A hosted desktop is your Windows desktop, files and accountancy software running on a secure server that your team reaches from anywhere, on almost any device. For a London accountancy practice serving music and entertainment clients, it means everyone works from the same CCH, QuickBooks, FYI and INVU setup, securely, whether they are in the office, at home or travelling with a client.
Hosted desktops, sometimes called remote desktops or RDS, are a popular fit for accountancy firms. Here’s why.
1. One shared system for the whole practice
Your tax software, document management and files all live in one place. Everyone logs in to the same desktop, so the whole team works from the same up-to-date information rather than scattered local copies.
2. Work from anywhere, discreetly
Because the desktop runs on a server, your accountants can reach it from the office, from home or on the move. For a firm whose clients value discretion and quick turnaround, that flexibility matters.
3. Client data stays central and secure
With everything on the server rather than on laptops, sensitive client data stays in one controlled, backed-up, protected place. A lost or stolen laptop is far less of a worry when the real systems and files are not on it.
4. Easier to support and grow
A managed hosted desktop is quick to support and easy to add people to. New starters get access fast, and the whole environment is maintained and secured in one place rather than machine by machine.
A real example: a practice that runs on hosted desktops
We support a London accountancy practice serving music and entertainment clients whose team works almost entirely from a hosted desktop running their tax software, document management and Microsoft 365. We keep it fast, available and secure, so the firm can serve high-profile clients from anywhere.
For most music and entertainment accountancy firms, this sits within fully managed IT at about £45 to £100 per user per month, billed per user, with secure remote access and the protection client data needs built in.
Why music and entertainment accountants choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including London accountancy practices serving music and entertainment clients. We know the software your firm runs every day: CCH, QTAC, QuickBooks, payroll software, FYI and INVU, alongside Microsoft 365 and hosted desktops, and we understand the discretion high-profile clients expect. We support accountancy practices in London and across Essex and Hertfordshire. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Wondering if hosted desktops are right for your practice? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll advise honestly.