The title of this post would be viewed differently twenty years ago, when most software packages that firms used to manage clients’ affairs were hosted locally, on staff PCs. 

Imagine the disruption if during lockdown, and the necessity for staff to work from home, staff were obliged to transport standalone desktop PC’s, or even worse, PCs linked to an office-based server, in order to use vital tax or accounting software?

Cloud based software has largely replaced PC based applications and we should be thanking our lucky stars that they have. For those of us still clinging to local server links or PC based software, perhaps its time for a review?

Even if you have no staff and your PC is easily transported to home, there are considerable benefits to working in the cloud. Three spring to mind:

• The need to back-up data locally is removed.
• Updates to software are managed by software providers.
• You can access your software from any internet access point and from a range of devices.

In the past, a statement that your head is in the clouds may have indicated a lack of pragmatism or that you were not “feet on the ground”.

Due to the development of centralised software products, “in the cloud” now has a more positive meaning. Ironically, in times where control is seen as a necessary adjunct to success, transferring software to the cloud is seen as a sensible strategy even though your supplier is charged with the security of your data.

Source: New feed