For many UK businesses, Sage ERP is a mission-critical system that manages everything from finance and supply chain to reporting. As the pressure grows to modernise IT infrastructure, more organisations are considering moving Sage ERP to the cloud.
Hosting Sage ERP in the cloud offers clear benefits—flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency—but the transition also requires careful planning. Before you take the leap, here are 10 key questions to ask to ensure your business is ready for cloud ERP hosting.
Are you looking to reduce costs, enable remote working, strengthen security, or future-proof your ERP? Clarifying your objectives will help you choose the right cloud hosting approach. Many organisations decide to move to the cloud to release the cycle of hardware maintenance and investment. Others have a skills shortage that prevents them from keeping systems up to date and secure. By understanding your goals, you'll be able to select the best fit solution for your business.
Different Sage products (such as Sage 200, Sage X3 or Sage 1000) have unique requirements. Understanding your version ensures compatibility and smooth migration to the cloud. As an award-winning Sage partner with over 35 years in the Sage market and a Microsoft Cloud Partner, we have the right blend of skills and experience to help migrate your Sage product to a private cloud environment.
If hybrid working or field operations are important, secure cloud access will deliver immediate value. Consider how often users will need to log in remotely. Cloud provides organisations with a high degree of flexibility in this 24/7 world and can deliver a smooth, easy user experience to your users.
Cloud providers offer robust protections like encryption and firewalls, but you’ll want to check how individual hosting solutions align with industry regulations and GDPR compliance. Not all hosting is the same and it is important that you understand the implications of the security in place.
Hosting Sage ERP in the cloud typically reduces capital expenditure but introduces subscription costs. A full cost comparison (including hidden IT costs) is essential. Operational costs, or subscription, is a budget-friendly option for those organisations looking to flatline costs. CPiO Cloud offers flexible Sage ERP hosting options for every budget without compromising security or service. We are committed to being transparent about costs.
Migrating years of ERP data requires expertise and planning. Ask your provider about backup, migration tools, and how downtime will be minimised during the move. You'll need to understand where your data is currently stored and what data you want to continue to access. Many organisations choose to archive some data in the CPiO Cloud giving them access to historical information should they need it.
Your ERP should adapt as your business evolves. Check whether you can easily add users, storage, or new features without major disruption or expense. Any cloud provider should be upfront and transparent about their pricing so that you can forecast your costs as your business grows.
Resilience matters. Ensure your hosting partner offers regular backups, redundancy, and tested disaster recovery processes to keep operations running. Every provider should have a base level of DR, but you may need to pay more for a more comprehensive solution.
You'll need to be clear as to whether updates and routine maintenance relates to the infrastructure in which your Sage ERP software sits or the software itself. This will vary depending on the solution in place. CPiO offers a number of options from more basic requirements to a fully hosted managed service with Sage ERP patch management and proactive maintenance.
Beyond technical hosting, consider what ongoing support you’ll receive. A trusted Sage partner can provide not only hosting but also ERP expertise and customer support. CPiO customers choose our Sage ERP hosting services because we have a blend of skills and experience, removing the frustration of different suppliers passing the responsibility between themselves when an issue occurs.
Ready to explore Sage ERP in the cloud?
Asking the right questions before migrating ensures your business makes a smooth and successful transition. Cloud hosting can unlock powerful benefits—but only if it’s done with a clear strategy and trusted partner.
At CPiO, we’ve helped businesses across the UK securely move Sage ERP to the cloud. Whether you’re using Sage 200, Sage 1000, Sage X3 or another version, our experts are here to guide you. Learn more about our Sage Cloud Hosting services and how we can support your migration. You can also explore our Sage Cloud Hosting FAQs for quick answers to common migration questions.