The 10 Most Common Questions Asked by Accountants about Cloud Computing

The 10 Most Common Questions Asked by Accountants about Cloud Computing

Introduction

By Brian F. Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA, K2 EnterprisesBrian Tankersley (@BFTCPA, CPATechBlog.com) advises firms and companies on accounting technology issues. He teaches courses in the US and Canada through K2 Enterprises, and has served as a guest speaker for professional accounting organizations across the US and Canada. Tankersley is a Certified Public Accountant (Tennessee), a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. Brian makes his home in Farragut, Tennessee.

What is cloud computing and what kinds of computing are considered cloud computing?

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), where the operating system, application software, maintenance and back end configuration, and necessary computer hardware are all provided for a monthly service fee (which may or may not include support). Services like Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Exchange Online, and Microsoft SharePoint Online are examples of SaaS solutions.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), also called “application hosting”, generally includes the operating system, maintenance and back end configuration, and necessary computer hardware needed to run client-server based applications like tax software or ERP solutions.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), where users rent computer server hardware to run their applications on a pre-configured operating system, is provided by large data center operators like Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), Rackspace, and Google.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), also known as desktop virtualization, streams the client desktop operating system to a remote computer from a centralized server instead of loading the software on the client computer. The local computer serves as a glorified terminal for the applications and desktop operating system which are streamed from the remote server to the local workstation or thin client.

How much will cloud computing cost?

What about security – do you offer industry standard security settings like single sign-on (SSO), required password changes, and two factor authentication?

Is it possible to use your service and comply with rigorous laws like HIPAA or GLB, or comply with the rigorous PCI standards?

What do I do if my internet connection goes down?

How do I back up my data?

What is the difference in a public cloud and a private cloud?

How do I assess the reliability of my service provider?

How can I get my cloud applications to exchange data with one another?

What happens if I don’t pay my bill? How long is my data kept after I terminate my service?

Conclusion

Learn how Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Financials can help your accounting practice

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