QuickBooks 2013 Now Available in the Cloud

Intuit has released new editions of QuickBooks 2013 including Pro, Premier and Enterprise, each of which are currently available to be hosted on InsynQ’s cloud computing platform. QuickBooks 2013 adds an entirely new user interface as well as numerous functional enhancements. Each of these improvements were added with the intention of saving financial professionals time by simplifying workflow navigation. Intuit refined QuickBooks 2013 by giving accountants the ability to batch-enter transactions such as deposits and credit card charges while also integrating a variety of other new time-saving features.

QuickBooks 2013 Leasing Available
It’s now easier than ever to get started using a hosted version of QuickBooks 2013. Financial professionals seeking to reap the benefits of moving QB to the cloud can choose to lease the program and get started immediately with no upfront costs. QB 2013 Pro and Premier licenses are currently available in the US, and Canadian financial professionals can also rent QB Enterprise 2013. This provides accountants and businesses that upgrade their version of QuickBooks each year with an incredibly affordable way to upgrade to the newest version.

Why Move Your QB to the Cloud?
With the popularity of QuickBooks hosting projected to continue growing throughout 2020, it’s no wonder that moving 2013 versions of QB to the cloud is already a popular choice among financial professionals interested in saving time and money. The ability to access and edit QuickBooks data over an internet connected device offers many advantages. Hosting with an Intuit authorized provider offers increased levels of security. Plus, with the option of being able to use your QuickBooks add-ons on a hosted platform, moving your QB to the cloud is an easy choice to make.

Learn more about moving your QuickBooks to the cloud and see how much hosting other applications will cost at www.insynq.com.

Accessing QuickBooks While You’re Away From The Office

For Multi-User/Multi-Site/Heavier-Duty Remote Access Needs

by QuickBooks Expert – Scott Gregory

As your business grows, more of your employees will likely need access to the company QuickBooks information while working away from the office. In addition, you may have more than one physical location and each location needs to be centrally tied into the company QuickBooks information.

Potential solutions…
Windows Remote Desktop/Terminal Services – this solution will likely require some IT assistance to set up. However, once it is up and running, it can offer a whole new world of opportunities for your staff to access not just QuickBooks, but all of the computer resources within your business.

There is no monthly or annual fee for the Remote Desktop/Terminal Services solution. However, there is separate licensing that has to be purchased from Microsoft that will run on your server to allow these remote connections to happen seamlessly. You’ll want to connect with your IT provider for pricing on the licenses and installation/setup services.

CRITICAL NOTE: Windows Remote Desktop/Terminal Services is only supported as a remote access option for companies running the Enterprise version of QuickBooks. Some firms have had success running the Pro and/or Premier versions of QuickBooks in this environment, but they have forged their own trail in doing so – Intuit does not support Windows Remote Desktop for the Pro or Premier versions and will not answer any questions pertaining to it.

QuickBooks Hosting Services – instead of setting up your own server and software as explained in the Windows Remote Desktop option above, these third party hosting services do it for you.

By choosing this option, you don’t incur any upfront hardware or software costs (other than the cost of QuickBooks of course). Instead, you pay the hosting company a monthly fee per user to take care of things for you.

This is also referred to as “putting your QuickBooks in the cloud”. Hosting provides you the ability to get to your QuickBooks information 24/7 without the need for IT support costs. Generally, the costs for hosting run about $40-$50/user per month.

Two of the leading companies when it comes to hosting QuickBooks are InsynQ-CPAASP and Right Networks. Be sure to understand their terms of service, fee structure and other important information as you evaluate whether moving your QuickBooks to the cloud makes sense for your business. Many businesses have found the hosted solution to be perfect for their needs and a great way to reduce their IT costs as well.

CAN BE USED WITH: QuickBooks Pro, Premier and Enterprise

Scott Gregory provides a wide variety of QuickBooks solutions and profit improvement techniques to his clients in a relaxed yet very informative manner. For additional information on QuickBooks training and services that he provides, visit www.betterbottomline.com. For additional information and recommendations from Mr. Gregory on QuickBooks remote access options – click here.

