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.

Isn’t your business worth at least 50 bucks per month?

or: Penny Smart, Pound Foolish

There is an age-old problem when it comes to small businesses and technology: small business owners have a hard time finding value in paying for IT services to support their businesses, and they spend a lot of money not addressing the issue.  For a wide variety of reasons, small business owners just seem to have a hard time justifying the costs of outsourced and/or managed IT services.  Strangely, many business owners end up spend more money and time trying NOT to outsource – they just won’t acknowledge this reality.

Let’s consider that a business has been operating for a few years, and maybe has revenues approaching $1M annually. A million dollars in annual revenues isn’t anything to sneeze at.  Now let’s also consider that this small business has a small computer network which supports their operations.  This network is likely made up of older machines, legacy desktop software, and a few random little applications or software constructions they’ve acquired over the years.  Is this business focused in properly securing the network with firewalls and security software, and is this portion of the network monitored regularly?  How about data management and backups?  Does the business frequently back up data offsite, and then test those backups to verify that the data can be properly restored?  Is the system protected from virus or intrusions?  Is it monitored?  Is it tested?  Is someone actually responsible for all of this stuff?  If this business is like most small businesses, the answer to most of these questions is “no” or “not really”.

It’s not unusual for small business owners to fail to fully recognize the real value of their business technology (as opposed to the purchase price), and the necessary costs to manage and maintain it properly.  There’s an old saying in the IT world that there are only two types of business – those who have lost their data and those who will.  The business who has lost their data understands the value of IT management, because they have had to bear the cost of repairs, replacements, lost productivity, and lost revenue.  Once they realize the cost, they understand the value of mitigating that risk.  Unfortunately, it often takes just such an experience to get the small business owner to really recognize that not spending on IT management is actually a decision to spend more later when bad things happen.  And bad things will happen.  Count on it.

Now, let’s talk about the ability for that business to have their IT solutions hosted and delivered to them as a subscription service.  The security, including firewall monitoring and virus protection are part of the service.  Regular data backups are part of the service, as is technical support.  While the business still pays for (and owns) their software license assets, the rest of the system – the engineering and technical labor, the platforms, the network – are all part of the subscription, and are under the care of skilled engineering and technical personnel.  As an example, InsynQ QuickBooks hosting solutions are priced at around $50 (ish) per user per month, depending on service, and provide a comprehensive managed IT approach for small businesses.  For a business owner who knows that they will spend (lose) far more if their systems are out of service, or if their paid workers aren’t able to work, that 50 bucks proves to be a pretty small price to pay.

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 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, Sage 50 and more at www.insynq.com

Intuit-authorized Commercial Host for QuickBooks in the US and Canada; Sage-authorized Hosting Partner for Sage 50 Accounting Solutions in the US and Canada; 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 realize 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 have 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 authorized providers, 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)

Software vs Service Provider – why you aren’t running your apps in the cloud (yet)

When a user logs in to a virtual desktop, and all their valuable and beloved applications are available to them, fully functional and integrated as they are on the PC, with all their data available to them as well, the reaction is almost always one of excitement, empowerment, and – ultimately – bewilderment. “Why”, they ask, “doesn’t everyone do this?”

Good question.

At least part of the answer is due to the way software companies license and sell their applications. Now, if you can continue to produce your product in the same way you always have, distribute it using your known distribution channels (which deliver predictable performance), and realize revenue in the manner to which you have become accustomed, why would you actively seek to create disruption in the “normal” flow of things? Especially when status quo seems to be working pretty well.

Another good question.

The adoption of virtual computing (in this case, hosted desktops and the applications associated with them) is pretty much in the hands of the application software companies. It’s certainly not the platform that we are waiting for. The base technology is already proven on the hardware side, with blade servers and other high-density configurations available. And the software has been proven in a variety of deployments, as demonstrated by Microsoft Terminal Services, Quest Software, VMWare, Citrix and others.

So – the software companies are part of the barrier.

And so it comes down to the application software manufacturers. These guys seem to fall into two main camps when it comes to cloud-ifying (my new term) their applications: (1) redevelop the app with a web framework and deliver a browser-based solution, or (2) pick a single delivery model from the above list of platform software providers, and eliminate any true integration capability. In short – webify or segregate. Either way, it creates severe limitations in the way the software can take advantage of integrations with other applications. And, for most desktop software vendors, integration with other desktop applications is frequently one of the key benefits of the product.

