2.23.2012

Part I - Define Accountant's Cloud

By TC Griffin


Many professional accountants are constantly getting swamped with information about getting in the cloud.IT's not uncommon for Accountants to not recognize how these technologies can benefit their clients. In an attempt to gain a competitive advantage over their competition, they want to stay ahead of the game, offer the latest in services, technology and security while minimizing costs during a global economic downturn. What is Cloud Computing? Let us first answer this most important question as this conundrum has led to many questions that will be addressed here.

Combining "Cloud," a metaphor for the Internet, with Computing makes your hosting of online services and software a virtualized IT infrastructure. One of the great benefits of Cloud Computing is that users don't need the knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them.

A conventional client-server based architecture and purpose of IT, is being replaced with IT as an utility based service. Cloud computing allows all sizes of businesses the same solutions available to large sized companies. By providing popular business applications online that are accessed anywhere via the internet, cloud computing has caused a change in IT for more services to be on demand.

Keep in mind that while Cloud Computing is a normal component of many business of all sizes, this analyzed data will focus on specializing Clouds for Accounting Workers. Accountants are not looked at as just someone who does your taxes or manages your books, but instead as a valued consultant and intermediary between the business owner and their IT needs. Because of this, the focus and special attention needed by Accountants in their technology solutions should not be minimized. When the Accountant recommends a technology solution to their client they are putting their reputation on the line and need to choose seasoned IT professionals for their clients.

Most businesses buy a Cloud to replace an in-house server or to provide an online edition of a product which is available at all times and in all places. The cloud hosts the users, data, and the applications. The Cloud for Accoutants is slightly different as it hosts their clients as well. It is a direct reflection of their firm and must perform for their clients as they themselves would. This includes the presentation of what the Cloud looks like, the speed, security, ease of use and of course performance. It is very important to understand the differences, for example if an Accountant is using Cloud to host client information, and Cloud goes down for some reason, not only is their firm down but their clients are also down. As this could go awry if a service outage ever happens, it is imperative for the firm to make the best choice, Cloud Computing .



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