The Old Model: High-Spec PC Per Employee
The traditional approach to business computing: each staff member gets a high-spec workstation (₹35,000–₹70,000 per machine) capable of running Tally, Busy, Office, and other applications locally. Applications and data are stored locally on each machine. Remote access requires VPN configuration and data synchronisation. Backups require a separate server or backup service. For a 10-person office: ₹3.5–₹7 lakh in workstation hardware, plus ongoing maintenance, plus IT support.
The Cloud Model: Basic Devices + Cloud Server
With all business applications (Tally, Busy, Office) running on a cloud server accessed via Remote Desktop: staff devices become display terminals. The local device needs only to run an RDP client and a web browser — even a ₹15,000–₹25,000 budget laptop or an older PC from 2016 is fully adequate. All computing happens on the cloud server.
For a 10-person office using 8 concurrent cloud sessions: ₹7,000/month (+ 18% GST) for cloud hosting covers the server for all 8 users. Staff devices can be budget laptops or older PCs that would otherwise be inadequate for local application performance — but are perfectly capable as cloud terminals.
The Cost Comparison
| Cost | Traditional (10 PCs) | Cloud Model (10 users) |
|---|---|---|
| Workstation hardware | ₹4,00,000 – ₹6,00,000 (one-time) | ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,50,000 (budget devices) |
| Local server for data sharing | ₹80,000 – ₹1,50,000 (one-time) | ₹0 |
| IT support for workstations + server | ₹8,000 – ₹18,000/month | ₹0 (included in cloud plan) |
| Cloud hosting (10 users) | ₹0 | ₹7,000/month + 18% GST |
| Remote access setup | VPN configuration + IT maintenance | Built-in — no extra setup |
| Data backup | Separate backup solution required | Included — daily off-site, 7-day retention |
Performance: Old Laptop + Cloud vs New PC + Local
Counter-intuitively, a 5-year-old laptop connecting to a cloud server with NVMe SSD often provides better Tally performance than a new PC with local SATA SSD storage. The NVMe cloud server's 400,000+ IOPS far exceeds any local storage, and the computing happens on the server's dedicated vCores — not the laptop's processor. The laptop's age only affects screen rendering speed and input latency, both of which are negligible for accounting work.
Extending Hardware Life
The cloud model extends the productive life of existing hardware significantly. A PC that cannot run Windows 11 or a latest-generation application locally can still run an RDP client and connect to a cloud server efficiently. Businesses migrating to cloud often defer workstation replacement by 2–3 years — a meaningful capex saving — because device processing power is no longer the limiting factor for application performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Thin clients running an RDP client connect to the cloud server exactly as a full PC would. Chromebooks have a built-in Remote Desktop client. Any device capable of displaying a Remote Desktop session — including some smart TVs and Android tablets — can be used as a cloud terminal. The device only needs to display the session and transmit inputs; all application processing is on the cloud server.
Better Performance. Lower Hardware Costs. Built-In Remote Access.
₹700/user/month + 18% GST. Yearly plan. Any device connects.