Top 7 considerations for QuickBooks Cloud Hosting

Switching your QuickBooks account to cloud hosting is a great move for you and your business.

The cloud hosting version offers quite a lot of benefits you won’t get otherwise. You will have all-round access to your files, plus additional features that improve usability and security. But, before you make the move, you need to know these important considerations for QuickBooks cloud hosting that will make the journey easier for you.

​1. The requirements and functionalities for QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks hosting offers you the same features you get from the desktop, with some added features. You need to have a basic knowledge of how the cloud works, and how you can use it to the benefit of your company. A simple understanding of things like resource pooling, availability, storage systems, and maintenance is required for you to have. That way, you wouldn’t need to hire anyone to guide you through the process. If you have any issues with them, you should always get help from your QuickBooks hosting service provider.

2. ​The impact of cloud hosting on your business

Cloud hosting takes accounting management on QuickBooks to a different level. You need to consider how those benefits will affect your business and what you need to do to get the impact you need. For example, switching to cloud hosting might require you to change your employee structure. You may end up needing less IT professionals to work for you, and you may need to give more people access to your files. Your employees may need training on how to navigate the service too. ​

3. ​Potential challenges with switching to cloud hosting

​It is almost impossible to switch to a different software pattern without encountering some challenges. With QuickBooks cloud hosting, the major challenges may be ignorance in using technology, and user permissions among your employees. Not every accounting genius is a whiz at tech-related platforms, so you need to seek solutions for that. Even making the switch and transferring your files may be a challenge. You can get expert help beforehand to make it easier on you and your staff. That way, you minimize the risk of losing files during the transfer.

​4. A reliable hosting provider

You need a reliable hosting service provider if you want your move to cloud hosting to be successful. You need one that can keep up with your company’s needs without breakdowns that can affect your work. Your hosting provider has to be established, with a good reputation. Several providers are available, but you have to be careful when picking one.
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There are some things your service provider should be able to offer you, like 24/7 support, good backup policies, pay as you go option, regular upgrades, disaster recovery, Intuit Authorization, and experience. These factors will help you choose a good hosting provider for your transition. In the event of data loss, the hosting provider has to be able to provide great backup options to ensure data retrieval.

5. ​Security

​Security is a key factor when it comes to cloud hosting. The threat of cyber attacks and theft are all too high, especially for bigger companies. You need to know that your data is safe when you switch to cloud hosting. Features like virus prevention systems, different layers of firewalls, data encryption, multi-level authentication, HIPAA compliance, network monitoring, centralized logging, malware prevention system, file integrity monitoring, and RDP gateways will make a whole lot of difference. Your cloud vendor has to offer you these services before you consider switching.

6. ​Service Level Agreement

A service level agreement is a contract between your company and the cloud hosting service provider. This agreement details every service your hosting provider will offer you, including all the relevant information concerning the partnership.
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The SLA binds the company and hosting provider legally, so you must read it thoroughly. The document contains every detail about each service, how long they will run for, transition support, and an exit plan. Whatever decision you take goes on the document. Also, your decisions will impact your team, so you have to agree with every member of your team.

7. ​Upgrades and packages related to cloud hosting

​Cloud hosting services get new upgrades regularly, so you want to be sure that your business can benefit from new upgrades when they launch. You need a hosting provider that can provide you with new upgrades whenever you need them and support third party software like, Bill Pay, Adobe Acrobat, ACCTivate, Qvinci, and SmartVault.