How To Move Your QuickBooks Data Files To The Cloud

from the August issue of the CPAASP Practice Development News

Different Intuit authorized hosting providers may have different platforms for delivering your QuickBooks applications and data in the cloud, but the process of transferring your data from a local machine to a virtual one tends to generally be the same.

Since virtual desktops communicate with the local machine it is being accessed with, one of the most common ways to transfer a data file is to copy and paste from a local drive to a virtual drive. For PC users, an example of this would be saving your data file on a local C drive, browsing to it from your virtual desktop, right-clicking and selecting Copy. You can then browse to one of your virtual drives or client files and Paste your data file. In many cases, sorting through drives can be avoided by simply copying the file from your PC desktop and then pasting it directly into the virtual location of your choice.

In short, transferring a data file is basically a Copy and Paste process. One thing to be aware of though, is that the ease of transferring data over the internet depends on how much data you have and what your internet connection is like. Small data files with a good internet connection can take as little as a few minutes. Larger files coupled with poor connectivity could result in a data upload taking as long as an hour.

Some providers offer additional services to assist with larger than average data file transfers. File upload tools can reduce the amount of time a transfer can take, and some firms with many client files may opt to send their provider data files on a disk or drive for uploading. Be sure to let your hosting provider know the total amount of data you plan on moving to the cloud ahead of time to ensure a successful transition.

Learn more about QuickBooks hosting at www.cpaasp.com.

Confusion Over QuickBooks Software Licensing and Concurrency

con·cur·rent/kənˈkərənt/

Adjective: Existing, happening, or done at the same time

The use of the term “concurrent” when it comes to network, application and data licensing and access metering is applied with some fluidity, with the essential meaning being consistent, but the method of applying it varying greatly and sometimes dynamically.  The unfortunate reality is that not all software products or platforms measure or meter concurrency in the same way.  Concurrency – how it is defined and applied to your selected products – may greatly impact the cost of using the product.

To illustrate the confusion which exists in the market regarding software licensing and concurrency, I’ll use Intuit QuickBooks desktop edition as an example.  There is a lot of confusion over QuickBooks software licensing and concurrency. The Intuit QuickBooks desktop product has a licensing model which confuses a lot of people.  When the software has limitations built in, such as an inability to install the product on more than the authorized number of computers, or if the software electronically validates or activates itself to prevent unauthorized installation or use, the consumer seems to have a bit of an easier time conforming to the license language.  However, products such as QuickBooks have evolved in a market where consumer demands sometimes outweigh reasonable enforcement efforts, so the product may allow you to technically do something that you really shouldn’t do – like install and use it on a bunch of computers without the appropriate licensing to support that activity.

In the world of QuickBooks, there is a concurrency metering element which exists, but it depends quite a lot on user behavior and the existence of the QuickBooks database manager.  For example, a single copy of QuickBooks installed on a PC will allow that user to open the program and then also open a company data file.  In order for the data file to be opened at the same time (concurrently) by more than one user, the file must be in multi-user mode, which is a capability created by using the QuickBooks database manager.  When two QuickBooks licenses (either two single-user licenses, or a two-user license) attempt to open the same data file at the same time, the QuickBooks database manager allows it.  However, if two computers running the same license number for QuickBooks attempt to open the data file at the same time, the database manager will recognize that there is only a single license involved and will not allow both stations to access the file at the same time, remaining in single-user mode.  Only when the database manager recognizes more than one eligible software key (either multiple individual keys or keys aggregated as multi-user) will it allow the data file to be opened in multi-user, or concurrent user, mode.

The problem with QuickBooks metering is that it relates largely to the data file, and not the program.  In a situation where users require only single-user access to QuickBooks company data files, use of the database manager is not required, introducing a potential for unlicensed users operating in a concurrent application use mode.  The reality is that the QuickBooks program won’t generally prevent installation on multiple computers, or installation in a remote desktop environment.  Installing the product into these situations allows granting access to the program for multiple users easily.

