Can QuickBooks Be Used on Azure?

Small and medium businesses (SMB) look for software that allows them to manage their finances from anywhere and permit collaboration all while maintaining security. QuickBooks is one of the applications that ticks all the boxes. While many SMBs have adopted QuickBooks Online, the desktop version continues to be the mainstay.

Typically, the desktop is configured to store data in a central location with a QuickBooks client on each desktop. This can result in poor performance and increase the risk of data corruption. Consequently, many organizations are migrating to QuickBooks on Azure because the cloud-based QuickBooks version combines the features of the desktop version with the flexibility of the online version.

Do You Need to Host QuickBooks on Azure Cloud?

Moving to QuickBooks Desktop on the cloud has several advantages. Here’s a list of benefits of moving to QuickBooks cloud:

• Access for multiple users.
• Users can access from any device.
• Pay-per-use model of billing.
• No dependence on on-premises infrastructure.
• Better data security.
• Automated daily backups.
• Protection against malware and ransomware.
• Better technical assistance from vendors for troubleshooting issues.
• Better control over software usage with dedicated consoles for managing resources.
• Flexibility to integrate with third-party applications on virtual desktops.
• Ability to scale-up and scale-down operations as per requirements.
• More computing power with better efficiency.

How QuickBooks Can Be Used on Azure?

Until the advent of the cloud, the desktop version of QuickBooks had to be installed on local machines which necessarily had to be used to access the software. With QuickBooks on Azure, the application is installed on a machine with Azure and can now be accessed from any device with an internet connection. All versions, including Premier, Pro, Enterprise, POS, and Accountant can be installed on remote desktops with full functionality. These can be accessed from anywhere at any time using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Multiple users can access the data without compromising data security or user experience with their devices connected to the internet. Users and their devices can be managed by an admin from a centralized console.

Azure data centers are located across the globe and you can select the location of your data center as per your compliance. On Azure, you can also opt for Windows Virtual Desktop which can lower your costs drastically, while still operating on Azure. QuickBooks can be used on Windows Virtual Desktop which allows multi-session Windows. Apps4Rent offers Azure-based Cloud Desktop which can be used with Windows Server multi-session.

QuickBooks on Azure – Requirements

Businesses planning to migrate QuickBooks to Azure need to prepare to move their accounting software to the cloud. They need to procure appropriate licenses and prepare the infrastructure for the migration. Here are the things needed for hosting QuickBooks on Azure:

• QuickBooks licenses

  Organizations that already have QuickBooks licenses or plan to install QuickBooks on Azure need the licenses and product numbers. This is required to copy the company files to Azure.

• Azure subscription

  Organizations need to have an Azure subscription with sufficient power. The mid and high-end Bs-Series should suffice for QuickBooks depending on the number of users.

• Office 365

  Having an Office 365 subscription will make testing and deployment easier. An Office 365 account with Azure AD would allow direct integration with QuickBooks users and enhance the capabilities of the software.

Process of Implementing QuickBooks on Azure

The process of implementing QuickBooks on Azure can be divided into three steps:

1. Deploying frontend and backend infrastructure

   The first step is to plan the infrastructure needed to support QuickBooks on the cloud. This entails preparing both the frontend and backend infrastructure along with the virtual network. Both the backend server and the frontend QuickBooks client have to be hosted on virtual machines which have to be connected to the network.

2. Install QuickBooks

   The second step is to deploy the QuickBooks Desktop on the virtual machines. QuickBooks files have to be installed on the backend server. Similarly, the virtual machine for the remote desktop hosting on the front-end will have to be configured for QuickBooks installation. Test the stability of the application after configuration.

3. Provide access to user

   QuickBooks Desktop is available for use once the testing is complete. All you have to do is provide access to QuickBooks from the remote desktop image. Once users sign in, they will have a list of applications they have access to. They can access a mapped drive on the backend VM to access company files. It must be noted that the files have to be accessed in multi-user mode.

Is There Any Alternative to Using QuickBooks on Azure?

Well, some of the steps mentioned above can be too confusing. There is an alternative to using QuickBooks on Azure. Microsoft’s Azure can be too complex, which may need to have deep expertise to understand it.

Apart from Azure QuickBooks hosting, which is maintained on Microsoft, you can also opt for cloud services managed by Apps4Rent. As an Intuit Authorized Hosting Provider, we offer dedicated VMs in our top-tier data centers which will provide you exactly the same features as in hosting QuickBooks on Azure. You don’t even have to worry about the hassles of managing the infrastructure.

If you want to host your desktops and applications on the Azure cloud, we can help you with that. Our Azure experts provide 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email for free once you sign up with us.