Microsoft 365 Sync Tool: Build or Buy?

CiraSync has released a new resource to help IT leaders decide whether to build their own Microsoft 365 contact and calendar sync tool or adopt a purpose-built platform. The guide comes as Microsoft begins retiring Exchange Web Services (EWS) in stages starting October 1, 2026.

According to Tara Parachuk, Director of Marketing at CiraSync, building a sync tool is possible but the real question is what a team is signing up to own once it's live. 'The piece most organizations don't price in until months later' is the ongoing maintenance, customizability, reliability at scale, and security and compliance.

The guide breaks down five factors that separate a home-grown build from a purchased platform: build cost, ongoing maintenance, customizability, reliability at scale, and security and compliance. It notes that maintaining a home-grown script can run 130 to 260 hours a year in support tickets alone.

CiraSync's resource includes side-by-side comparisons of initial setup, platform maintenance, and monitoring and recovery between an in-house build and CiraSync, along with real customer accounts of teams that tried building their own solution before switching.