In many environments, administrators consider access to the QuickBooks program to be a concurrent access license, meaning that as long as they have no more active users than what they are licensed for, they are in conformance of the license.  This is not the case.  A 3-user license of QuickBooks Pro does not allow any 3 concurrent, or simultaneous, users to access the software at any time.  Rather, that 3-user license qualifies only 3 distinct named human beings accessing from 3 specific computers use of the program.  Because the QuickBooks license is a strange combination of a license for a computer device and an individual person, even having two different usernames and users accessing QuickBooks on a single computer (at different times even) requires 2 licenses in order to be in conformity with the EULA.  The number of data files being accessed is irrelevant in terms of product licensing.

Users of QuickBooks desktop products need to fully understand their licensing requirements as they consider moving their service to the cloud and hosting services.  In many cases, the method of using licenses in the local network did not actually conform to licensing requirements of the developer, and all quality service providers will require that you “true up” your use of software in order to not introduce risk to the provider.  For some folks, this means that using QuickBooks just got a lot more expensive, because they were not properly licensing the product before.

There are an awful lot of folks taking liberties with QuickBooks licensing, providing access based on concurrent users rather than named users, or not even licensing users who “view information but don’t really do anything in the software”.   The fact of the matter is that, if you can run the program and open the data file, you need a license.  What you do in the program is irrelevant, in terms of product licensing.

Part of the value proposition of using hosting and cloud services is a more predictable and manageable cost of IT for the business.  Service providers may understand what their service needs to provide, but often don’t know what their quotes are up against in terms of licensing comparisons.  When comparing your cost of local IT versus hosted, make sure you fairly include the REAL cost of software, licensing, and system administration on the local side.  Unless you do, those changes in software licensing may simply reveal other issues you need to address before you can get a believable comparison of in-house versus outsourced service costs.

The Cloud Is Delivering SOA For Small Businesses

Helping Accountants Work Closely With Clients

When generally-available broadband and Web-based applications emerged, some enterprise-level software developers envisioned a world where users would not interact with specific applications, but would instead interact with data in a view and context relevant to their processes or functional requirements. Data would potentially reside in different locations or environments, but the “framework” would provide a means to define, access and integrate data throughout the enterprise. This concept, referred to as Service-Oriented Architecture, is defined by Wikipedia as “ a set of software engineering principles and methodologies for designing and developing software in the form of interoperable services. These services are well-defined business functionalities that are built as software components (discrete pieces of code and/or data structures) that can be reused for different purposes.” 

It sounds logical, and in the world of enterprise computing it makes sense to develop a means to provide each user with a relevant interface and relevant information. So how does a small business take advantage of a similar approach, and provide for each of their team members the information and application functionality they need to efficiently and effectively get their jobs done?  It’s not so difficult, and it’s called the Cloud. Today, the Cloud is delivering SOA for small businesses.

The Cloud isn’t a place or a product, it’s a platform. (I realize that definitions vary, but when it comes to small business use of the internet, the term “cloud” is essentially interchangeable with the web, so we’ll run with that.) This platform offers quite a lot to business users, in terms of subscription-based applications, data management, communication, and other tools. As these tools and services have matured, standards-based connections and integrations have been created. Standalone applications and separate pockets of data are now communicating with each other in the background, in the cloud, allowing small businesses to enjoy many of the benefits of the enterprise SOA approach.

Consider a simple example using QuickBooks desktop editions and the Bill.com solution.  Bill.com allows a business to manage their bill payments, vendor information, and other data in a web-based solution. Bill.com also seamlessly integrates its data with QuickBooks desktop editions. Using this capability, accounting professionals are able to provide their clients with a direct means of approving and managing bills and payments, and the accounting pro gets the data when and where they need it – in the accounting system. The business owner isn’t a user of QuickBooks, and isn’t exposed to other functionality or data that is not relevant to what they need to accomplish.

