QuickBooks is the leader in accounting software solutions worldwide. However, combined with the power of cloud computing, it becomes even more robust and versatile. Having realized this, most organizations worldwide have started planning for cloud migration.

But before they can reap the benefits of QuickBooks Cloud, they need to encounter various roadblocks, the biggest of which is the search for the best QuickBooks Desktop Cloud hosting service.

As numerous QB hosting providers are available in the market, it becomes challenging to analyze each individually. Moreover, all the providers offer a plethora of services to choose from.

Specific considerations will help you opt for the best QuickBooks Desktop cloud hosting service, no matter what services the providers offer. Let’s dig deep.

1. Data Security

The QuickBooks data contains critical information you can’t afford to compromise. By migrating your QB Desktop to the cloud, you give the cloud hosting provider access to your data.

Hence, they have the responsibility to keep it safe. Therefore, data security should be your top priority when choosing a QuickBooks Desktop cloud hosting service.

The cloud hosting provider should be able to protect your data at all levels - physical, Network, and endpoint.

Firstly, at the physical level, your QuickBooks Desktop and data should be hosted in data centers with multiple security checks and 24/7 CCTV surveillance, etc.

Secondly, data should be protected at the network level with multiple firewalls, 24/7 traffic monitoring, brute force protection, etc.

At the endpoint level, the provider must implement safeguards, such as multi-factor authentication, access controls, and antivirus/antimalware without fail.

2. Uptime Guarantee

Your accounting process is always ongoing. Hence, you can’t afford to lose access to your QuickBooks even for a second

The QuickBooks cloud hosting provider should guarantee an uptime level in their SLA (Service Level Agreement). An SLA-backed uptime guarantee means the provider is contractually bound to offer you the uptime mentioned.

The best providers in the market offer an uptime guarantee of 99.99%. It means there is a maximum downtime of only six minutes a year.

3. Customer Support

Customer support is another crucial consideration when choosing a QuickBooks Desktop cloud hosting service. If an issue arises while working remotely on QuickBooks Desktop, the provider should be able to resolve it in time. Otherwise, operations could be halted.

The QB desktop cloud hosting provider must offer 24/7 customer support, 365 days a year. It's important to know that some providers don’t give support on weekends.

Hence, if an issue arises while working on the weekends, the team resolves it on weekdays. Moreover, the technical support team must be available through multiple channels - call, chat, and email- to ensure quick response time.

4. IT Infrastructure

Regarding cloud hosting, the provider's IT infrastructure is a primary consideration. The services offered by the provider may be exciting. But, if the cloud setup (where your QuickBooks and accounting data are hosted) could be better, you should think twice before choosing them.

Prefer a provider that hosts your data in a Tier 4 data center. These data centers deploy server, power, and cooling redundancy, ensuring continuous operations even if there is a crisis in the data center.

Moreover, the provider should host your QuickBooks in a High-performance Computing (HPC) environment. An HPC setup ensures zero latency, giving you the best working experience.

5. Free Trial

Even when buying your apparel, you want to try it first. So, why should it be different when choosing your QuickBooks Desktop cloud hosting provider? Selecting a provider without striving can lead to vendor lock-in, hampering operational efficiency.

Shortlist a QuickBooks Desktop cloud hosting service that offers a free trial. This way, you will get a first-hand experience of the provider’s services to make the right decision.

Also, some providers only offer a part of their services in the free trial, which gives you a partial picture. You can ask the provider if the free trial includes all hosting features.

6. Intuit Authorized

You should prefer an Intuit Authorized one while searching for a QuickBooks hosting provider.

Due to its partnership with Intuit, an Intuit Authorized Host can offer you exclusive services compared to others.

For instance, an authorized hosting provider offers customer support directly from Intuit if you have any issues with the software.

Moreover, you can also purchase genuine QuickBooks licenses from them, taking care of your software requirements, like upgrades and license management.

7. Pricing Plans

Pricing is the most common obstacle when choosing a QuickBooks Desktop cloud hosting service.

Sometimes, everything about the cloud provider seems fine, but the charges are outside your budget. Also, some providers offer fixed pricing plans with a set of services that you don’t require.

Ask the cloud provider if they can customize the pricing plans according to your resource requirements. Moreover, check for hidden charges to avoid any unpleasant surprises in the bill.

8. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Any data center can be subject to natural disasters, and human-caused accidents can happen at any data center, leading to downtime for days.

Hence, when choosing a QuickBooks desktop cloud hosting service, ensure that the provider deploys business continuity and disaster recovery safeguards.

To implement a disaster recovery plan, the provider replicates the entire accounting process in multiple data centers in distant locations.

For instance, QB and data are replicated in Boston and Texas data centers. Hence, your data is safe in Texas if a disaster strikes at the Boston data center.

9. Hosting Services Offered

The QB cloud hosting providers offer two types of services depending on the cloud deployment methods. You can choose the cloud service provider according to your requirements and budget constraints.

These services are:

Public cloud - By choosing public cloud services, you share the server resources with multiple users on a load-sharing basis. You can avail of this service on a pay-per-use basis at nominal charges.

Private Cloud— Unlike the public cloud, private cloud service providers offer dedicated resources on the cloud. Although the private cloud is more expensive than the public cloud, it offers an added layer of security as the resources are not shared.

Some providers offer private and public cloud services, and some offer hybrid cloud services, combining private and public cloud services. It is up to you to choose the services best suited for your business.

Wrapping Up!

Your journey to cloud migration starts with choosing the right QuickBooks Dekstop cloud service provider.

Hence, any wrong choice can lead to long-term budget, performance, availability, and support issues. Considering these parameters will help you choose a QuickBooks cloud hosting provider that will elevate your accounting process to the next level.

ACE is an Intuit Authorized QuickBooks hosting provider that offers enterprise-grade security, round-the-clock support, and an SLA-backed 99.99% uptime guarantee.

Get a 7-day free trial to check out the services yourself.