Cloud Hosted QuickBooks Enterprise Security for Your Business – A Comprehensive Guide

QuickBooks Enterprise is a comprehensive accounting software designed to help businesses manage their finances, inventory, and operations efficiently.

Being a repository for sensitive financial information, QuickBooks Enterprise demands a comprehensive and robust security framework to safeguard against potential threats and ensure the integrity of financial processes.

It’s worth noting that QuickBooks Enterprise Desktop already has high-end security features in place to protect accounting data. However, when it comes to cloud hosting, these features can be extended even further. With the security capabilities of cloud servers, businesses can leverage an extra layer of protection for their accounting data.

Challenges Involved In On-premises QuickBooks Enterprise Security

Before we move forward to the advantages cloud hosting brings to the table, let’s see the potential challenges you may encounter when opting for on-premises QuickBooks Enterprise in terms of security.

Encrypting Data In-house

Implementing and maintaining robust encryption measures on-premises poses significant challenges. Setting up and maintaining encryption protocols within an organization’s infrastructure can be very complicated and require much technical knowledge and resources.

The complexities involved lead to misconfigurations or lapses in the encryption implementation that could compromise sensitive data. On-premises encryption can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, making it difficult for organizations to respond to emerging security threats promptly.

Adding Multi-Layered Authentication

Integrating Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) into the existing infrastructure of on-premises QuickBooks Enterprise demands additional resources and specialized expertise, which could lead to deployment delays and heightened security risks during the transitional period.

Moreover, managing MFA components, such as tokenization or biometric systems, requires technical proficiency. Hence, businesses must carefully evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of on-premises QuickBooks Enterprise infrastructure before making any decisions.

Also Read: How QuickBooks on Cloud Ensures Data Security?

Managing Security Updates

In the on-premises scenario, businesses need dedicated resources for monitoring, testing, and implementing updates, which can be resource-intensive. The need for manual updates on premises may lead to uncertainties, exposing the system to known vulnerabilities during the interim period.

To mitigate security risks, it’s essential to update software and systems regularly. Organizations should have a comprehensive strategy in place for managing updates, especially in on-premises environments where it can be more complex.

Ensuring Physical Security

In the on-premises model, safeguarding QuickBooks Enterprise servers requires meticulous planning. On-premises servers are vulnerable to theft, natural disasters, and accidental damage, necessitating a substantial investment in advanced physical security infrastructure. It involves enforcing access control systems, surveillance cameras, and environmental monitoring tools. The challenge lies in the decentralized nature of these measures, as businesses must individually manage and maintain their on-premises security, adding complexity and potential points of failure to the overall security strategy.

Monitoring And Mitigating Threats Within the Authentication Process

Implementing and managing IDS/IPS on-premises requires a dedicated team armed with the expertise to set up these intricate systems and actively monitor them. On-premises implementation is like conducting an orchestra where each instrument must play flawlessly to create a harmonious security symphony. It demands specialized skills, constant attention, and a commitment of resources to ensure these on-premises systems are effective.

Setting Up Firewalls

Deploying a multi-layered firewall infrastructure on-premises requires managing a complex defense where each layer demands continuous monitoring and expert attention. Maintaining on-premises security setups involves ongoing efforts to calibrate and ensure the optimal functioning of every layer of defense.

In addition, maintaining on-premises firewalls can also involve significant capital expenditures on hardware, software, and maintenance costs. These costs can add up quickly, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises with limited budgets. Furthermore, on-premises firewall setups may not be scalable, making it difficult for businesses to expand their security infrastructure as their needs grow.

Also Read: Top 11 Cybersecurity Threats Accounting Firms Should Watch in [2024]

Backing up QuickBooks Enterprise Data

If you’re managing QuickBooks Enterprise backups on your own premises, it introduces a set of challenges, including creating a comparable backup strategy that demands additional tools, resources, and a higher potential for manual errors. On-premises QuickBooks Enterprise setup requires meticulous planning to establish a reliable backup system, often involving more hands-on management.

How Does Hosted QuickBooks Enterprise Elevate the Security of Your Data?

Let’s discuss how hosting QuickBooks enterprise on the cloud can provide a more secure environment for your accounting data compared to on-premises.

Data Encryption

When it comes to securing your financial data in QuickBooks Enterprise, cloud hosting employs cutting-edge encryption protocols to safeguard your sensitive information. Encryption plays a vital role in protecting your data during both the transmission and storage phases.

The encryption mechanism functions as a robust, invisible barrier that encircles your data, restricting any unauthorized access attempts from breaching the system. The encryption process provides a robust layer of defense, offering assurance that your financial data remains protected even in the unlikely event of a security breach.

Using encryption to protect your data, QuickBooks enterprise Hosting ensures your sensitive financial information is secure and unintelligible to unauthorized parties.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

QuickBooks Enterprise on cloud generally offers Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), implying that accessing your financial data involves more than just a password; users need to authenticate their identity through multiple verification methods. It could involve a combination of something they know (a password), something they have (a security token), or something they are (like a fingerprint).

Implementing MFA with a hosted QuickBooks enterprise enhances access controls, adding an extra layer of security against unauthorized entry. The implementation is streamlined and robust, ensuring that only authenticated and authorized personnel can access financial data.

Regular Security Updates

Securing QuickBooks Enterprise in the cloud comes with the advantage of automated security updates. QuickBooks hosting providers deploy patches, updates, and security enhancements to address emerging threats promptly, ensuring that QuickBooks Enterprise is continuously fortified with the latest security measures and minimizing the window of vulnerability.

Basically, your automated security response team ensures that your financial data is shielded from potential vulnerabilities. The automated nature of these updates not only streamlines the process but also guarantees that the system is consistently running on the most secure version, providing a resilient defense against potential cybersecurity risks.

