SunSystems offers two deployment options for organisations: in the cloud (using FinanSys Cloud) and on-premises.

Both have their own advantages, and it can be difficult to decide which is the best option for your business.

In this guide, we will explore each of these deployment options so that at the end, you’ll have all of the information necessary to make an educated decision about which solution would be best for your company’s requirements.

Cloud deployment

If you go with the cloud option, your finance system will be hosted on FinanSys Cloud and you won’t need to install or maintain any software at your site.

FinanSys Cloud was launched in 2012 and it became the first hosting service solution solely dedicated to and optimised for SunSystems.

This powerful cloud platform boasts seamless support and maximum uptime in a secure SunSystems cloud hosting environment. Plus, it is easy to use, scalable, highly accessible, and cost-friendly.

The cloud-hosted option of the Sun accounting solution is designed to be scalable and low-cost, with maximum flexibility in mind.

On-premises deployment

Some organisations, on the other hand, prefer to keep their critical applications on-premises.

This deployment option allows the finance system to be installed at your own location, where you can host the solution on your own hardware device locally.

With its unrivalled security features, industry-leading performance, scalability and reliability, Infor SunSystems works just fine when hosted locally.

The on-premises option gives you full control over your data, so you can manage users’ access to data with more personal preferences. Also, on-premises deployment lets you make changes to your system as needed without
having to wait for third-party approval or longer turnaround times.

Cloud vs On-Premises: The Advantages

When it comes to choosing between an on-premises deployment and a cloud implementation, both have advantages.

It does not matter your industry or type of company — hotels, not-for-profits, property management firms, financial services and so on.

Cloud Benefits

The following are a few of the major advantages of deploying in the cloud:

Zero need for computer hardware

The cloud deployment option does not require purchasing or leasing any additional equipment for hosting the solution.

FinanSys Cloud is a dedicated environment (i.e. a private cloud as opposed to the more common multi-tenanted cloud), therefore it eliminates the problem of housing and maintaining your own computer hardware and associated infrastructure.

Easy onboarding process

The implementation process is less complicated. It allows you to get up and running with your new financial management solution quickly as it is delivered as a service. You don’t have to worry about installing, operating, maintaining, or upgrading software.

With no installation required, you don’t have to invest in upfront hardware and labour deployment costs.

Because of the low-cost and low-risk nature of the cloud, you don’t have to worry about vendor lock-in. You can deploy your solution as a service in the immediate as well as easily redeploy it at a later time.

Cost predictability

From the very beginning, FinanSys Cloud hosting gives you full visibility into long-term costs with no hidden fees.

You pay only for what you use. You are charged for the environment that is actually running (such as the number of users) plus any additional features you use, such as additional modules.

To deploy a system locally, you would need to invest in the right hardware configurations to handle your anticipated growth. This is often a big investment and may be cost-prohibitive for some companies.

Security of your data

The FinanSys Cloud database itself is encrypted via SSL. All data stored in the database is encrypted in transit with full 256-bit encryption.

Data resides on servers that are housed and managed by qualified IT professionals that understand SunSystems. This meets or exceeds industry standards for the security and confidentiality of sensitive customer information.

FinanSys Cloud is managed by a group of highly skilled and trained professionals, who maintain the supporting infrastructure, databases, system backups, disaster recovery, reporting functionality, and software upgrades.

With a single point of contact for the customer, physical security is based on data access control and firewalls.

Scalability, flexibility, and elasticity

With cloud deployment, you can increase your computing capacity on demand; you can scale up or down as your business needs change.

For example, you can quickly expand your deployment based on increased user demand or go in the other direction if there is a decrease in the number of users.

Quicker implementation time

You can deploy SunSystems in the cloud across multiple locations and users quickly.

On-premises setup takes time and money especially if you do not have IT support or a trained team to handle it. On the other hand, FinanSys Cloud offers already pre-configured environments that can easily scale to meet your business’ needs almost instantaneously.

Additionally, with FinanSys Cloud, there is no need to install a large number of licenses to support your user base.

On-Premise Benefits

The following are some of the benefits of deploying SunSystems locally:

Data ownership and control remain with the customer

Local hosting means Infor SunSystems will be installed on your own hardware, providing you with ultimate control over your data.

You’ll have access to all necessary documentation and can maintain and update the software yourself as needed.

Greater ability to adapt to business needs

While the software vendor or partner will be happy to work with you on a tailored deployment for your business, using the cloud means that you have less control over how the software is configured and used.

It is not exactly the same case with the on-premises option. With local hosting, you can make changes to the software as needed in order to accommodate changing business needs.

You have more control over the implementation process

You can control the hardware, network and software configurations that best fit your organisation’s needs.

Using SunSystems in an on-premises environment gives you greater flexibility over how it is uniquely configured and used by your business. For example, you may need higher system security or reduced downtime for critical applications.

To live in the cloud or stay put on your premises: which is right for your organisation?

The decision to go on-premises or cloud needs to be made with a clear understanding of what your business goals are and how they will fit into each option.

When to choose cloud deployment:

• If you have users who work remotely, the cloud will be an ideal solution for you.
• If what you are looking for is greater flexibility, mobility, and scalability, then cloud deployment would be a good fit.
• If you don’t want to deal with infrastructural maintenance, then a cloud option is your perfect candidate.
• If you are looking for a technology implementation that can be easily managed and maintained while being cost-effective, the cloud is your best bet.
• If you need to get your project up and running quickly, the cloud is an optimal solution as it offers rapid deployment.

When to choose on-premises deployment:

• If your organisation requires a more customised deployment, an on-premises solution may be best suited for your needs.
• If your organisation has a highly regulated environment, has strict security requirements, and needs large amounts of network bandwidth or high availability, then the cloud may not be a good option for you.
• If your organisation runs a large volume of data, it might be better to operate a local storage system as a large amount of data could cost more when hosted in the cloud. However, a local storage system may not be as secure or reliable.
• If you want to be able to fix bugs and add new features quickly, on-premises might be your option since this is more difficult in the cloud.
• If you require certain physical security measures like biometrics or smartcard authentication, then you will need an on-premises deployment.

While there are clear advantages and differences that come with both on-premises and cloud deployments, the right choice for you will depend on its needs and goals. To make an informed decision, you should look at each choice individually, to see how they align with your organisation’s requirements.

Whether in the cloud or on-premises, we have what it takes to help you better manage your financials.

Book a no-obligation requirements call with an expert to see what the system can do for you.