According to a survey conducted by Deloitte, 66% of leaders in the financial services sector who currently work remotely or in a hybrid model would consider leaving their company if they were mandated to work in the office full-time.

Remote work has become a norm for the workforce in every industry, and financial services are no exception. Therefore, organizations must create the necessary environment to make it possible. This setup includes access to tax and accounting documents, files, or software anytime and anywhere for a seamless workflow.

Accounting software like Sage 50 (formerly known as Peachtree Accounting) is a popular software used by business owners, accountants, financial managers, and more to tend to their financial tasks. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, inventory management, and financial reporting.

However, it is desktop-based, which limits its usability. Accessing Sage 50 remotely enables you to manage your finances, run reports, and make critical decisions from anywhere in the world. Hence, it is important to consider options that can help to access this software remotely.

This blog aims to provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to access Sage 50 software remotely.

There are several methods you can use to access Sage 50 software remotely:

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC)

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) is a valuable tool that facilitates remote access to your office computer, allowing you to manage Sage 50 software from anywhere. With RDC, you can virtually replicate the experience of being physically present in front of your office computer.

For the first step, you must set up a Remote Desktop on your office computer to initiate remote access via RDC. This involves configuring the necessary settings to enable remote connections. Once Remote Desktop is configured on your office computer, you can connect with your remote device using a Remote Desktop client.

The Remote Desktop client serves as a bridge between your remote device and your office computer. You can input the required credentials through this client and establish a secure connection to your office computer. Once connected, you'll have full access to Sage 50 software as if you were physically present at your office workstation.

This method offers convenience and flexibility, allowing you to manage your financial tasks and access crucial data without being tethered to a specific physical location.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The second common way to access Sage 50 remotely is by using Virtual Private Network (VPN). This tool establishes a secure connection between your remote device and your office network.

Further, this connection acts as a tunnel, ensuring that the data transmitted between your device and the office network is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access.

To remotely access Sage 50, you must install VPN software on your office network and your remote device. This software facilitates the connection between the two networks, allowing you to access Sage 50 as if physically in the office.

Once the VPN software is installed and configured, you can initiate a connection from your remote device to the office network. This connection encrypts your data and routes it through the VPN server, ensuring it remains secure while in transit.

Once connected to the office network via VPN, you can launch Sage 50 on your remote device.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud Hosting offers a convenient solution for remotely accessing Sage 50 software. With this method, Sage 50 is hosted on a cloud server, allowing users to access it via a web browser from any internet-enabled device. Cloud hosting providers typically offer Sage 50 hosting services with additional features like data backup, security, and scalability.

When you opt for cloud hosting, you don't need to install Sage 50 on individual devices. Instead, users can log in to the cloud platform through a web browser, eliminating the need for complex setup procedures.

Benefits of Cloud Hosting

Accessibility

With an internet connection, users can access Sage 50 from any location, making it ideal for remote work scenarios. This flexibility enables employees to seamlessly work from home, while traveling, or from offices.

Moreover, RDC and VPN require specific software installations and configurations, but cloud hosting offers straightforward access via a web browser, making it more user-friendly and accessible.

Scalability

Cloud hosting allows for easy scalability, meaning you can adjust resources like storage and computing power based on your business needs. Whether your organization is experiencing growth or seasonal fluctuations, cloud hosting ensures that Sage 50 can accommodate changing demands.

Also, cloud hosting provides greater scalability than RDC and VPN, as resources can be easily adjusted without needing hardware upgrades or reconfigurations.

Data Backup and Security

Reliable cloud hosting providers offer robust data backup and security measures. Data is stored in secure data centers with redundant systems to prevent data loss. Additionally, encryption and authentication protocols are implemented to safeguard sensitive financial information.

Compared to RDC and VPN, cloud hosting typically offers more robust data backup and security features. This is because data is stored in secure data centers with redundant systems and security protocols.

Cost-Effectiveness

Cloud hosting often follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you only pay for the resources you use. This setup eliminates the need for upfront hardware investments and reduces ongoing maintenance costs. It also allows for predictable budgeting, as you only pay for the services you need.

Sage 50 cloud hosting eliminates the need for hardware investments and reduces ongoing maintenance costs associated with RDC and VPN setups. Hence, it can be more cost-effective in the long run.

Collaboration

Cloud hosting facilitates collaboration among team members, as multiple users can access Sage 50 simultaneously from different locations. This promotes real-time collaboration, enabling faster decision-making and improved productivity.

RDC and VPN may have limitations in terms of concurrent user access and real-time collaboration features compared to hosting Sage 50 on the cloud.

In Conclusion

Remote access to Sage 50 software is a convenience and a necessity in today's dynamic work environment. Each method discussed above offers its own set of benefits and considerations.

All three enable seamless access to Sage 50 software from anywhere, anytime, empowering users to efficiently manage finances, run reports, and make critical decisions regardless of their physical location. By embracing remote access solutions, financial services organizations can foster productivity, flexibility, and innovation in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.

Author's Bio: 

Bhavleen is a writer at Ace Cloud – a leading hosting provider for tax software, with several years of experience in the cloud industry. She loves to research various technologies and has a firm grasp on topics like Accounting, ERP, VDI, and HIPAA.