Top 10 Technology Trends for Advisors and Their Partners: Pt. 7, Cloud-Based Computing

In the previous post of our twelve-part blog series on the Top 10 Technology Trends for advisors and their partners, we discussed how those advisory firms who embrace the workflow trend and systematize their business will create more business value than firms that fail to do so. The sixth trend we will discuss in this post is cloud-based computing.   

The ‘cloud’ is another name for remote servers operated by a third party. In the cloud, digital storage space and computing power becomes virtually unlimited because you’re reliant neither upon the physical space where you can house servers nor upon your budget for purchasing and maintaining computer hardware. In the cloud, you’re instead renting server space and, with high-speed wireless Internet access, anything stored in the cloud can be accessed just about anywhere, at any time. 

The greatest trend and perhaps the greatest cost savings for advisors related to the cloud is that software no longer needs to reside on the user’s servers or computers. The software program itself actually resides in and is accessible from a cloud-based server. cloud-based software means that firms don’t have to purchase and maintain their own often high-priced server rooms for storage, nor do they have to maintain multiple software licenses. Software can be purchased on a per-user license, and in effect, only one version of the software needs to be maintained on the cloud as all users will access the same core program. The benefit of this is that new software versions, software bug fixes, etc., are done at the cloud level, so firms no longer have to worry about maintaining and updating software at the individual computer level. 

The cloud computing trend also brings an entirely new level of security, back-up and compliance issues. As you look to take advantage of cloud computing, make sure that you speak with others in the financial services industry and educate yourself on best practices related to security and compliance. By working with the right cloud-based firm, your security can actually improve as again, compliance and security can be managed at the cloud level. But not every cloud computing firm that promises high security can deliver, so make sure you check with your custodian and other advisors on who they might recommend. A Cloud Analogy: The Power Grid