Another example of this approach is using Freshbooks.com, a great solutions for small businesses who want to invoice customers, receive payments, and even track time and invoice from it. Freshbooks gives a small business owner direct access to the functionality they need to get their work done, but it doesn’t force them to work within a full checkbook or accounting solution. With the integration between Freshbooks and QuickBooks, accounting and bookkeeping professionals can bring in the data and do the necessary work for the client, but in the program that works best for them.

For accounting and bookkeeping professionals, this cloud-based reality suggests that a new approach to the delivery of back-office support to businesses should be adopted, allowing for a more meaningful level of involvement by the client, and by defining and implementing the necessary controls to ensure integrity of the data.

Why would a business want to host their QuickBooks in the Cloud?

With all the talk today about cloud computing and working online, you’d think that huge numbers of business owners are migrating their entire operations to Internet applications and platforms.  The value statements of “no upfront costs”, “pay as you go”, and “better collaboration” are the marketing speak for these online solutions, but the actual reasons for adoption may be very different from what you’d expect.  And yes, businesses are moving in droves to the “cloud”, but not necessarily to true web-based applications.

One of the primary drivers for “cloud” adoption is the growing complexity of software and services designed to support the business.   Folks usually don’t mind paying for products, but paying for the services to install, implement, and manage those products isn’t something most small businesses businesses like doing.  Even a solution like Intuit QuickBooks, which was once viewed as a very simple to install and maintain product, has become quite complex in terms of its networking and database manager requirements, connected services offerings, and application integration options.  This increasing complexity in the technology is driving businesses to seek outside IT help to implement, support, and manage software products and computing platforms that were once manageable from within the company.  Rather than paying IT personnel or contractors on a regular basis, businesses are finding that it may be far more affordable (and effective) to totally outsource the IT – infrastructure and all.

Mobility is another huge driver for the adoption of cloud computing and online services.  Application hosting was initially a great approach for businesses with multiple locations that needed to work together, but the model has been extended to address the needs of highly mobile individuals as well as the distributed organization.  Just because a business has only one brick and mortar location doesn’t mean it doesn’t wish to do business from other places, too.  With smart phones getting smarter, and pad computing being a reality, business users know they can have way more than just email on their mobile devices.

While “better collaboration” is also a strong part of the value proposition for a cloud-based or online application approach for the business, the type of collaboration may not be what you’re thinking.  For years there have been tools, solutions, and services which enable “better collaboration” among coworkers and team members (read=document sharing).  However, the online working model potentially enables another type of collaboration – collaboration with outside parties and electronic data exchange with other systems.  Interactions with vendors, customers, even professional service providers, may be more fully enabled through an online working model.  Clearly, public accountants recognize this benefit, and are leveraging it to generate and capitalize on new service opportunities with their clients online.

What’s interesting about the current wave of adoption of online services by small businesses is the realization that some of the fundamental needs of the business – messaging and productivity – are not the drivers for “moving online”.  Certainly, many of these elements were the initial focus for cloud computing vendor offerings – like Google Docs, hosted MS Exchange mail, etc. – but the reality is that businesses are heavily invested in the operational software tools and products currently embedded in the market and are reticent to leave them behind.   Desktop-based solutions, like Intuit QuickBooks for example, are still the cornerstones of many SMB (as well as enterprise) business operations.  Even though there may be web-based alternatives, they often lack the options, flexibility, or usability of these tried-and-true products.  And, sadly, they lack the integrations.

The market wants their familiar software and systems, but they now want them in a new, simple to access and easy to implement manner.  Further, the market demands (continues to demand) that their business solutions integrate, share data and work together… and they want options, lots of options.  This is why businesses want to host their desktop editions of QuickBooks in the cloud, and why so many businesses are electing to use InsynQ-CPAASP for their QuickBooks hosting.

Make Sense?

 

Hosted Applications: Public, Private and Shared Services

Hosted Applications: Public, Private and Shared Services

When managers and owners begin to look at managed services, application hosting, and cloud solutions for the business, how do they know which “flavor” will best suit their needs?  If they don’t really understand what the terms mean, they may not end up with the delivery they intended.  Because there are so many and varied definitions of what “cloud” is, even the terms like public, private, and shared may take on various meanings.  So, in order to try to be as clear as possible, I’ll focus on the application hosting model, and the approaches taken by the community of providers recognized by Sage and Intuit as Commercial Hosts for those respective solutions.