The web-based applications have already come to grips with this reality. Where a download of a document to your favorite word processor was once just fine, the market now demands data re-use and expanded business process integration, forcing the web applications to open themselves to outside integration and 3rd party developments. Just look at the developer network Salesforce.com has built. If that doesn’t prove that no app is an island, I don’t know what does.

But the desktop apps who have chosen to “webify” using application publishing and delivery tools have evidently forgotten that one thing: integration is part of what makes their apps popular. No business process is an island, and the data rarely stands alone. Would ACT! be so popular if it couldn’t integrate with your Outlook email client, or with your MS Word word processor? Would MS Excel be so popular if you couldn’t push almost anything to a spreadsheet file? The answer is no. This is why the integrations were developed in the first place – greater functionality and an improved value proposition, resulting in increased use and user productivity.

Too many options?

To complicate the problem, there is not just one delivery method that works for every application, business model, or user. With the variety of technologies available, independent software companies have hard choices to make in determining how their cloud’d products might be offered, and additionally by whom they might be sold. As of today, though, many software companies have approached the problem alone, where opting to use their “hosted” editions frequently eliminates the option of integrating on the desktop with other locally-run applications.

Not only does the software maker have to find the best technology/platform fit for the delivery and for their market, but they must also then consider their distribution channel – the “food chain”of delivery of the product or solution. Often this “who” that can offer the product is just as big a problem as “how”.

The maker of a given software package is in the business of selling their software, not other peoples’ software. While integration with other products is exceptionally important to the product’s value in the market, the software maker is fundamentally concerned with only the sales of their own solution. They tend to promote sales through resellers and consultants who can not only provide the software but offer install, training, and ongoing support as well. Designating sales organizations which are “authorized” to represent a product is a typical software company approach.

Many of these authorized resellers are focused exclusively on selling the software solution, not the ongoing support of the platform. These resellers are often highly skilled at working the specific software application, but may lack in-depth understanding of the platform upon which it runs.

Some authorized resellers are actually integrators – companies who sell products from a variety of sources and combine them into “solutions”. Historically, integrators have been key players in creating successful markets for certain products, providing the support and other services necessary to keep the products entrenched in the user community.

In many cases, the integrator makes their money on the support element on the arrangement, not necessarily on the product. In these situations, the platform and ongoing maintenance and support are the key revenue drivers, and the integrator may be loathe to recommend a solution to the client that cuts into their involvement and revenue stream. And hosted, managed, cloud-based application services can certainly do that.

What is the answer? Well, there isn’t just one that jumps out.

One element in the solution is recognition by software companies that their products need to be available in a hosted model. Consumers require choice in terms of their involvement with the business IT infrastructure. Some folks want to control it, others simply need access. The business of hosting applications is growing, but many of the software makers in the market aren’t behind the movement.. they are unwilling participants who leave it up to the service providers (the integrators in the datacenter) to make things work. In some cases (I will refrain from naming names herein) end-user licenses are even written to make hosting the software an illegal event.

Another element, equally if not more important, is the service provider community. With the wide variety of technical standards out there – the different technologies, different approaches, different levels of consideration, and different market sensitivities – it is no wonder that fear and doubt are prevalent in the market.

And then there is the distribution channel and method of selling licensing. Many software companies work exclusively through their authorized reseller channels. While this may benefit the user from a product knowledge standpoint, it creates difficulties with the new delivery model and frequently puts the software sales channel in direct competition with the platform providers.

The tweener gets you from here to there.

While the concept of cloud-ifying desktop and network applications may seem to be “fraught with peril”, it can be done well and deliver significant benefits to the company. By simply changing the way employees access and interact with their applications rather than changing the apps themselves, businesses can introduce an entirely new range of business benefit and capability. Outsourcing the business IT can also represent cost savings and, more importantly, allow you to focus personnel and financial resources on your core business. And, for those who see online application services as the future, this “tweener” step gets you divested from localized technology and helps to embrace the flexibility and freedom that virtual and mobile computing can deliver without forcing radical change.

Now, if we can only get the software developers on board.

Learn more about hosted applications and how Outsourced IT services, Cloud computing, and anywhere anytime access can help your business at www.insynq.com.

Business Desktops in the Cloud: Benefit from managed service and online access for the applications you already use

The term “Cloud Computing” is most frequently used as another way to refer to outsourced information technology management – the servers, the applications, and the data are located and managed at a location other than your own  – usually by a commercial service provider.  SaaS, or Software as a Service, is another name used for this type of computing approach.  “Cloud” solutions, which can also include managed application service and SaaS, are accessed via the Internet, rather than being installed on your own computer.

