Best Alternative to Dynamics NAV for UK Businesses Seeking Cloud Security

At a Glance

Businesses are moving away from Dynamics NAV due to limited support, security constraints and lack of real-time, cloud-based functionality. Modern ERP systems like Business Central offer scalable, secure and integrated solutions. Transitioning to a cloud ERP improves accessibility, compliance and efficiency, making it a necessary step to support evolving business operations and long-term growth. To find out more about Business Central, book a consultation with Brookland Solutions today.

Finding Alternatives to Navision

For many UK businesses, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, also known as Navision, has been a reliable system for managing finances, operations and reporting. It was originally developed for installing and running software on-premises.

However, the way businesses operate today has changed significantly. As they move to more cloud-based systems, keep cybersecurity threats at bay, and deliver real-time data and with extended support for 2017 and 2018 ending in January 2028, many businesses are considering alternatives to Navision amid shifting priorities.

Now, more businesses prefer cloud-hosted systems with enterprise-grade protection that are scalable and accessible anytime, on any device. ERP solutions like Business Central are not only a significant upgrade over Dynamics NAV 2018 but also a necessary step to remain competitive in a changing market.

In this guide, find out the best alternatives to your Navision version and why Business Central is a standout choice.

Why Businesses Are Moving Away from Dynamics NAV

Although it’s still functional, many organisations are choosing to move away from Dynamics NAV for the following key reasons:

Limited Support and Future

Microsoft has shifted its focus to newer platforms such as Dynamics 365 Business Central, a natural upgrade to NAV 2018. While NAV is still functional, it no longer receives the same level of updates, enhancements and support from Microsoft. 

This means that staying on NAV and its versions can create gaps in what your business needs to work effectively.

Security Limitations

Traditionally, NAV systems are hosted on-premises or in private environments, where the security burden falls on internal teams. This means that managing updates and patches, protecting against cyber threats and maintaining the security of your infrastructure become resource-intensive and risky.

Limited support from Microsoft means security improvements and compliance support may not keep up with what they do for cloud-based systems. Over time, your NAV system may become more vulnerable to cyber risks and require more effort to remain compliant with changing industry regulations.

Lack of Real-Time Access

NAV is appreciated for being a flexible system for managing finance, stock control, purchasing, sales, warehousing and manufacturing. However, they can restrict access to business-critical data, especially for remote teams.

This can become a major roadblock for businesses that want secure and anytime access to systems and data.

Integration Challenges

NAV can be integrated with other tools but often needs additional development work or third-party solutions. This increases costs and makes it harder to maintain a smooth, connected working environment.

Your teams want financial data to flow through reporting tools, purchasing processes to link with stock systems and approval requests to appear directly in email boxes, and NAV may struggle to deliver them.

Meeting Compliance Pressures

The way companies meet compliance demands has changed. Now organisations must submit records digitally, such as for Making Tax Digital or VAT, share real-time information with regulators and maintain data in secure, auditable formats. 

NAV can support some of these activities, but only after manual processes or extra steps, which can further create pressure on your finance and operations teams. Upgrading from Dynamics NAV 2018 to Business Central can fulfil most of these requirements with a few tweaks.

All these factors lead to a growing sense that NAV is becoming dated.

What to Look for in a Secure Cloud ERP

When looking for a Navision alternative ERP with secure cloud features, here’s what you need to look for.

Enterprise-grade security: Look for platforms that offer advanced threat protection, role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Automatic updates: Regular updates safeguard your systems against the latest vulnerabilities while keeping your business aligned with UK and industry regulations.

Easy access to data: Secure cloud systems allow authorised users to access data from anywhere without putting your business or data at risk.

Scalable: Choose a solution that scales with your business as it grows, without compromising on cloud security. It should allow you to scale users, features and integrations.

Integration-ready: A secure, modern ERP integrates easily with tools within the same ecosystem. For instance, an upgrade from NAV 2018 to Business Central allows you to integrate with tools such as Power BI, CRM and Microsoft 365.

Why Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Is the Leading Alternative to Navision

When looking for the ideal alternative to your Navision version, Dynamics 365 Business Central may often come up as the natural choice. Why?

It offers a more modern approach to managing your business operations while removing many of the challenges you may face with older systems.

The upgrade from Dynamics NAV 2018 to Business Central gives you access to cloud-based capabilities. They keep your system updated in terms of performance, new features and security. Updates are regular, with major updates taking place twice a year.

Cloud access also allows your teams to work in a secure environment from nearly anywhere and across a range of devices, without VPNs. This supports the needs of a modern workplace. More importantly, you also benefit from built-in security features and data protection measures that come with Microsoft’s cloud services.

Upgrading to Business Central from NAV 2018 also offers strong integration capabilities with Microsoft 365. This creates a more connected working environment where data flows naturally. It means your teams can raise purchase orders directly from Outlook and share information through Teams.

Unlike NAV, customisation in Business Central is more controlled and safer to maintain. With extensions, you can add new features without altering the core code, keeping your systems stable and complications to a minimum.

How Brookland Solutions Can Support Your Transition

Are you still considering the best alternative to Navision? Dynamics 365 Business Central offers the power, security, and flexibility of the cloud, with the familiarity of NAV, without moving away from Microsoft’s environment.

The upgrade from Dynamics NAV 2018 to Business Central is more than just a software enhancement. It’s a necessary step to keep your business secure and competitive.

We’re a Microsoft Partner with over 20 years of experience working with UK SMEs. We’ve helped many of our clients transition to NAV and are now ready to help them transition from NAV 2018 to Business Central. An ERP upgrade can seem daunting, but we’re always ready to walk you through the steps with a clear, forward-looking approach. 

By partnering with us, you gain more than just technical expertise. You gain a team that understands your business and delivers a solution that aligns the ERP with business outcomes. 

If you need more information on upgrading from Dynamics NAV 2018 to Business Central, fill out our contact form to book a consultation.