Intrusion Detection System (IDS) / Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

When it comes to keeping QuickBooks Enterprise secure, cloud hosting brings in high-tech security measures called IDS/IPS. Cloud-hosted QuickBooks Enterprise has IDS/IPS don’t merely observe; they react promptly, automatically responding to identified risks.

These cloud accounting solutions offer a more streamlined and efficient approach. IDS/IPS spot potential intruders and swiftly take steps to neutralize risks automatically that on-premises setups might find challenging to match.

The cloud advantage here is not just about technology; it’s about a user-centric, hassle-free security experience, where the complexities of threat detection and prevention are seamlessly managed behind the scenes, allowing users to focus on the smooth operation of QuickBooks Enterprise.

Cloud-hosted QuickBooks Enterprise significantly enhances its overall security posture, creating a resilient defense against potential cyber adversaries.

Also Read: Top 6 Ways To Keep Your Data Safe As A QuickBooks Hosting User

Layered Firewalls

Securing QuickBooks Enterprise in cloud environment reaches a peak with sophisticated layered firewalls strategically stationed at both the network and application levels, creating a comprehensive defense shield for your financial data.

It is a multi-layered stronghold, with each layer serving as a checkpoint against potential threats. At the network and application levels, these layered firewalls are dynamic sentinels actively filtering and monitoring every piece of incoming and outgoing traffic.

Technically, it uses technologies such as identification badges and surveillance systems to monitor and control access to different areas. Additionally, it may implement strict visitor policies and require individuals to provide identification and undergo security screenings before being allowed entry.

It prevents unauthorized entry and swiftly identifies and thwarts potential security breaches, providing a robust defense mechanism for QuickBooks Enterprise.

Regular Backups

When QuickBooks Enterprise takes to the cloud, there’s an inherent advantage in how data is recovered. Automated and regular backups become part of the package, providing a seamless and efficient way to secure your financial data.

These backups aren’t just stored in one place; they’re spread out across different secure locations. The QuickBooks Enterprise hosting providers distribute backups geographically to improve data integrity and create a robust disaster recovery solution.

Creating immutable data backups is prudent to safeguard against unexpected events such as ransomware attacks or even if your files are damaged, restricted, or inaccessible. It’s essentially a fail-safe mechanism, offering peace of mind and reliability to users who know their data is both consistently backed up and strategically placed for maximum safety.

Physical Security

Cloud hosting involves advanced physical security protocols to ensure the safety of QuickBooks Enterprise data. Cloud data centers feature biometric access controls, employing fingerprint or retina scans and sophisticated surveillance systems that act as a digital stronghold, mitigating unauthorized entry risks and strengthening protection against potential physical threats.

That’s not all; every hosting provider has a different level of security for their client’s QuickBooks enterprise data.

Also Read: Cloud vs. Local Servers: Choosing the Best Setup for QuickBooks Enterprise

Ace Cloud: Your Trusted and Reliable Provider for Hosting QuickBooks Enterprise

Ace Cloud, an award-winning hosting provider, employs a security-first approach, ensuring banking-grade security for QuickBooks Enterprise on our cloud servers. Ace Cloud offers QuickBooks hosting that simplifies accounting operations and provides a hassle-free experience.

By offering over 200 add-ons for integration and scalability, Ace Cloud’s managed QuickBooks hosted on the cloud addresses issues related to accessibility, security, collaboration, customization, and IT management. This customized solution ensures that businesses enjoy an efficient and tailored accounting experience.

• Tier 4+/5 Data Centers: Powered by tier 4+ and tier 5 data centers in the USA, our system features multi-layered defenses, including IDS/IPS threat detection, multi-factor authentication, layered firewalls, and advanced EDR techniques.
• Immutable backups: In the face of unforeseen disasters, our disaster-proof defense mechanism. Automatic immutable backups, recovery options, and business continuity measures ensure that your data remains safe, and your operations continue seamlessly, even in challenging circumstances.
• 99.99% Uptime: We prioritize eliminating downtime and offering a reliable and resilient environment for your QuickBooks Enterprise data.
• 45-Day Backup: We provide a robust Data Recovery feature, allowing you to restore your data to a point within the last 45 days in the event of accidental data loss, QuickBooks file corruption, or a cybersecurity breach such as ransomware.

At Ace Cloud, our commitment to security goes beyond protection; it extends to providing comprehensive recovery options, ensuring that your QuickBooks Enterprise data remains not only secure but also easily retrievable whenever needed.

The Bottom Line

Cloud hosting for QuickBooks Enterprise shows a notable enhancement in security compared to on-premises QuickBooks Enterprise. The cloud-based hosting service employs a stringent security-first approach by leveraging cutting-edge data centers and advanced security protocols, including IDS/IPS threat detection, multi-factor authentication, layered firewalls, and advanced EDR techniques, effectively safeguarding against diverse security threats.

Furthermore, the disaster-proof defense mechanisms inherent in cloud hosting, such as automatic immutable backups, recovery options, and business continuity features, surpass the capabilities of traditional on-premises solutions. It ensures data integrity and security in the face of unforeseen events and minimizes operational downtime, offering uninterrupted services for users relying on QuickBooks Enterprise.

QuickBooks Enterprise hosting stands out not only for elevating the software’s security posture but also for providing a user-centric, streamlined, and efficient user experience. It makes it a superior choice compared to traditional on-premises QuickBooks Enterprise, aligning with modern business requirements and ensuring a worry-free and reliable financial data management experience.

Looking to try QuickBooks Enterprise on the cloud for your business? Try it for free with our 7-day trial of QuickBooks Enterprise hosting.