First, a brief description of how the application hosting services generally work:

Your PC becomes the rough equivalent of a “dumb terminal”, which connects to the host servers via the Internet.  On the host systems is where the applications run and the data is stored.  The host computers serve up your “desktop” and/or applications, and store the associated data.

When you connect to the host systems, you might be connecting to a single desktop/application server, or you may be able to connect to multiple eligible systems.

If you can connect to one or more servers with a standard set of applications or services, and if different users from different businesses also connect to these servers, then the solution is generally referred to as being “shared” or “public”.

If you may only connect to the server or environment which has been customized for your organization, then you have what is referred to as a “private” or custom solution.

Generally, “shared” systems are simply servers with a consistent set of applications and services available on them.  Possibly part of a “load balanced” series (where each user is directed to the least-busy server upon login), these shared servers often deliver the services most frequently subscribed or the applications which are most frequently used by the customer base.  Shared services may offer the highest levels of fault tolerance, because there are multiple eligible systems the user can log in to.  If one system becomes unavailable for whatever reason, users may be reconnected or “balanced” to the other servers in the pool, virtually eliminating (or at least significantly reducing) downtime.

Custom deliveries, often referred to as “private”, are really just systems which are designed to carry a specific set of users, applications, services, or some combination of those.  Customers who desire to have a unique mixture of applications hosted, for example, will subscribe to private cloud services, where they can have their selection of solutions implemented without concerns of interactions or interference from other businesses, user groups, or product installations.  Once a business has a “private” environment, it is usually easier to then continue to add customized or new applications to the mixture, as the only community being impacted is the subscriber of the environment.

Regardless of whether or not your desktop and application servers are shared, your subscribed data storage facilities may be positioned differently.  Much of this is due to the requirements of the applications.  Some applications use standard database server environments, such as Microsoft or Pervasive SQL, while others may use more proprietary database or data formats.

The various data service requirements will often be handled by different servers or machines in the network, so your data could easily be distributed amongst a variety of machines, each handling the data requirements for specific data management services or platforms.

Whether or not your data is stored on “shared” servers or systems, it is generally secured and “virtualized” for your organization to prevent visibility and/or access by others.  Centralized storage and management of data is essential to the service provider, and allows for backup, virus protection, data security, and other areas to be addressed efficiently and effectively.  There are other issues, however, which must be weighed against management efficiencies and resource utilization in order to deliver a quality and consistent experience for the customer.

How data is managed by the service provider is key to understanding what fault-tolerance and recovery options you can expect.  Other issues which may impact fault tolerance are revealed in the various methods of approaching data management on the host.  As an example, running multiple SQL database applications may suggest that the service provider should consider using an Enterprise SQL Cluster to increase fault tolerance, density and performance of all hosted SQL databases, rather than approaching each database environment as an individually managed object.  When economies of scale can be developed to increase the overall capabilities, it delivers a more robust experience for the customer and increased efficiencies in the technical environment.

Alternatively, some situations may warrant more, not less, distribution of data services.  The QuickBooks database manager (Sybase) is a great example of an application driving this need.  Because there are a number of issues with the QB database managers, it may make sense for the service provider to have a number of different data silos for QB data, rather than a single large facility.  The effects of database manager crashes and stalls might be mitigated if users are segmented across multiple DB managers.  Distributing the base across multiple DB managers allows for most customers to remain unaffected in the event of failure or crash of one of the DB managers, but also increases the data management requirements and costs for the service provider.

