Run Intuit Lacerte from anywhere, securely in the cloud
Host your Lacerte tax software on a secure, high-performance cloud server built for CPA firms and tax preparers. Multi-user access, automatic backups, and full desktop performance — from any device, any time of year, including peak tax season.
Built for the way tax firms actually work
No servers to babysit, no version conflicts between desks, no scramble when a preparer needs to work from home during crunch week.
Work From Anywhere
Access Lacerte securely from your office, home, or on the road — on any Windows, Mac, or mobile device.
Built for Tax Season
Multiple preparers can work in the same client file simultaneously with no slowdowns during your busiest weeks.
Bank-Level Security
256-bit SSL encryption, MFA, and daily backups protect sensitive client SSNs, EINs, and financial data.
No IT Headaches
We handle installs, updates, and server maintenance, so your team can focus on returns, not troubleshooting.
What is Lacerte hosting?
Lacerte hosting means running your licensed copy of Intuit Lacerte on a secure, remote Windows server instead of a local desktop or in-office server. Cloud Innovics installs Lacerte on enterprise-grade infrastructure and gives your firm remote desktop access to it — so the software looks and behaves exactly like the desktop version you already know, just reachable from anywhere with an internet connection.
This is different from a browser-based tax product: with Lacerte hosting you get the full, unmodified Lacerte application, including every feature, form, and add-on your firm relies on, without the limits of a copy tied to one machine.
For CPA firms and tax preparers, that means staff can log in to the same Lacerte environment from the office, a home workstation, or a client site, work on returns as a team without file-locking conflicts, and know data is backed up daily behind enterprise security — all without maintaining an in-house server.
Lacerte features that work seamlessly on our cloud
Everything you need, built in
Security and backups are not an upgrade. Plans differ by users, applications, and resources — never by how well your data is looked after.
Remote Desktop Access
Multi-User Access
Daily Backup
Automatic Updates
256-bit SSL Encryption
Multi-Factor Authentication
Enterprise SSD Servers
Windows Server
99.9% Uptime
Disaster Recovery
24/7 Expert Support
Firewall Protection
Certifications your compliance team will recognize
Beyond the encryption and MFA built into every plan, our infrastructure holds SOC 2 Type 2 certification directly. The facilities our infrastructure runs in separately maintain the certifications below at the facility level.
Independently audited security controls
Information security management (facility level)
Safeguards for sensitive client records (facility level)
Payment data handling standards (facility level)
Type 2 service organization controls (facility level)
What the FTC Safeguards Rule and IRS Pub 4557 actually require
The FTC Safeguards Rule (16 CFR Part 314) requires every tax preparer to maintain a Written Information Security Plan (WISP) with specific technical safeguards, not just “reasonable” security in the abstract. IRS Publication 4557 lays out the same expectation from the IRS side, as part of the Security Six preparers are required to implement. Neither document tells you exactly how to satisfy them — that’s usually where firms get stuck.
What examiners actually check
Where this usually breaks down
Most small and mid-size firms don’t fail an audit because they’re careless — they fail because Lacerte runs on a front-desk PC or an aging in-office server with no documentation trail. There’s no audit log, no written encryption standard, and no answer to “who else has access to this machine.” None of that is a software problem; it’s an infrastructure problem.
Hosting doesn’t replace your WISP — you still need one — but it gives you something concrete to reference in it. A SOC 2 Type 2 report, which Cloud Innovics holds directly, is documentation you can hand to an examiner or a client, instead of trying to describe the security posture of a physical office PC after the fact. Our infrastructure also runs in data-center facilities that maintain further certifications, such as ISO 27001.
A concrete example: an examiner reviewing your WISP might ask who has admin access to the machine storing client returns, and when that access list was last reviewed. On a hosted environment, that’s a logged, auditable answer in one sentence. On a shared office PC, it usually isn’t an answer at all — it’s a guess.
Secure server locations, close to you
Our data centres sit in low-risk zones shielded from natural disasters, with enterprise power, cooling, and network redundancy — positioned to keep latency low no matter where your team logs in from.
