level of resilience exceeds internal disaster recovery capability. Data is:

  • Encrypted at rest
  • Encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher
  • Continuously backed up
  • Geo-replicated across regions

Recovery standards are also clearly defined:

  • Recovery Time Objective (RTO) under 12 hours
  • Recovery Point Objective (RPO) under 1 hour

4. Reduced Infrastructure Burden for IT Teams

Solver is a cloud-native platform, meaning there is no additional infrastructure to manage:

  • No servers to maintain
  • No patching cycles
  • No SQL performance tuning
  • No upgrade projects

Monthly updates are centrally managed and communicated, reducing operational overhead. This allows IT teams to focus on governance and strategy rather than system maintenance.

5. Integration with Modern Identity and Access Controls

Solver integrates with Azure Active Directory and supports Multi-Factor Authentication. Access is controlled through:

  • Role-based permissions
  • Module-level security
  • Dimension-level data access

This balance allows Finance teams to work flexibly while ensuring IT retains full control over access, identity, and security policies.

Aligning Finance and IT Priorities

The expectations of Finance and IT have both evolved, with both functions now playing a more strategic role in system selection and data governance. This alignment between CFO and CIO is critical.

What Finance Teams Need

  • Rolling forecasts
  • Scenario modelling
  • Driver-based planning
  • Faster, more accurate reporting

What IT Teams Require

  • Zero-trust architecture
  • Audited and compliant vendors
  • Encrypted and secure data environments
  • Cloud-native scalability
  • Reduced operational complexity

Modern planning platforms like Solver meet both sets of requirements. They support advanced financial planning while aligning with IT standards for security, resilience, and governance, enabling shared confidence in both data and systems.

The Shift in Decision-Making About Financial Planning Platforms

There has been a clear shift in how planning systems are evaluated. Five years ago, Finance teams often had to justify the need for new planning tools. Today, IT teams are actively driving conversations around:

  • Stronger controls
  • Improved auditability
  • Cloud-native architecture

This reflects a broader shift toward enterprise-wide data ownership and accountability. When CFO and CIO priorities align, organisations reduce risk, accelerate implementation, and strengthen decision-making across the business. When Finance and IT are working toward the same outcomes, organisations can move faster and make more confident, data-driven decisions.

Isn’t it time to transform your budgeting and forecasting abilities?

Access Analytic works with organisations to design and implement Solver solutions that meet both Finance and IT requirements, ensuring your systems are secure, scalable, and built to support better decision-making. Selecting the right planning platform is only part of the process. Successful implementation requires:

  • Strong data integration across systems
  • Clear governance and security alignment
  • Scalable architecture to support future growth
  • Practical design that supports real business use

We ensure your planning platform is not only technically sound, but also delivers meaningful improvements in forecasting, reporting, and decision-making.

Would you like to know more about how Access Analytic and Solver can transform your budgeting and forecasting? Contact us today to book an obligation free demonstration with an experienced Access Analytic consultant.