A recent dialogue with a SMB client involved discussing how to transition to a new Book Keeper.

The person "retiring" from the role had been operating Quickbooks on her PC. They were struggling with how to reconfigure a box (from their storage closet) and install Quickbooks, import the files, hand it off to the new resource to "take home."

The advice given: Consider Quickbooks online. The response was painful to encounter. Bottom line: this is how we’ve done it and how we’re going to do it.

We can’t sometimes help.

But this example represents a context deserving elaboration on this Blog.

By not taking this online, here are but a few negative consequences:

1. There is no control over consistently keeping the files backed up.
2. There is no control to assure security (if the person browses bad sites, malware is certain.)
3. There is no ability for others to access the files for auditing.
4. There is no ability for "successors" to be groomed and "coverage" during absences
5. The ability to bill online, receive payments online remains clunky

By not taking their books up to the "Cloud", management has assured the most risky scenario imaginable:

That by malware or malfeasance critical banking and personally identifiable (customer) information may escape their control.

Quickbooks online is but one example of a solution "In the Cloud" that conveys much of the security and operations burden to a provider.

$12/month … it’s a great buy.

Besides, moving this to the cloud eliminates the cost the of time and hassle/struggle to reconfigure an operating system on the used machine, purchase Quickbooks (and keep it updated.)

If you can’t do it in the Cloud, Mr/Ms SMB Operator? You should be asking yourself if you need to do it at all.