Application hosting is essentially the same thing as Cloud Computing, where the servers/applications/data are provided and managed by a 3rd party (outsourcer).  Application hosting is different from Cloud computing or SaaS primarily in that you may purchase your software licensing rather than get it as part of the service.*  This also means that you could end your online hosting arrangement, and install the software on your own computers (“take your ball and go home”).  This capability does not exist with most pure “cloud” or “SaaS” solutions.  For example, you could not install Google email on your own servers and run it in your own network.  It only exists on Google’s servers.

The most evident benefit of “cloud” computing is anytime, anywhere access to applications and data and valuable business information.  These solutions allows users to access resources and be productive even when away from the office.  Cloud computing provides solution for mobile workers, or users in remote offices, too, and enables “home sourcing” (using at-home workers) or use of outsource companies or 3rd party contractors.  Cloud computing can also solves issues around having multiple business locations.

“Cloud” computing, SaaS, and application hosting can reduce or eliminate the complexity of information technology, and can reduce the cost of implementing and maintaining IT in a business.  Purchasing and installing servers and networks is no longer a requirement.  Maintaining, upgrading, and repairing all the hardware and systems is the job of the service provider.  Installing and updating application software is done by the service provider, and managing and protecting the data is part of the solution.

InsynQ’s application hosting service is similar to cloud computing in that it offers many of the benefits of SaaS, but without the service or vendor lock-in. Our application hosting services allow the business to maintain the option to select additional (or alternative) applications or solutions for hosting, even extending or integrating hosted applications with other solutions that may be SaaS or cloud-based.  One of the biggest benefits of application hosting is that it allows a business to retain the option to return to localized technology – installing products on the local PC or network and ending the hosting service arrangement.  In short, application hosting services can help a business move to a cloud computing strategy without having to retrain users, convert data, or reduce future software and systems options.

Outsourced IT services and managed application hosting can reduce IT costs (or, at minimum, create predictability in IT costs) while at the same time delivering improvements in security, productivity and performance.  Application hosting services allow the business to implement new and complex solutions without the high upfront investment in hardware and networking infrastructure.  And most application hosting services include all system administration and management, so ongoing costs of managing and maintaining the systems is part of the monthly service fee.

• Break/fix is no longer a “surprise” IT cost, because the service provider takes care of that.
• Productivity losses are reduced due to high availability of systems and reduced down-time. Protection of data reduces potential for loss, avoiding the need to rekey or recreate.
• Services can be scaled to deliver as much or as little as the business requires.
  End-user technical support is typically included with the service for no additional cost.
• Moving to cloud computing via a hosting service allows you to improve your IT without retraining users or converting data because you can continue to use the software solutions you already use.
• Quality application hosting providers give you high levels of disaster recovery and can help with business continuity in the event of a disaster.

With InsynQ’s hosted application services, the business is no longer dependent upon a single physical location because services can be accessed from almost anywhere.  Services are also no longer tied to a specific computer or device, and can be accessed from just about any Internet-connected computer.  InsynQ services are delivered with high levels of redundancy to help keep you up and running, with tiered backups and strict data management to protect against data loss.

How might your business benefit?

Click here to learn more about moving your PC desktops and applications to the cloud.

Home-sourcing, Crowd-sourcing, or just Partnering: Outsourcing Can Increase Efficiency and Improve Profitability

out·source (outsôrs, -srs) tr.v. out·sourced, out·sourc·ing, out·sourc·ers. To send out (work, for example) to an outside provider.

Outsourcing certain non-core business functions has become recognized as one approach to improving business process efficiency in terms of cost and personnel productivity. Through outsourcing non-core business processes, many organizations find that they are able to focus their energies, and their financial resources, on building the business rather than facilitating internal business processes. Perhaps outsourcing can provide a similar benefit to your practice – outsourcing IT operations and/or outsourcing mechanical bookkeeping and similar work.

Enabling technologies keep it all under control.

Enabling technologies and services, such as online application services and application hosting from InsynQ, help businesses work closer together in strictly controlled, secure environments. When your outsource partners and providers utilize the same platform that you do, it helps to ensure that client data is secure and well-managed, and keeps all applications and data available to the accountant and client business at all times.

Similar in nature to the information technology outsourcing model, the “e-Accounting” outsource model was created to deliver significant value to the professional accountant, or top-level provider. Understanding that the value of the business relationship is held by this trusted advisor, all supporting services must first deliver value to the accountant.

read the rest at Cloud Accounting 4 Canada

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.