Cloud Insights

You’ve decided to move your Sage ERP to the cloud. Great idea, but how will you decide which hosting option is best? Meet Cloud at Work. Cloud at Work has been hosting Sage ERP and other Sage applications for years and has quickly grown into an extraordinarily robust cloud hosting platform relied on by Sage users and partners throughout North America. We believe that Cloud at Work can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest hosting services out there. In fact, it may even step on a few toes. Layers (and layers) of separation If your Sage ERP application does not work, or does not open, who do you call when your application is in the cloud? Your IT provider, your Sage provider, the internet service provider, the hosting company, someone else? Who will be responsible for fixing the issue and how long will it take? These are the questions you should be asking as you look for the right Cloud for Sage ERP. The overwhelming majority of companies that use Amazon, Azure or Google to host their applications will never ever speak to these behemoths when an issue arises. Most companies’ relationships with their Cloud Service Provider (CSP) pass through many layers. In fact, in many instances, you won’t even choose your CSP, a company in one of those layers will choose it for you. And the layers can get pretty thick. If you rely on a managed service provider (MSP), they’ll be one of the layers. And something called the Provisioning Portal will be yet another layer. We get it, creating a world-class application hosting service requires resources. But we contend, it does not require layers. The problem with layers is this: when you have a question or an issue it becomes very difficult to determine who’s at fault — or more importantly, who can fix it. And when that question is about the mission-critical software that’s running your business, you shouldn’t have to sift through layers to get an answer. Or straight to the source The Cloud at Work Sage hosting service operates differently — much differently. You have a question — you call us. You have a problem — you call us. One call. No layers. Cloud at Work was purpose built to host Sage applications. We are staffed by some of the keenest and most experienced Sage minds in the country ready to provide world-class service to Sage business partners and their customers. We can quickly identify issues, get to the root of problems, loop in your Sage business partner, and get you back to business. It’s an application focus and a level of service that other CSPs simply cannot match. But that’s not the only reason Cloud at Work Sage cloud hosting services make smart sense. Our Tier 4 (highest rating) Data Centers are protected by 24x7x365 on-site security with dual factor, biometric access control. Support features include 24x7x365 monitoring, alerting, and notification, 99.99% availability and hourly backup snapshots. And that’s not the half of it. Simply stated: Cloud at Work Data Centers are among the best of the best and we invite you to compare them to any CSP out there. We’re pleased that Sage ERP customers and their partners have multiple options as they consider a move to a Hosted ERP model. The model has numerous advantages over keeping the application in house, including remote accessibility and stronger security. We’re so certain that when you review options for hosting Sage 100, Sage 300, Sage X3, and other Sage applications, you’ll see what makes Cloud at Work the clear choice. Have hosting questions? We’ve got answers. Reach out to our Cloud at Work consultants or your own Sage business partner.

What would happen if your servers failed and your Sage 100 and other technology your business relies on was not accessible – potentially for days? According to IDC, as many as 50% of organizations affected by some form of business disruption won’t survive the event. Of those that do, IDC found that the average cost of downtime is $250,000 per hour across all industries and organizational sizes. Watch this recorded webcast and learn the cloud-clarifying concepts you need to know before moving your Sage 100 to the cloud to help run your business, secure your data, enable your company’s growth goals and ensure business continuity. The topics that we cover, include: How operating Sage 100 in the cloud has a positive impact on: System Access Redundancy & Disaster Recovery System Performance Security Consistency of Data and Reporting What cloud hosting options look like for Sage 100: pricing models, architecture and design The Cloud at Work Sage 100 Hosting options, including: Moving current Sage 100 systems to the cloud Migrating your on-premise Sage 100 solution to a per-employee, per-month pricing model To learn more contact us and one of our Sage 100 hosting specialists will answer any questions you may have, and illustrate the ROI and value of moving an on-premise Sage system to the cloud.

