As per the software industry predictions, ten years hence most of the Software applications would be delivered as Software-As-A-Service (SAAS). But advent of cloud computing means much more than deliverance of just software application. It brings forth the concept of Hardware as a service, thus whole IT service domains can now be outsource to the respective expertise and allow the business to focus on their core areas and at the same time reduce operating cost, get better IT support and most importantly introduce the concept minimalist IT infrastructure.

Small Business are hard pressed for keeping up to the market expectations in terms of innovative technologies, facing competition from their bigger counterparts in terms of using latest technologies and minimizing huge upfront cost. Since IT infrastructure and support may involve huge investments for the small and medium business using cloud hosting platforms makes huge sense for them. The most used application for the small business are accounting, CRM and Tax software such as QuickBooks, Peachtree, ACT! by Sage, Lacerte, Proseries, Drake or ATX. All these applications can be hosted on terminal servers benefitting the small and medium business in more than one ways.

Reasons to go for Cloud hosting

The benefits of cloud hosting are innumerable and here is the list of some of them:

• Reduce IT infrastructure and support costs: With Cloud Hosting, the need for procurement of IT infrastructure at the users end is reduced drastically which means that there is also corresponding decrease in upfront cost involved. This is possible as all the applications are installed and run on the service provider’s terminal server and users accessing it as local desktop interface. Also this means that the application is accessible from anywhere through an online connection at much higher speed that the usual web applications as the bandwidth requires for accessing application on terminal servers are very less. The business also do not have to invest in IT support cost as 24x7x365 support help desk is provided by the service provider.

• Highly secured data: Since the applications processing are done at the terminal servers at a central place the network is more secure as a result. This is also possible due to provision of latest online security tools, firewalls and real time monitoring of the network. Further the client’s data is automatically stored in multiple locations in highly insured data centers. These services if provided at clients end would require huge support cost for small and medium business.

• Manage business better: Application hosting means on the fly access to the files from anywhere anytime. This means that all the units of a company such as sales, marketing, and administration are better connected to both each other as well as have access to the customer data for better interaction. For example you can have your CRM application, for example SAP, Act! by Sage hosted and have real time access to the customer data. These can be updated by all concerned departments such as sales team even when they are outside office premises. This makes easier for management of a company to see how various departments is functioning and hence results in better inter and intradepartmental coordination.

What can be hosted?

Almost any application can be hosted on terminal servers. But going by the present market trends cloud hosting is most popular regarding financial services and Customer relationship management. Some accounting application popular in United States and can be hosted are QuickBooks, Peachtree and MyOb accounting software. Similarly the popular CRM being hosted are ACT! by Sage which is especially suitable for small and medium business. Other applications are SAP, Oracle and Sales force. A very recent trend is Hosting of Tax software such as Lacerte, Proseries, Drake and ATX.

Verticals and specific Cloud Hosts: Vertical application service provider is those which host a number of related applications mostly of same industries. Some Application Hosting provider’s offers complete range of hosting services related to a particular industry.