QuickBooks AWS Hosting Explained: Setup, Costs, and Advantages

• 19 November 2025
• AWS,QuickBooks
• Written by George Dockrell

QuickBooks is the preferred business accounting application for millions of small and mid-sized businesses worldwide. With a vast range of features, QuickBooks allows users to keep their accounts neat and organized. Most businesses eventually choose to host QuickBooks in the cloud. It offers added benefits such as anytime, anywhere access, multi-user collaboration, reduced IT costs, automated backup, scalability, and security. Let us break down whether hosting QuickBooks in Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud is possible, and if yes, how easy or difficult it is.

Why Host QuickBooks in the Cloud Rather Than Using QuickBooks Online?

QuickBooks Desktop, and especially QuickBooks Enterprise, offers the most robust and feature-rich solution in the QuickBooks product line compared to QuickBooks Online. If you migrate your existing QuickBooks Desktop or Enterprise application to the cloud, you do not have to learn new software. This migration preserves the familiar interface and full functionality of your trusted desktop version, which is a key advantage as Intuit guides users toward online solutions. This approach is ideal for businesses that rely on the advanced capabilities of the desktop platform.

Can You Host QuickBooks in AWS?

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) offers virtual servers in AWS. EC2 allows you to deploy a fully licensed version of QuickBooks, enabling you to access your accounts and records securely. You can use Amazon EC2 servers to configure security, networking, and storage management for your QuickBooks virtual server. While AWS provides modern tools like launch templates and simplified VPC setup, the process still involves technical configuration. The common method involves launching a Windows Server instance into your Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) with specific Security Group rules for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) access. Despite more automated deployment options, this method requires significant complexity to complete securely and properly, demanding experience with AWS.

In addition, you can also choose to host your QuickBooks software in Amazon WorkSpaces, which provides a Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual desktop in the cloud. This service allows you to operate QuickBooks and access the features virtually from any device. However, you cannot get a Windows 10/11 multi-session experience with Amazon WorkSpaces, as this feature is exclusively available on Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).

Does Hosting QuickBooks on AWS Involve Administrative Tasks?

If you host QuickBooks on AWS, setting up a Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) for multi-user access can ensure a good experience. However, this setup is complex and leads to significant ongoing administrative responsibilities. Managing a cloud environment without dedicated IT expertise often leads to complications.

The key administrative tasks and challenges include:

• Infrastructure Management: Every virtual machine requires continuous monitoring, active firewall management, and ongoing maintenance to ensure security and performance.
• Application Support: QuickBooks-specific application issues can arise, and if not resolved promptly, they can render your accounting software inaccessible.
• Data Protection: Implementing and managing a robust, automated backup plan is critical; without it, you risk losing sensitive business and customer data.
• Expertise Requirement: Successfully resolving these issues on AWS demands a strong command of complex IT practices and the budget for potential add-on services.

While these tasks are manageable within the AWS ecosystem, they require significant time, expertise, and resources to handle effectively.

The Better Alternative to a DIY AWS Hosting Project

Navigating the complexities of a self-hosted AWS setup is not the only path to the cloud. A superior alternative is partnering with an Intuit Authorized Hosting Provider. This approach delivers the full benefits of the cloud without the administrative burden.

By choosing a managed hosting provider like Apps4Rent, you gain:

• Expert-Led Management: Skilled professionals handle the deployment, monitoring, and management of your environment using industry best practices.
• Zero Administrative Burden: You can seamlessly manage your accounts without any involvement in server maintenance, security patches, or network configuration.
• Comprehensive Support: The service includes reliable data backup, streamlined multi-user access, and dedicated, round-the-clock technical support.
• Optimized Performance: Your software is hosted in a fast and secure cloud environment built specifically for application hosting.

Host QuickBooks on AWS the Right Way with Apps4Rent

Yes, you can host QuickBooks on AWS, but as outlined, it requires significant expertise and ongoing management. The most efficient path is to leverage a specialized cloud service provider.

Apps4Rent is an Intuit Authorized Hosting Provider that delivers a fully managed, highly secure, and reliable platform for your QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Enterprise applications. We combine the power of leading clouds like AWS and Azure Virtual Desktop with our own enterprise data centres to provide an optimized hosting environment.

When you choose Apps4Rent, you gain all the cloud benefits without the complexity:

• We expertly deploy, manage, and maintain your software.
• You retain the full functionality of your desktop version.
• Your team can focus on core business processes.

We eliminate the administrative burden, ensuring seamless multi-user access, robust data backup, and 24/7 support. Contact our hosting experts to discuss your needs and explore our managed QuickBooks hosting solutions. We are available throughout the day (and night!) via phone, chat, and email to assist you.

FAQs: Hosting QuickBooks on AWS

1. Can I host QuickBooks Desktop on AWS?

   Yes, you can host QuickBooks Desktop on Amazon EC2 by deploying a Windows Server and installing your licensed QuickBooks Desktop version. This setup allows remote access, multi-user capabilities, and centralized data storage.

2. Is hosting QuickBooks on AWS approved by Intuit?

   Intuit allows companies to use their own infrastructure, including AWS, to host QuickBooks for internal use. However, AWS itself is not an Intuit Authorized Commercial Hosting Provider, and you must follow all QuickBooks licensing requirements.

3. Is AWS a good option for hosting QuickBooks?

   AWS is powerful and flexible, but hosting QuickBooks on EC2 requires IT experience, ongoing maintenance, and additional security configuration. Businesses without cloud expertise often find it complex compared to using an Intuit Authorized Hosting Provider like Apps4Rent.

4. How do I install QuickBooks Desktop on an AWS EC2 instance?

   To install QuickBooks Desktop on EC2, you must deploy a Windows Server, configure networking and security groups, enable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), install QuickBooks, and set up multi-user hosting via the QuickBooks Database Server Manager.

5. What AWS instance type is best for QuickBooks Desktop?

   Most QuickBooks deployments run well on t3.medium or t3.large instances, though QuickBooks Enterprise and multi-user environments may require m5 or m6i series instances for better performance.

6. Why is QuickBooks slow on AWS and how can I improve performance?

   Common causes include underpowered EC2 instances, slow EBS storage, high latency between users and the AWS region, or incorrect QuickBooks Database Manager settings. Upgrading the instance, using SSD-backed EBS volumes, or optimizing network routes usually improves speed.

7. Does AWS automatically back up QuickBooks data?

   No. AWS offers backup tools, but they must be configured manually. You need to set up automated EBS snapshots or use AWS Backup to ensure your QuickBooks files and server data are protected.

8. Is AWS more secure than local QuickBooks hosting?

   AWS provides strong cloud security, but you are responsible for configuring firewalls, encryption, user access controls, and patching. Security depends entirely on how well the EC2 environment is set up and maintained.

9. Is using a QuickBooks hosting provider easier than hosting on AWS?

   Yes. Managed hosting providers handle installation, security, backups, updates, and user support. AWS requires you to configure and maintain everything yourself, which is why many businesses choose specialized hosts like Apps4Rent that deliver ready-to-use QuickBooks environments without the technical overhead.