Building apps on SharePoint can unlock massive efficiency gains. In the federal space, innovation must always align with compliance, governance, and scalability. At Tsymmetry, we’ve distilled the essentials into a practical guide:
1. Strong Governance Framework
- Define clear roles and responsibilities (admins, developers, business users).
- Establish environment segmentation (development, testing, production).
- Enforce naming conventions and lifecycle management for apps, flows, and lists.
2. Security First, Always
- Apply role-based access controls (RBAC) to minimize exposure.
- Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies to protect sensitive information.
- Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access for all users.
3. Compliance Built-In
- Ensure apps comply with federal cybersecurity standards.
- Conduct routine vulnerability scanning and penetration testing.
- Maintain an audit trail for accountability and transparency.
4. Scalable Architecture
- Use modular design to adapt apps for future needs without full rewrites.
- Optimize SharePoint lists, libraries, and Power Platform connectors for high performance.
- Plan for capacity and performance monitoring from day one.
5. Low-Code, High Impact
- Empower business users with Power Apps and Power Automate under controlled guardrails.
- Provide templates and reusable components to reduce duplication.
- Balance speed of delivery with compliance and testing requirements.
6. Continuous Improvement & Support
- Monitor app usage with dashboards and analytics to track value.
- Establish a feedback loop with end users for iterative improvements.
- Provide ongoing training and documentation for sustainment.
Secure and scalable SharePoint app development isn’t about cutting corners, but it’s about building a foundation that supports innovation, compliance, and growth. At Tsymmetry, we partner with agencies to ensure every solution balances speed, security, and scalability.