- Selecting a Cloud ERP system
In spite of all the advances in technology and the security safeguards in the cloud, the process of selecting a cloud ERP system should still be a valid concern. Only then will it be a commitment of shared responsibility and the decision to use it will truly be a well informed one. It is necessary to do the due diligence in order to select an effective ERP solution. Though it has been proven that most cloud-based ERP applications are more secure than on-premise legacy ERP applications, there should an unwavering attention on the aspect of the egalitarian distributed and connected nature of the cloud. The possible exposure to threats may increase in a cloud environment but it is well protected by billions of dollars of appropriate technology investments and the work of some of the best minds on the planet. This does not mean that we have no role to play in considering its security aspects and should just use a cloud solution like a plug and play option. Since, every solution brings its unique challenges, they need to be looked at properly in order to select the most appropriate and relevant one to your business needs. Following are the four prime security considerations that all potential customers should attend to before moving to a cloud erp system:
How much control can you afford to give up?
One of the most points to consider before moving any application to a cloud erp system is the amount of control you have to hand over to the application provider. For organizations that deal in highly sensitive data, this is a very real concern.
You must ask the following questions and cross check the responses: “Where will your data be stored? Who will have access to it? Are you moving into a multitenant situation where other organizations’ data will be stored on the same server as yours? What happens to your data in that situation if another tenant has a data breach? Etc”. If the vendor can’t answer these questions satisfactorily, you should actively consider looking for other solution options.
Always take into account the regulatory and compliance requirements for your business domain
Regulatory & compliance requirements if not taken into account can cause issues when it comes to moving ERP to the cloud in terms of duplication of effort and punitive actions by regulatory bodies.
You must understand the governance, risk and compliance (GRC) expectations for your industry and for your data before you consider moving to a cloud-based ERP. In the selection process, take the time to ensure that potential vendors understand them and are equipped so that you are always in compliance with minimal extra effort. You must remember that the vendor is not the one that will face punitive action for not meeting regulatory compliance, you will, so do take the time to ensure that the maximum check boxes have been ticked for the selected solution in the GRC space.
Consider contingency plans
This is more of a downtime issue, but it can still be considered as a security aspect of uptime. When an organization hosts a solution in house and an outage occurs, contingency plans are generally in place. Though cloud ERP vendors have a high security competence, you must know that what will happen if there’s an outage/breach on the vendor’s side or if there is a cloud network outage/breach and how do you access your ERP data and ensure its safety in cases like these?
The solution vendor should be open to building a plan for downtime, contingencies, threats and data recovery should an outage occur. Even if the primary network goes down, ERP data still should be accessible and integrity should be ensured.
Consider security from multiple scenarios
Security should always be considered from multiple angles- the more the better keeping in mind time and resource availability constraints. It is important to consider and be convinced about tackling the most common security threats and the worst case scenarios before you express an intent to use a solution.
Here are some sample questions that you could ask the vendor and get direct answers or via research or contacting past/current users: “What kind of physical security does the data center in which your data are stored have? How stringent are the hiring requirements for the people who operate the data center? What does data transmission security look like? What plan is in place to ensure storage and access security? What types of encryption are used? What was the vendor response to contingencies? What is the quality of support provided? Etc”
Data security for cloud ERP system has come a long way. Cloud ERP vendors have invested heavily in the best possible security systems, but that doesn’t remove your responsibility for understanding how your ERP data need to be secured and how the vendor plans to make that happen. Take the time to consider your cloud-based ERP security closely and understand the gaps and address them well in terms of the impact on operation, performance and safety/security of information. It’s better to be really secure and ready for anything rather than to wonder about what to do when an issue comes up in the future and run from pillar to post.
You may have the best car in the world but if you don’t drive it safely and follow the traffic rules, you are headed for disaster. This metaphor points to the fact that even after selection, you still have a shared responsibility for the security aspects and operability of your solution no matter how advanced it is in terms of technologies and safeguards.
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
We at Vera have created a secure cloud based one stop comprehensive ERP solution that is e-commerce and mobility ready. The Versa Small Business Cloud ERP system is accessible anytime, and on any device, including desktop and laptop computers, tablet devices and mobile phones. Our solution is designed with industry best practices and consistent with regulatory requirements. It provides support for e-Commerce and Multi-Channel Retail includes integration with 3rd party e-commerce platforms as well as POS systems.
The capabilities of these integrations included the ability to exchange transactional data with these systems, provide status updates, as well as support complex transactions across these systems including inventory transfer between systems and locations. In addition, the Versa Small Business Cloud ERP system includes the ability to remotely manage Master Data on multiple e-commerce and POS systems including product description, pricing, images, etc.
It has been created to take care of all the business needs and concerns for operating your business effectively. It addresses key issues of the small business domain in the most effective manner possible. It is affordable and targeted towards SMB’s and is backed by a promise of dedicated support. It is being used by clients in diverse verticals and could help you redefine the way you operate and grow your business.
Our solution is designed for fast growing businesses, between $1-$50M in annual revenue, looking to upgrade business management solutions like entry-level accounting products or mid-tier legacy on-premise ERP systems or even those looking at comprehensive and affordable ERP solutions. Our solution is built to be capable, affordable and easy to use by small and mid-sized businesses.
With the VersaAccounts ERP solution, you can have project management, multi-entity accounting, purchasing & order management, distribution, production, customer relationship management (CRM), e-commerce, multi-channel retail, advanced inventory management, reporting & BI, document management, security, mobility, global relevance, pre-existing 3rd party integration and DSCSA compliant functionalities built into one solution for easy operability across your business functions. There are customization options with easy migration from and compatibility with respect to other systems preexisting or in the business environment.
Built from the ground up on the latest cloud and mobile technology, the Versa Cloud ERP system allows businesses to automate and optimize their operations across multiple companies, countries, and currencies with one integrated ERP system.
We will help you in a structured manner to migrate your data seamlessly from Epicor, Infor, QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics, MYOB, Sage, SAP Business One etc when you make the decision.
To know more, please visit www.versaclouderp.com or contact us directly.
Reference:
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/inside-erp/4-security-considerations-for-cloudbased-erp-65975