How do you normally select new software applications? By word of mouth recommendation or reviews online? Whether you're running a business or using software as an individual, it's critical to vet all vendors before making a purchase or signing a contract. There are certain things you need to know beforehand, like how secure the application is and if they have a reputation for getting hacked.

Choosing software based on word of mouth is a good way to find software people like, but it doesn't mean it's secure. You don't want to use vulnerable software, no matter how many people recommend it to you. You also don't want to get stuck with a long contract for software that doesn't meet your needs.

If you've never fully vetted a software application or its vendor before, here are all the best reasons to start.

1. You might have to switch platforms.

Starting off with the wrong software is going to happen to everyone, but it doesn't need to happen so frequently. In fact, this can mostly be avoided by vetting the application first.

Cetaris, a leader in fleet management software, explains how there are key questions you need to consider, like what problems you need to solve with the software, what systems others in your industry are using, and how frequently an application is updated. These are basic questions, but critical if your goal is to end up with a software application that will support your business needs and remain secure.

2. You will be held responsible for data breaches.

You probably already know that data breaches (and data leaks) come with hefty regulatory fines. What you might not realize is that you'll get fined, even if it's not directly your fault. For example, say you run a business that handles protected health data, and you start using a CRM application to manage your sales process and email marketing campaigns. If you're regulated by HIPAA and your customer data gets stolen because the software company had poor security, you'll still be held financially responsible for the breach.

Technically, when you use any piece of software, you're taking a risk. However, you can't function in today's world without using certain key applications. The best you can do is research possible vendors and make sure they have a reputation for keeping applications secure. Look at their history and see what kind of vulnerabilities they've had in the past. Sometimes, it's a good sign when vendors had a data breach in the distant past since these incidents force them to increase security tenfold.

If you don't know what to look for, your best option is to hire a third party to do a cybersecurity assessment on any application you're considering.

3. The application might be full of bugs (forever).

It's an unfortunate reality that some software applications are buggy, but that's par for the course, even for trusted vendors. For instance, you may have heard about some famous bugs from history, like the time someone from Microsoft installed a buggy version of Genuine Advantage. For 19 hours, anyone who tried to install a legitimate copy of Windows was told their copy was illegal. Or the time Apple Maps mislabeled tourist attractions and said New Zealand's main train station was located in the middle of the ocean. These are one-off bugs that are resolved quickly.

What you don't want is an application that has so many bugs it's frustrating to use, created by a developer who never fixes any problems. If you don't vet your vendors ahead of time, you might not realize you're buying software from a company that has a reputation for shipping buggy applications and/or ignoring issues. A simple Google search can reveal everything.

4. The interface might not be user-friendly.

In addition to security and usability, you also want your software to be user-friendly. Some vendors use the same basic designs for all of their applications because it's easier, and that makes sense, but it's not always user-friendly. The problem is developers aren't usually designers, so if they don't work with a team of designers, they usually produce barebones interfaces that require a lot of clicking and tend to be counterintuitive.

Always vet and try before you buy.

Using software from a third party is always risky, but doing your research can significantly reduce that risk. If you don't know how to assess applications, hire an IT service provider to vet all software applications and vendor reputations for you. Most of all, make sure you can try an application before you buy it. If not, make sure there's a money-back guarantee and enough time to run your tests.