Cloud Computing for Accountants and Financial Professionals (Completed)

Technology continues to expand at an exponential rate, creating many opportunities for you to improve your company’s efficiencies and lower your operating costs. Firms across the nation are quickly realizing the need to adopt these new technologies or risk being left behind. This presentation introduces the Cloud, one of the fastest-growing trends in Internet technology. It takes a deep dive into the major components, deployment methods, service providers, and applications. It aims to help attendees have a good working knowledge of how the Cloud and Internet work so they can better implement these technologies in their organizations.

This essential course explores the use of how the Cloud can be used inside your organization and the benefits and risks of moving to the Cloud. The course discusses the differences between the different levels of cloud technology, applications vs. thin clients, the role of mobile apps, and different types of Internet connections. Finally, many examples of actions your office can take to move to the cloud are explored, outlining the risks and benefits of these actions.

Who Should Attend
Designed for industry and public practice accountants who regularly use a computer or mobile device.

Topics Covered

• How the Cloud can be used inside your organization and benefits and risks of moving to the Cloud
• Differences between the different levels of cloud technology
• Applications vs. thin clients
• The role of mobile apps
• Various different types of Internet connections
• Actions your office can take to move to the cloud
• Outlining the risks and benefits of these actions

Learning Objectives

• Identify how to make an informed decision on what type of computer hardware, software, operating system and Internet connection would best serve their office
• Describe what "The Cloud" is and how it works within an office
• Differentiate between the three levels of cloud computing (Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service) and be able to choose which one would be right for their firm
• Identify the major business functionalities which could be moved to the Cloud.
• Identify the benefits and risks of moving a firm to "The Cloud"
• Describe real life steps they can make to move some office processes (ex. Email and calendars) to The Cloud today for personal and organizational information

Level
Basic

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Information Technology (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
None

Advance Preparation
None