Lacerte Hosting vs. Running Lacerte Locally
Hosting keeps the same Lacerte license and interface your firm already uses and moves where it physically runs. Here’s how that compares to an in-office install.
| Hosted Lacerte | Installed Locally | |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-preparer access | Same instance, from any device or location | Tied to whichever workstation has it installed |
| Hardware | Runs on our managed servers — nothing to buy | Requires a dedicated in-office machine or server |
| Maintenance & updates | Handled for you, including backups and monitoring | Falls on your firm’s own IT time |
| Adding seasonal preparers | Add a user instantly, scale back after the deadline | Limited by available workstations and licenses |
| Disaster recovery | Automated, redundant backups, off your premises | Depends entirely on your own backup discipline |
Lacerte hosting plans for every firm size
Transparent per-month pricing — no hidden setup fees. Switch tiers anytime as your firm grows through tax season.
2 Users
2 Apps Included
6GB RAM · 10GB SSD
99.9% Uptime
MS Word, Excel & Adobe Reader
Daily Backups
24/7 Server Monitoring
Popular
5 Users
3 Apps Included
8GB RAM · 30GB SSD
99.9% Uptime
MS Word, Excel & Adobe Reader
Daily Backups
24/7 Priority Support
12 Users
4 Apps Included
10GB RAM · 40GB SSD
99.9% Uptime
MS Word, Excel & Adobe Reader
Daily Backups
24/7 Priority Support
Need a custom setup? Get a tailored quote for your firm’s user count and storage needs.
Optional add-ons
Word, Excel, and Outlook in the cloud.
Host any other business application alongside Lacerte.
More space as your client files grow.
Your own private server for maximum performance.
Clients provide a valid Lacerte licence; Cloud Innovics does not sell or lease tax software.
We move you across
We’ll move your Lacerte software, client files, and user settings to the cloud with minimal downtime — even mid-season.
Free migration
Zero data loss
Dedicated engineer
Weekend migration available
Built to protect client data
256-bit SSL encryption
Multi-factor authentication
Daily backups & disaster recovery
Enterprise firewall protection
Anti-virus & malware protection
PhoenixNAP enterprise data centre
Get Lacerte running in the cloud in five steps
Tell us your setupShare your Lacerte version, user count, and add-ons.
Free consultationWe size the right server and plan for your firm.
Free migrationWe move Lacerte and client files with zero data loss.
User setupWe configure logins and permissions for your team.
Start filingLog in and prepare returns from anywhere.
7 questions to ask before you host Lacerte anywhere
Every hosting provider’s homepage looks reassuring. These are the questions that actually separate a real setup from a reseller with a website.
Run through these seven with any provider you’re evaluating, including us — the answers should hold up whether it’s January or June, not just during the sales call.
What customers say about Cloud Innovics
Reviews left by customers on Serchen, an independent software review site.
“We have been using Cloud Innovics for our QuickBooks hosting for several years. The system has made it much easier for our team to access QuickBooks remotely and work with the same company files.”
“Their support has been stellar! All of our technical questions have been answered the same day and typically on the initial call.”
“Technical support is superb. Round the clock support is available making it easy for us to communicate. Overall great service!!”
Frequently asked questions about Lacerte hosting
Is this an official Intuit-hosted version of Lacerte?+
Can Lacerte handle peak tax season traffic on your servers?+
Will you migrate my existing client files and prior-year data?+
Can I still integrate Lacerte with QuickBooks?+
Can I run Lacerte alongside other tax or accounting software?+
What certifications does your hosting infrastructure hold?+
Do you support dual or multi-monitor setups?+
Is my client data secure?+
How quickly can my firm get started?+
Is there a long-term contract?+
Where are your data centers located?+
Can I print directly from hosted Lacerte to my office printer?+
Does hosting satisfy the FTC Safeguards Rule’s WISP requirement?+
Does the FTC Safeguards Rule actually apply to a small tax practice?+
Can I see proof of your certifications before switching?+
Ready to move Lacerte to the cloud?
Start your free 7-day trial and experience secure, high-performance Lacerte hosting.
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