If you’re deciding whether to host your Sage 100cloud or Sage 300cloud application remotely, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll need to make is who will host it for you. Cloud Service Providers (CSP) are technology companies offering a cloud-based platform that could include infrastructure, application hosting and storage services. You’re familiar with the usual suspects: Microsoft Azure, AWS and Google Cloud. But bigger isn’t better in the case of Hosted ERP. As you begin your search for a provider to host your Sage ERP application, we encourage you to review these three essential considerations. 1. Security practices – who’s holding the keys Security practices are naturally the biggest consideration in deciding on a CSP to host your Sage ERP solution. There are two main components to security: the physical security surrounding and associated with the data center itself, and the virtual infrastructure the CSP has in place to protect your data from server downtime, power outages and natural disasters. One objective measure is to look at the provider’s data center tier rating, rated from 1 to 4. While a Tier 1 data center can be little more than a powered warehouse, Tier 4 data centers are considered “fault tolerant.” This means (among other things) that unplanned maintenance does not stop the flow of data. Day-to-day operations continue regardless of any support taking place. Look for a CSP who’s data center has received the Tier 4, highest classification. Another security practice to look for is 24x7x365 monitoring, alerting and notification. You want to know if something occurs that could impact your ability to access your applications. There are many other security considerations to be aware of, so be certain to educate yourself and question each CSP until you’re satisfied. We invite you to compare Cloud at Work’s cloud data centers and security protocols to any in the world. 2. Access to the source – layers are only good in a cake When you have a question or concern about your Hosted ERP application, when something just doesn’t seem right, or you simply cannot access it — who do you call? The overwhelming majority of companies that use Amazon or Azure or Google to host their applications will never ever speak to these behemoths when an issue arises. Most companies’ relationships with their CSP pass through many layers. In fact, in many instances, you won’t even choose your CSP, a company in one of those layers will choose it for you. A managed service provider (MSP) might be one of those layers. The Cloud at Work ERP hosting service is different. You have a question — you call us. You have a problem — you call us. One call. No layers. We’ll work with you and your Sage business partner to identify issues and get you back to business quickly. 3. A CSP who knows ERP — yes, there is such a thing Is it important for your CSP to actually have an understanding of what it’s hosting for you? From the CSP’s standpoint, the answer is no. From your standpoint, we think the answer should be a resounding yes. In part this goes back to eliminating the layers we spoke about in #2, above. A hosting company that understands your Sage ERP application is able to give you the attention and support you need to keep business running without passing the buck to someone in one of the other layers. For example, working in conjunction with your Sage business partner, our Cloud at Work hosting solution can include updates of all patches and fixes so you can be assured that your Sage ERP is always up to date. Finding a CSP that actually understands your Sage ERP application may seem a bit like finding a Googlewhack — and that one result is the Cloud at Work solution. Cloud at Work is a different kind of CSP. We understand Sage ERP solutions and we understand the companies that rely on them — and that makes a difference. Make the right cloud choice We’ve hopefully given you some things to think about here and offered some insight into why Cloud at Work is different than other cloud service providers. Cloud at Work offers two top-of-the-line cloud product offerings. Our Virtual Private Cloud is a 100% Virtual Private environment for organizations that place extreme value on redundancy, security and availability. Our Hybrid Secure offering is specially designed for smaller Sage environments and utilizes SaaS like architecture to deploy semi-dedicated resources. Both offerings provide the most secure and economical ways to host your Sage software. And, while Cloud at Work is focused on providing hosted Sage applications, our technology is capable of providing Virtual Desktops, as well as hosting of any other third-party application to streamline your technology platform even further. We invite you to learn more about hosting Sage 100cloud or Sage 300cloud by contacting one of our Cloud at Work consultants.

Hosted has become increasingly popular in the last several years. Companies have discovered that when they move their important applications to the cloud, capital expenditures on infrastructure are lowered, security is heightened and their IT staffs can focus on high-value activities. For companies considering whether to host their Sage 100cloud or Sage 300cloud remotely, it’s important to understand just what that means, and how to choose to right partners to make your venture into Hosted ERP a success. The difference between Hosted ERP and Cloud ERP The terms Hosted ERP and Cloud ERP are often used interchangeably. While both Hosted ERP and Cloud ERP can be accessed remotely, there are definite distinctions between the two. Neither Sage 100cloud nor Sage 300cloud — despite having the word “cloud” in their names — are considered Cloud ERP. What’s the difference? Hosted ERP is a web-enabled ERP software solution. Your company purchases and owns the software, but instead of it being in house or on premises, the software is installed on a remote server provided by a Cloud Services Provider, or CSP. The configuration allows authorized users within your company to access the application over an internet connection. Hosted ERP applications are single tenant, meaning your company’s licensed copy of Sage 100cloud or Sage 300cloud is installed on your CSP’s computers for your use only. This means that any time Sage publishes a new release or update, that change will not automatically impact your instance of the software. Instead, it will need to be installed by your business partner or hosting provider. Cloud ERP applications are (usually) multi-tenant. Simply put, multi-tenant means that there’s one instance of the Cloud ERP installed on the CSP’s computers and that one instance serves multiple subscribers, or tenants. Generally speaking, then, when the publisher makes a change to the software, all subscribers see the same change. Cloud ERP applications fall under the SaaS (Software as a Service) umbrella term. Both Hosted ERP and Cloud ERP rely on a CSP or hosting provider — the company that provides the technology infrastructure. The decision on which hosting provider to trust is an important one. How to choose a hosting provider Choosing the right provider to host your Sage 100cloud or Sage 300cloud application is nearly as important as choosing the software itself. Think of your hosting provider as a landlord, a gatekeeper, a caretaker, a tour guide, and a repairman — all in one. You’re going to want to find a good one. Ask anyone to name a hosting provider and you’ll hear the big names like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google. These behemoths largely do not know or care what software they are hosting, and they are definitely not going to be the ones to call when you want to get started with Hosted ERP or when you have an issue down the road. If you’re Netflix and you want Amazon to host your software, maybe you could pick up the phone and speak to someone. But the rest of us are going to need some help – in the form of intermediaries — companies that interact with the hosting provider on your behalf. There are typically several layers of intermediaries between you and your Hosted ERP, including your Sage busines partner, a Managed Services Provider (MSP), Sage ERP Online Services (SEOS), a smaller CSP and others. In short, when a major hosting platform is involved, your ERP application is many layers away from your control. We’ll take more about the risks inherent with these layers (and how to avoid them) in upcoming posts. While they don’t have the same name recognition as AWS or Azure, there are hundreds of other CSPs. But largely, they put up the same barriers to interaction that the big guys do. In other words, you’re going to need intermediaries with most of them too. A different kind of hosting service Cloud at Work is a different kind of CSP. We understand Sage ERP solutions and we understand the companies that rely on them. As a sister company to Net at Work, the top Sage Partner in North America, Cloud at Work was founded as a service to our own clients that were seeking Hosted ERP options. Since then, we’ve been busy building Cloud at Work into an extraordinarily robust cloud hosting platform that we believe can stand toe-to-toe with the biggest names out there. And once you factor in the fact that we eliminate the need for those layers of intermediaries, we humbly believe we’re the single best option for companies looking for cloud hosting for Sage 100cloud, Sage 300cloud and all other Sage applications. Interested in learning more about hosting Sage 100cloud or Sage 300cloud? Contact one of our Cloud at Work consultants.

