subject: QuickBooks Hosting: Cost savior solution for Small businesses [print this page] QuickBooks Hosting: Cost savior solution for Small businesses
There is a lot buzz in the town over QuickBooks hosting business. Consultants like Doug Sleeter who have been around QuickBooks development and formation from a long time have been endorsing hosting the software from a long time. For many consultants hesitancy came from the fact that they were not sure of Intuit's position of hosting not its advantages over regular on-premise installation.
If we look at it objectively we will clearly see that the hesitancy is obvious because humans adapt fast but not that fast.
Whenever a new technology has to overcome pre-existing technology hesitancy remains. Moreover many users feel that they have figured out on-premise technology and are comfortable in that zone they have gone into.
However, even these companies which have everything figured out even they are offering less service levels and security to their clients.
One thing remains true companies which are adapting faster than others are benefitting more and have a head start over other market competitors.
This has been the case every time a technology shift takes place.
So what is cloud computing really?
Cloud computing is commonly referred to creating virtual servers which can be accessed through the net.
Because none of the applications is directly installed on you servers, you do not have to worry about the maintenance and the security. It becomes the job of the company you have hired to the job for you. With that you get anytime anywhere access, which means you can access the software even from desktops where the software has not been installed too.
If this is not enough then you get a far better control over who can have how much access to the files just by telling your service provider. You even get multi-user access, which means more than one access the software the same time.
If all this true then what is the flip-side, and if there is no flip side then is everybody mad not to pounce on such a beautiful dream. Actually, everybody is not a fool; there apprehensions are as real and valid too.
Other side of the debate is that big companies say that installing servers in their premises is actually better for them as in the long run costs get even. Another valid point is that if cloud takes over completely then users will not themselves know where their own data is kept, which is why big companies are apprehensive. Now this is not good, but it is true. If you are dependent on cloud then chances are that you will be dependent o the service provider for the security of your data.
But so is with the e-mails, all your mails are on the cloud. After all Google was the first one to use cloud. Most importantly all of this is not valid if you are hosting QuickBooks and you are a medium sized company hoping for better services in the same cost.