The truth is that there is no single correct approach for delivering hosted/managed application services.  The market, users, and applications, coupled with platform and delivery system factors, provide enough variables that there is not and cannot be (at least, in the foreseeable future), one size which fits all.  There are, however, approaches which deliver consistent and fundamental capabilities to broad market and user bases.  The applications businesses need, and the specific weird and unique requirements of those applications, will continue to drive the varieties of delivery modes and methods which service providers will continue to offer to their business customers.  This is where the trust and experience of the provider becomes essential in understanding how best to craft the underlying technical delivery for each application and customer requirement.

Get more information on hosting solutions for QuickBooks, Peachtree, Simply Accounting and more at www.cpaasp.com

Intuit-authorized Commercial Host for QuickBooks; Sage-authorized Hosting Partner for Peachtree and Simply Accounting; authorized Sage ACT host; Microsoft SPLA hosting provider with Datacenter facilities in the US and Canada.

There’s a lot to be said for inertia… Intuit QuickBooks in the Middle East

A recent article on itp.net reveals that businesses in the Middle East are now more frequently seeking out high value solutions for business accounting, such as Intuit QuickBooks, rather than purchasing “premium brand” solutions… and the reseller channel is feeling the pinch.  The issue is largely one of brand-recognition, and it’s a tough issue to fight.  As the article says, “..when potential customers realise that one-third of all US SMEs run their businesses on Intuit’s QuickBooks software, they begin to appreciate the value of the software”.

It’s also possible that cloud-hosted QuickBooks (such as from cpaasp.com) has made the solution much more available and recognized in other markets… particularly since many of those markets are on the forefront of providing outsourced processing services for US-based businesses.

“Value enterprise publisher Intuit is stealing market share from its more established rivals, as businesses in the region look to cut unnecessary costs, its master partner in the MENA region has claimed.”

“Speaking about the state of the market, managing director of TransNational Computer Middle East, Vijendra Singh said that every week, more and more companies in the region are switching to Intuit-based solutions.”

“More and more people are becoming price sensitive,” he revealed. “Even some of the biggest companies in the market are looking at their bottom line and asking ‘do we really need this premium brand?’”

read the rest of the article on itp.net

Particularly with the ability to have Intuit QuickBooks hosted in the cloud by providers like cpaasp.com, and with the plethora of integrations available to extend the solution, larger businesses are finding that QB actually can do the job for them.

It’s not always about the superiority of the solution… sometimes it’s simple inertia in the market, momentum that has built up over many years and which extends from software developers to consultants and trainers.

It’s also important to consider that tough economic times force folks to sometimes go for less than they may need just because it’s more affordable.  I wouldn’t imagine that the Middle East is immune to economic issues, eh?

Get the complete information on QuickBooks hosting…. don’t believe everything you hear.

With the inception of the Authorized Commercial Hosting program for Intuit QuickBooks, a great deal of competitive messaging was introduced to the market.  Various hosts and providers are marketing for your business, and the same caveats that exist elsewhere in the market exist here in no lesser degree: let the buyer beware.  Due diligence is key to getting the service you really want, and you should listen carefully for the clues that may reveal the underlying truth about the service or provider you’re looking at.

At the Intuit ISP Summit, for example, there was a lot of information floating about regarding “the one and only host for QuickBooks Enterprise”.  Generally, this type of obfuscation by the provider’s marketing department wouldn’t bother me (I see it all the time), but in this case, it is not good information and leaves a lot of channel participants wondering what their realistic options are.  ISPs in particular need to understand their options for delivering QBES products, because that’s the lifeblood and revenue opportunity for the channel.  Selling the solution direct-to-market competes with the channel, and reduces options for implementation and long-term product support.  The hosting community can be a valuable partner in the business model, but it’s important to partner with a provider who understands your motivations and concerns, and who has aligned their service model to your greatest benefit.

My suggestion would be to vet out your potential providers, and ask them about their position or placement in the market and in the Intuit hosting program, as well as doing the necessary investigation into their delivery model, protections, and application and support offerings.  If they tell you that they’re the only ones who can do this… be wary.  You don’t want to start off an important business relationship based on half-truths.  It doesn’t bode well for the long-term.

