As accounting firms of all sizes transform their digital processes they’re moving to the cloud. When considering cloud adoption solutions for accounting, flexibility, remote access and data protection are of critical importance.
Unfortunately, most firms don’t have the IT team needed to implement, manage and update a cloud infrastructure. By working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), firms can fully leverage the cloud opportunity while ensuring business goals are met.
Here’s how the right solution can help your firm and an MSP can support your organization’s cloud journey.
Benefits of Cloud Adoption Solutions for Accounting
Many industries have adopted cloud storage for their data management — with good reason.
Working on the cloud centralizes your data, so you can easily see the big picture of your firm. As everything is in one place and easily accessible, drafting up data-driven reports has never been easier. Finding a client’s accounting assets — like previous tax returns – is easy using cloud storage.
Cloud adoption solutions for accounting also enable your team to access data from anywhere. They can easily pull up a client’s numbers while in a meeting with them, or simply access their data when working from home, or traveling.
Switching to a cloud infrastructure is a great way to increase productivity in your accounting firm and prepare for future growth. However, not all cloud systems are the same, so it’s important that you consider your firm’s needs to ensure the right fit and cost structure with any cloud solution.
Choosing the Right Cloud Infrastructure for your Practice.
Cloud adoption solutions for accounting firms need to be tailored to the specific needs of the industry and any unique requirements that your practice has in place.
Some cloud systems are built for larger organizations, and are likely to include costly tools that your firm doesn’t need. Look for a cloud system that both meets the needs of your firm in the present, and is flexible enough to accommodate future growth.
It’s likely that any basic cloud system will upgrade your data storage and management processes, so it’s essential to go beyond the basics and look for a system that includes robust security features. Protecting your personal and corporate brand is critical.
As an accounting firm, you’re storing sensitive client data. A security breach would be catastrophic — not only in terms of downtime and data lost, but in terms of damage to your reputation. It is essential that any cloud adoption solutions for accounting include advanced security measures that protect your client’s data, and your business.
How an MSP Can Steer your Cloud Adoption
Finding the right cloud infrastructure for your firm is no small undertaking, and your in-house IT team may not have the resources required for this undertaking.
According to one study, accounting firms spend 70% of their IT budget just on maintaining their current systems, and only 30% on new technology. This means that your IT team spends most of its resources putting out fires and troubleshooting daily issues. They likely don’t have the time to proactively search for and implement system-wide changes. You may have partners and associates doing this work, you will be surprised at how favorably managed services compare to the extra billing hours you could be generating.
An MSP is an outside resource that dedicates a whole team to finding the right cloud solution for your accounting firm. Carbon60 is Canada’s leading MSP, helping industries across Canada adopt and manage cloud systems. We service numerous accounting professions 24 hours per day seven days per week.
An MSP will identify the right cloud system for your organization at the present, as well as its future growth. They’ll work closely with your IT team to ensure a smooth and intuitive migration for your firm.
In addition, going with an MSP to manage your cloud adoption solutions for accounting requires increased security. The Canadian government has been increasing regulation in the past few years that require companies to come up with a plan to prevent and respond to cyber attacks.
As ransomware and other cyber attacks are getting increasingly sophisticated, protecting your data requires choosing the right security features for your cloud infrastructure, as well as round-the-clock monitoring.
Carbon60 implements robust security features in the design of your cloud infrastructure, as well as providing 24/7/365 monitoring to protect your data.
Best of all, an MSP further offloads the responsibility of managing the cloud by being on top of any and all software updates needed to keep your cloud running smoothly and securely. We can even provide on line awareness training to your staff.
Carbon60 offers all of these options at the fraction of the price it would take to hire and train a full in-house IT team. With Carbon60 by your side to manage your cloud services, your existing IT team can focus on the day-to-day maintenance and troubleshooting that you hired them to do.
There’s no denying that accounting firms can benefit immensely from adopting cloud services to centralize their data and increase ease-of-access. Using an MSP like Carbon60 can help offload the resources needed to identify the best cloud adoptions solutions for accounting, as well as provide enhanced cloud security.
Contact us today to see how we can fulfill your cloud infrastructure needs and optimize your service model.