So you’re considering the cloud. You’ve heard about the benefits, reduced costs, and the absence of cumbersome hardware. Across the industrial landscape, the cloud is being called the business management and accounting vehicle of the future. But resonating in your head is the old adage look before you leap, and you should. Following are the top four questions every CFO should ask before leaping into the cloud accounting world.
1. How is data protected? This is a biggie. Ask your cloud-computing service provider about the specifics of data protection as well data backup plans in the event of unexpected service interruption, natural disaster, or database corruption.
2. Will service be interrupted in the event of a billing dispute? Simply, your service provider needs to give you the peace of mind that no matter what, you will have access to your data. Ensure that your cloud service cannot be used as leverage in any circumstance.
3. Can data be removed, if you choose to stop service? Ultimately, you need to know if your data will remain in the cloud if you happen to feel more at ease on land. Ask your service provider if you can remove your information.
4. Is your Internet connection sound? Remember in the cloud, the reliability and capability of your Internet connection is everything. You may need to increase bandwidth or add more Internet connections to keep cloud-based applications working at their desirable speed.
Your choice to join the cloud will be largely dependent upon the confidence you have in your service provider. Comparison-shopping is never a bad idea; a wide range of features and guarantees exists. Ask the questions and when you receive an answer with which you aren’t comfortable, don’t be afraid to negotiate. According to CFO magazine, providers are increasingly willing to negotiate terms, especially with large customers.
Contact xTuple with your questions about business management software in the cloud. xTuple has been meeting and exceeding the needs of CFOs in the cloud long before the cloud became fashionable. At xTuple, cloud computing is our business. Let us answer all your questions and show you just how effective, efficient, and productive the cloud can be.
BC Wilson
With the explosive movement of cloud strategies, BC was promoted to director of cloud services in 2014. Previously, he oversaw operations and hiring of managers for critical lines of business for the Product Management Group, driving return on investment (ROI) for all xTuple products and managed ongoing engineering and development of the xTuple Classic GUI product, including all customer-sponsored enhancements, as well as the xTuple Web Portal product. Prior to xTuple, BC was a senior product manager for Trader Electronic Media, where he directed the development of websites for the classified advertising market. He has also worked as a partner in a web design agency, and a content producer for the Road Runner and Starband broadband service providers. BC began his career as a writer and editor for the Ziff Davis computer magazines.
He holds a B.A. in Theology from Georgetown University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Old Dominion University. In 2012, BC was appointed as a commissioner of Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails in Norfolk, Virginia.