There’s no shortage of information available on the topic of whether to choose a public or private cloud to host essential business software — including Sage ERP. Much of that information comes from the big public cloud players, such as Amazon, Google Cloud, and AWS. Amidst the information, however, is a great deal of misinformation. To help set the record straight, we’ve debunked five common myths and misconceptions surrounding private cloud deployments. The facts help explain why a private hosted cloud is the best option for companies looking to move Sage ERP to the cloud. Private cloud isn’t scalable Private cloud infrastructure, when designed correctly, is highly scalable, providing horsepower far beyond what individual companies can typically build in house. And the best private cloud service providers are agile enough to expand and extend their offerings quickly to meet increased demands. Private clouds cannot provide the same level of security as public clouds Private cloud hosting providers like Cloud at Work utilize identical security protocols as public clouds — and in some instances even more robust protocols. For example, Cloud at Work’s Tier 4 (highest classification) data centers have 24 x7 x 365 support and monitoring, are geo-diverse, and deliver one-to-four-hour disaster recovery time objectives. We invite you to compare our metrics to any public cloud offering. Private cloud is only for small-to-medium businesses In general, larger enterprises tend to have more workloads and applications that run in a public cloud, which has unlimited capacity to handle these workloads. However, regardless of business size, at least 75% of all workloads fall under the “predictable” category — and these workloads run best in a private cloud — and can cost much less than public cloud. I have to build a private cloud myself Most private cloud deployments are not built and maintained by an individual company. Private cloud hosting service providers, like Cloud at Work, are the primary providers of private cloud hosting centers. If I choose a private cloud, I don’t have access to the public cloud In fact, 85% of companies utilize a hybrid cloud model, where they host some of their applications on a private cloud and others on a public cloud. For example, it’s common for an organization to host their Sage ERP on a private cloud and run other business applications, like Microsoft Office 365, over a public cloud. Why private cloud is the best option for Sage Cloud Hosting In this article, we outlined some of the unique advantages a private cloud deployment holds over the public could option. In summary, by eliminating the layers of bureaucracy between you and your ERP, a private cloud provider can offer you better flexibility, control, availability, security, and service. Cloud at Work is a private cloud service designed specifically to host Sage ERP. In addition to our team of cloud experts, our staff includes some of the keenest and most experienced Sage minds in the country — ready to provide world-class service to Sage business partners and their customers. It’s an application focus and a level of service unmatched among other cloud service providers — public or private. Do you have questions about moving Sage ERP to the cloud? We’ve answered some of the most common questions here, and we welcome the opportunity to speak with you about how we may be able to help your organization. Give us a call at 800-719-3307.

What would happen if your servers failed and your Sage application and other technology your business relies on was not accessible – potentially for days? According to IDC, as many as 50% of organizations affected by some form of business disruption won’t survive the event. Of those that do, IDC found that the average cost of downtime is $250,000 per hour across all industries and organizational sizes. In this recorded webcast our Sage Hosting specialists discuss why organizations use Sage on-premise solutions are migrating their Sage systems to the cloud. The topics that we cover, include: How operating Sage applications in the cloud has a positive impact on: System Access Redundancy & Disaster Recovery System Performance Security Consistency of Data and Reporting What cloud hosting options look like for Sage: pricing models, architecture and design The Cloud at Work Sage Hosting options, including: Moving current Sage systems to the cloud Migrating your on-premise Sage solution to a per-employee, per-month pricing model To learn more contact us and one of our Sage hosting specialists will answer any questions you may have, and illustrate the ROI and value of moving an on-premise Sage system to the cloud.