FIPS mode in windows controls various encryption algorithms. This mode is popularly required by government agencies and contractors. QuickBooks crashes when FIPS mode is activated. This is unfortunate and ruins productivity.

Making a choice

While some recommend that you simply disable the FIPS mode, doing so isn’t an option for government employees and contractors. So you must choose between QuickBooks accounting software or the FIPS mode.

Running QuickBooks on a separate system

You can install QuickBooks on a separate system or host it on a server. These techniques enable you to work on QuickBooks despite your system being in the FIPS mode.

QuickBooks crashes when FIPS mode is activated, so you need to choose between a separate system or hosting to work on QuickBooks Desktop.

Hosting has several benefits:

• Affordable: You can get a metered connection and pay only what you use.
• Anytime anywhere access: You can access your financial and accounting data from anywhere. You simply need to authenticate once and access the data.
• Scalable: Hosting services enable scalability. So if you require more space to store data or more RAM to process it, then you can simply increase the amount of resources you’ve access to.
• Secure: Hosting platforms are largely secure as the data and network connection are encrypted. But the security depends largely on your hosting provider.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks online is yet another option. Instead of hosting the software and company file on a separate server, you can rely on the highly secure environment provided by Intuit for your accounting needs.

QuickBooks online comes with a more simplified user interface yet with most of the features of the desktop version.

All your data is stored on highly secure servers managed by Intuit. And the security systems are automatically updated by them to prevent attacks by malware and ransomware. The security encryption used is AES256, and TLS encrypts data outside the Intuit ecosystem.

So you don’t have to maintain a team of security experts.

Data is backed up automatically so that you never lose your work. In fact, you can even revert back to a previous version of the software if you think that the software isn’t working properly.

Conclusion

QuickBooks crashes when FIPS mode is activated. And until you disable the FIPS mode on the system, you won’t be able to access QuickBooks. Otherwise, you can host the program on a server or use the online version to continue enjoying the benefits offered by QuickBooks.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. How will I transfer my accounting data to the server or QuickBooks Desktop?

A. To transfer your company file to another system, you can follow the steps provided below:

1. Go to the Folder containing your company file.
2. Right click on the Folder and select Copy.
3. Go to the external storage device.
4. Right click on empty space and select Paste.
5. Transfer the folder to your new system.
6. Launch QuickBooks on the new system and select Open or Restore an existing company.
7. Select the company file that you want to import.

To export QuickBooks data to another QuickBooks desktop, you can simply export the data directly through the desktop version or select the upload company file option in QuickBooks. Once the data is uploaded, you’ll be able to work easily.

QuickBooks will do the rest. It will automatically import all the data and reports. However, you’ll have to reset the setting and user preferences. You may also need to create new user accounts to use with QuickBooks.

Q2. Should I create a backup of my data before moving QuickBooks?

A. Yes, you should. In rare instances, you may not be able to copy the entire company file and it may get damaged. So you should undoubtedly create a backup of your data. A backup will ensure that you don’t lose your company file data if anything goes wrong.