The Person Who Knows Power Automate built a key checkout register

“We'll add backups later.”— Anja, The Person Who Knows Power Automate

Reason:

Officially because management has a PowerPoint with a third number. Copied to production via floppy disks.

Built by:

Anja, the management assistant

Build time:

3 evenings

Built with:

Excel macros, exposed over HTTP

Database:

a MongoDB with no password on port 27017

Authentication:

the security model is "Google probably handles that"

Deployment:

last successfully deployed 209 days ago

Responsible:

the business

Documentation:

a calendar invite description from March

Security situation:

the audit log records "updated successfully"

Future disaster:

It will be migrated into the official system in 2031.

Age: 8.9 years · originally expected to last 4 weeks · 5 owners so far · survived 3 reorganisations · last meaningful change 3 days ago

Rated common mostly because: 81 users, alive 109x longer than intended, 3 departments depend on it.