WAN Support for Tax Softwares

I had posted this thread recently asking for recommendations on tax softwares. After a lot of back and forth with ProSeries, they determined that the issue is that we are on a cloud server. While they have a server install, it is only for LAN.

Since I found that out I asked several software providers if they offer WAN support and most do not.

So I'm curious - how have multi-office firms coped with this through the years? The software companies that have an online version of their software are trying to push me towards that, but that's a fairly new phenomenon.

I’ve used a hosting provider to host software.

I’ve used a hosting provider to host software.

After your post I googled them. How are these different than a cloud server? Clearly they are if they work, just don't fully understand.

I use thesagenext.com. They setup the workspace, manage the backups, etc.

For me was a matter of convenience more than anything else. I am a solo shop.

Cloud and hosted are often used interchangeably, but they are different.

Hosted is similar to a local install, except it is done on a remote server controlled by a third party. Typically, you use terminal services to connect and open the application(s). Remote Desktop is commonly used as the connection method.

Cloud is web-based software. Think NetSuite or Quickbooks Online. Even the Creative Solutions suite. Those are all true "cloud" solutions, which you access via a web browser and they are hosted, generally, by the actual software vendor via web servers.

Some local install applications do NOT play well with terminal services, virtualization, etc. Quickbooks is a prime example. Sure, technically it can be hosted and use terminal services, but stability is going to suffer.

The multi-office firms I am aware of either use true cloud solutions, or they connect to their remote servers over a VPN. A specific firm I am thinking of has a local office, but they use VPN to their headquarters' network located 2.5 hours away and/or use cloud software. Another firm I am aware of recently consolidated into a single office after the misery of running multiple LANs and redundant software licenses, with zero connectivity between offices.

Cloud and hosted are often used interchangeably, but they are different.

Hosted is similar to a local install, except it is done on a remote server controlled by a third party. Typically, you use terminal services to connect and open the application(s). Remote Desktop is commonly used as the connection method.

Cloud is web-based software. Think NetSuite or Quickbooks Online. Even the Creative Solutions suite. Those are all true "cloud" solutions, which you access via a web browser and they are hosted, generally, by the actual software vendor via web servers.

Some local install applications do NOT play well with terminal services, virtualization, etc. Quickbooks is a prime example. Sure, technically it can be hosted and use terminal services, but stability is going to suffer.

The multi-office firms I am aware of either use true cloud solutions, or they connect to their remote servers over a VPN. A specific firm I am thinking of has a local office, but they use VPN to their headquarters' network located 2.5 hours away and/or use cloud software. Another firm I am aware of recently consolidated into a single office after the misery of running multiple LANs and redundant software licenses, with zero connectivity between offices.

THANK YOU! That is immensely helpful!