Truth Number One:  NO Intuit-authorized provider has allowances or grants beyond any other.  This means that each and every hosting company authorized by Intuit as a Commercial Host for QuickBooks can lawfully offer:

1. hosting for QuickBooks Pro and Premier Editions, supported versions only
2. hosting for QuickBooks Enterprise Edition, supported versions only
3. subscription rental (some call it lease) licensing for QuickBooks Pro and Premier editions

Truth Number Two:  Intuit’s website lists the authorized providers and the program general guidelines.

1. The listing can be found at http://www.quickbooks.com/franchisesolutions  and then linking to the “Intuit Hosting Program” tab
2. Authorized QuickBooks hosts, as listed by Intuit, are:

• Right Networks. Telephone: (888) 417 4448
• InsynQ, Inc. Telephone: (866) 206 1781
• Uni-Data & Communications, Inc. Telephone: (718) 445-5600 x3180
• Xcentric Telephone: (678) 297-0190
• Cloud9 Real Time Telephone: (888) 869-0076
• Coaxis International, Inc. Telephone: (850) 391-1022
• myownasp. Telephone: (800) 521-7322
• NovelAspect.com. Telephone: (888) 228-0143
• Swizznet. Telephone: (888) 794-9948
• HarborCloud.  Telephone: (877) 294-2909

Truth Number Three: Intuit has selected a “private label or co-brand” partner to offer limited QBES hosting services under Intuit’s brand.

1. The partner, Right Networks, offers QBES hosting direct to market as a service branded and priced by Intuit… many say in direct competition with the ISP network and reseller channels.
2. Hosting of QuickBooks Enterprise editions is NOT limited to this provider.
   (view additional option for hosting QuickBooks Enterprise)

Got it?

Delivery options for hosted QuickBooks: DirectConnect makes it simple

Would having a desktop icon to click on make it easier to migrate desktop QuickBooks users to the cloud?

The virtual desktop service continues to be a leader when it comes to “cloud enabling” small businesses, as it allows the user to have access to a wide variety of applications and services, all integrated on the virtual desktop just as they would be on a local PC.

However, there is a type of user which might be better-served with direct access to a hosted application, rather than with a virtual desktop delivery.  This type of user tends to be very non-technical, with a limited understanding of the PC platform, but with enough knowledge to open and run the application(s) which are used by them on a daily basis.  As an example, let’s consider a small business owner who uses QuickBooks and, possibly, Microsoft Office.

A virtual desktop delivery for this user often means that the user must access a website or portal system somewhere, login to the portal, and then launch their virtual desktop service.  Once the service launches, the user may then launch their QB application and open their data file.  The desktop interface is exactly like a Windows PC interface, so learning how to run the QB app, save a file, or print a document isn’t difficult.  It’s essentially the same functionality as on the local PC.

For this type of user, where a single (or just a few) applications are required, might it not be a simpler and even more familiar delivery if the user could click on a QuickBooks icon on their local PC desktop, and launch directly into the hosted QuickBooks app?  The same may be true with Word or Excel… if the user had those icons on their local PC desktop and could run those applications from the local desktop, each application opening in its own window on the PC… wouldn’t that perhaps be more “normal” for the user?

Delivered from the same enterprise class infrastructure as the InsynQ virtual desktop and hosted applications, DirectConnect services provide an ability to integrate the hosted applications directly into the user’s local Windows PC environment.  As soon as the PC starts up, the icons for the DirectConnect applications are placed on the desktop and start menus, allowing the user to simply click on the icon to launch the hosted application.

The application is still running on the host computers, and the data is protected and managed on the host.  But to the user, the appearance is that the application is running on the local PC.  The app window can be moved, resized, relocated to a second (or third or whatever) monitor screen – all the flexibility you have with arranging open application Windows on your PC now includes the hosted applications as well.

Business users like working with what they know.  Using new applications can be frustrating, and trying to take advantage of new technologies is sometimes a daunting task.  Advisors, consultants, bookkeepers and accountants can now offer a simple alternative to virtual or remote desktop service, providing the client with the applications and data protection they need, but delivered in a better way for that user.