This is part three of an ongoing series entitled “Tech Tips.” We’ll be sharing valuable tips and information about the importance and benefits of technology, as well as what to look for when selecting a vendor. The previous posts can be found here.

It’s hard to argue that cloud computing is less efficient than using Access, Excel or other similar system to keep track of your data. But what about the risks associated with trusting your organization’s information to an outside source?

Security. What happens if the outside server goes down? There’s also a concern about phishers, spammers and hackers. Be cautious about what kind of information you store — especially financial data.

Connectivity. Relying on the Internet can sometimes be dangerous. A sudden loss of connection can lead to the loss of data. And if the Internet connection at your organization is slow or unreliable, cloud computing can be a hassle.

Service. Your AMS provider should be reliable and transparent when it comes to downtime. No provider is perfect, and the service could go down at some point. But representatives should contact you quickly and let you know they’re experiencing some downtime. If they’re upfront and honest with you about the service levels, they’ll likely be upfront about other issues, as well.

Backups. Be sure you keep copies (yes, plural) of your data in case something happens. Make like a Boy Scout and always be prepared.

The benefits of cloud computing do outweigh the costs, but there are several important things to take into consideration when choosing an AMS provider. What other concerns do you have about using an association management system?