Virtual private cloud presents growing businesses with the ability to scale, reduce IT infrastructure costs and utlimately increase productivity.
Businesses evaluating the move to the cloud are sometimes faced with the conundrum of deciding between staying with ERP software that they know and love, and making the “risky” move to a completely new platform in the cloud. In most cases, the opportunity cost of training increases, and productivity decreases during the transition period.
When faced with rising costs and lowered productivity, often the business in question stays with its current ERP platform without realizing there are alternatives. While cloud based ERP solutions such as Intacct have proven be to great alternatives to traditional onsite ERP solutions, offering robust multidimensional reporting, full CRM integrations, and automatic updates, if you want to stay with your current ERP solution–while enjoying the benefits of the cloud– you have another option. You can move to a virtual private cloud environment.
Why Virtual Private Cloud?
Virtual private cloud hosting is a much more secure substitute to the public cloud environment. With virtual private cloud hosting, there’s no need to share resources with other businesses nor have your data lumped in with others. You have the access to your own private network gateway designed specifically around your unique business applications and needs. With the CompuData iSySair Virtual private cloud for instance; on-premise ERP users also have the advantage of working with IT experts who understand their ERP application. Most importantly, hosting your ERP in the cloud using the virtual private cloud gives you the freedom of staying with your current ERP application.
Reduction in IT Costs
Virtual private cloud hosting is relatively inexpensive compared to traditional on premise ERP maintenance, as pricing is usually based on a fixed monthly predictable fee. With virtual private cloud hosting, you also no longer have to worry about server maintenance costs and licensing fees.
Greater Flexibility in Security
In some ways, it boils down to personality. If you are the kind of person who prefers a stick shift to an automatic transmission in your car, you may be more suited to the virtual private cloud environment. If you use a virtual private cloud host, you have full access to set up or scale security as much as you need it. When you compare a virtual private cloud solution with a vendor-hosted cloud based ERP, for the latter, you will need to accept the parameters already in place. That is a good choice for someone who wants to set it and forget it. But not everyone has the same comfort level with security measures, and if yours is the kind of business that needs additional safeguards not offered in a cloud-based ERP, a virtual private cloud may be a safer alternative.
Easily Scalable
You can run a lot of different types of software applications in a virtual private cloud, including your ERP. If you are a smaller firm, you won’t likely need a monolithic solution that builds in modules that don’t fit your requirements. Instead, focusing on organic growth as your firm needs it will keep your overall budget down as well as allow you to make choices about software that you want to integrate now and in the future. Another part of your newfound freedom is that you may be able to continue to utilize your legacy web applications by leveraging your virtual private cloud.
Resource Optimization
Perform at your best when you plan correctly. What are your resource needs? With a virtual private cloud, reduced IT infrastructure costs allow you to allocate resources to other areas of your business that needs it the most. Also with a fixed monthly fee, you have the ability to plan and budget costs.
Both cloud based ERP and virtual private cloud solutions have their benefits, and it’s a matter of the right fit for your business. Hosting your ERP in a virtual private cloud alleviates security concerns with cloud based ERP solutions, while allowing your organization to enjoy cost savings and greater flexibility.