To the Cloud!

Yesterday, my firm launched a virtual server with Cloud9 Real Time.  I've been hosting QuickBooks desktop software with them for about a year.  That solution worked well for me, my staff and my clients, but we were still using a variety of other tools and I was still having to maintain a server in my office.  Recently, I made the decision to move all of my Windows applications and client data to a dedicated virtual server with Cloud9.  This will help my firm in several ways:

1.  Provide a consistent user platform for all my firm users whether they are working in or out of the office and whether they use a PC, a Mac, or even a Linux computer.

2.  Consolidate all of my client data on a secure dedicated server with rigorous backups and contingency planning to minimize service disruption.

3.  Create an environment that can be customized for interaction with specific clients as we continue to grow.

Some of my users will continue using the cloud as they did the shared environment. They can log in via a browser  and see an "e-dashboard" to launch their QuickBooks files:

For the rest of us, who need to access multiple applications and interact more directly with client data for multiple clients, we will login via Microsoft Remote Desktop Connect (for Mac or Windows).  This provides a virtual computing environment that looks like a rather homely but familiar Windows desktop:

We are just getting familiar with our new work environment and how we will modify our workflows to accommodate it.  I'd love to hear how other CPA firms and businesses are going to the cloud.  I'll post more as we get up and running.