How hosted desktops have the edge over Sage Drive

By Your Office Anywhere

11 Nov 2015

Many software companies nowadays are focused on developing Cloud based applications, software as a service. Our modern mobile world demands the ability to access all our applications at any time, anywhere and software vendors are falling over themselves to comply.

However, I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that many of these web based applications don’t appear to be as functional or as feature rich as their locally installed counterparts, and all too often their performance is underwhelming.

A simpler option is to host the feature rich client application, the operating system it runs on, and the data or database it uses altogether in the Cloud and access the whole lot as a remote desktop or remote application. This solution, commonly called hosted desktops or hosted applications provides the best of both worlds; the performance, functionality and features of a locally installed application with the flexibility, resilience and security offered by the Cloud.

A slightly alternative approach has been adopted by accounting software company Sage, for their popular Sage 50 Accounts package. Here they have gone for a combination of a locally installed client plus synchronisation to the Cloud with their Sage Drive solution; but how does it compare with the traditional on premise server or a hosted desktop? A quick Google search on “Sage Drive Problems” highlighted some frustrated customers on AccountingWeb so we asked one of our partners who are a leading Sage implementation consultant for their unbiased view, here’s what they came back with

Sage Drive is Sage’s attempt to “catch-up” in the Cloud arena, but it isn’t really Cloud in that the solution still heavily relies on local installs and a local database. The “Master” install of Sage synchronises the database with Sage’s cloud servers which in turn synchronises changes to other installations in the customers’ business.

There are a number of issues with how this works, primarily the master installation has to be online for the whole thing to work, so if that version is on the Finance Manager’s laptop and he’s turned it off then Sage Drive doesn’t work. So it pushes the customer to rely on an on premise server to hold the database, so not really in the spirit of Cloud computing and what if this computer crashes or is out of action for a time or even stolen?

If the master installation is given an updated version of the application then all the other installs must be updated before they can use it. If you have an organisation with 10 users this takes a bit of time, and in our experience, doesn’t always work, so you have to raise a helpdesk call with Sage. This is so different when using a Cloud Hosted Desktop with Sage installed as the application only has to be updated once on the hosted server and everyone gets the new version instantly.

The Sage Drive also appears to be the cause of a lot of corrupted databases, which in our experience never seems to happen on a Hosted Desktop platform. This again requires another call to Sage support.

Incidentally we understand Sage Drive is hosted with Amazon Web Services, so not held in the UK, this may be important to customers who have compliance policies regarding where data is kept.

All in all, in our view a hosted desktop platform provides a much more stable, trouble free and flexible way of running Sage as a proper Cloud application. So what are hosted desktops? In short hosted desktops are simply a hosted Windows server running as a hosted Terminal Server to provide the user either a full remote desktop or just individual remote applications, depending on preference. The application e.g. Sage and its database also reside on the server, so they can be accessed anywhere via the Internet and on any device, including Mac, iPads and Android tablets. A good hosted desktop provider will manage the server, providing backups, anti-virus, patches and updates to your application when required.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Your Office Anywhere

Latest news

1

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London. The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and the Rt Hon Steve Reed (L-R Front Row) David Hammond, and Daniel Knowles

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London.

30 Apr 2025

2

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield Edenfield housing development

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield

29 Apr 2025

3

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens Dovestone Gardens launch

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens

29 Apr 2025

4

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success Louise Kirby

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success

29 Apr 2025

5

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire Lidl

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire

29 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin