Migrate Dynamics GP On-Premises to the Cloud: A Story

Tom, the CFO of a mid-sized manufacturing company arrives at the office, coffee in hand, ready for a regular workday. Instead, he walks into an absolute disaster. Overnight, a pipe burst, flooding the office. And the worst part? His servers—holding all the company’s data—are literally floating in the water. Months of financials, inventory records, and operational data are gone.

For Tom, who still relied on Dynamics GP, an on-premises system, this was his worst nightmare. Sure, he had some backups stored off-site, but those backups weren’t current. In fact, the last proper backup was from several months ago. The recovery process would take weeks, months. And while his team scrambled to piece together what they could, the business ground to a halt.

As a CPA who has seen firsthand the chaos that outdated systems can cause, Tom’s story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone still relying on on-premises ERP systems and fuels my passion for helping businesses move to the cloud.

The Vulnerability of On-Premises Systems

Tom’s situation might sound extreme, but it’s more common than you’d think—you may even know a story like his.

On-premises systems like Dynamics GP require servers to be housed on-site. That means not only are they vulnerable to physical damage, like flooding or fire, but they also depend on you to ensure data is backed up regularly and securely.

In Tom’s case, the last backup was outdated. So even though some data was retrievable, the most recent and critical files were lost. When a company’s servers are compromised, the recovery process can take months, as Tom learned the hard way.

Not only do you have to source new hardware, but you’re also at the mercy of how quickly you can retrieve and restore backups.And even when the data is restored, there’s a good chance it won’t be complete, costing your business both time and money in trying to fill in the gaps.

The Cloud Offers a Safety Net

Had Tom used a cloud-based system, the outcome would have been very different.

With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, all your data is stored in the cloud, protected by Microsoft’s industry-leading security. Microsoft has invested far more in disaster recovery, redundancy, and data security than most companies can afford on their own.

That means it’s not sitting in your office vulnerable to physical disasters. Even if Tom’s office had flooded, his business could have continued running with minimal disruption. Cloud-based systems offer automatic backups, meaning Tom doesn’t have to worry about whether his team remembered to back up the system.

The data is saved in real time, so even if a disaster occurs, your company can recover quickly without losing critical information.

The Cost of Recovery vs. the Cost of the Cloud

After the flood, recovery wasn’t just costly—it was a lengthy, stressful process, and the price tag was hefty, far exceeding what a cloud solution would cost. Tom had to spend tens of thousands of dollars on new servers, hire IT consultants, and go through the painstaking process of restoring what he could from those old backups.

Add to that the lost productivity—his team couldn’t process invoices, manage inventory, or run reports for weeks. At the end of the day, the disaster cost his company over six figures. By contrast, cloud-based systems like Business Central operate on an affordable subscription model.

There are no expensive servers to replace, and updates are automatic, meaning you’re always using the most current version without disruption.

Companies migrating from on-premises systems to Business Central saw a 162% return on investment (ROI) within three years, largely because they were able to reduce IT costs​ and gain anytime access to their system, while operating more securely.

Forrester Study on the TEI of Microsoft Business Central

Accessibility Anytime, Anywhere

I know what you’re thinking: the chances of a physical disaster are so slim, so let’s think beyond physical disasters for a moment. The nature of work is changing. Today, employees expect to be able to work remotely or access data from anywhere.

When you’re running an on-premises system like Dynamics GP, you’re stuck—if the server goes down, so does your access to the data. If you need to work remotely, you must rely on VPNs or complicated remote access systems, which can be clunky at best and insecure at worst.

With cloud-based Business Central, all of this changes. You can access your data from any device, anywhere, with an internet connection.

Your business is no longer tied to a physical location. Whether you’re in the office, at home, or on the road, Business Central’s cloud infrastructure gives you the flexibility to run your business without interruption.

A Story of Proactive Business Continuity

We used to talk about business continuity plans with clients at my accounting firm 15 years ago, and if anything, it’s even more important now. With internal and external threats businesses face today, it’s all about making sure you’re ready to keep things running, no matter what gets thrown your way.

Migrating to Business Central means Tom would have had real-time backups, secure data storage, and remote access—all features that would have allowed his team to continue working without missing a beat.

Imagine, instead, that Tom walked into his flooded office, but his team was still running payroll, processing orders, and managing inventory remotely. His data was safe in the cloud, and recovery would have been as simple as logging into the system from a different location.

The peace of mind that comes with knowing your business can continue running despite a physical disaster is invaluable.

The Path Forward

If you’re still relying on an on-premises system like Dynamics GP, I understand that it’s familiar, and it’s served you well. But the risks of sticking with an on-premises system far outweigh its familiar comforts.

Whether it’s a burst pipe, a fire, or even just an IT mishap, relying on physical servers leaves your business vulnerable. And, as we saw with Tom, the cost of recovery can be enormous.

By migrating to Business Central, you’re not just upgrading your ERP system—you’re ensuring that your data is secure, accessible, and up-to-date, no matter what happens.

Times are Changing

As businesses evolve, so do the tools they need to remain competitive.

 Do you worry about the risks of storing critical business data on servers that could be damaged by floods, fires, or other physical disasters?

 Is your team stuck when the server goes down, unable to access important data or work from anywhere when they need to?

These scenarios are all too common for many businesses still running on on-premises systems like Dynamics GP.  While these systems have supported operations for years, the cracks are starting to show.

The flexibility needed to grow, the speed required to compete, and the advanced tools for insight aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore; they’re essential for staying ahead. Here’s where the cloud solutions, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, become powerful growth catalysts.

Let Tom’s story serve as a reminder: don’t wait for disaster to strike, secure your future with the cloud.

In case you missed it, read our related blog, 5 Reasons to Migrate to Cloud-Based Business Central.

About the Author

Lauren Dissinger, CPA, has spent over 15 years guiding companies toward success, and today, as Director of Sales and Customer Experience for ERP at Cargas, she continues to do what she loves—aligning organizations’ strategic goals with innovative technology to reach their 5–10-year objectives.

Interested in learning more? Subscribe to her newsletter, The Strategy Lab.