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The start of the year is a natural point to review risk, direction, and long-term decisions including whether staying off-cloud still makes sense.
For most organisations, cloud is already used in areas that handle sensitive and business-critical information. Documents, reporting, collaboration tools, and data storage are increasingly cloud-based often because they provide stronger resilience, clearer auditability, and easier access controls than traditional on-premise setups.
In that context, it’s reasonable to ask whether keeping a core finance-led property system off-cloud still aligns with wider technology and risk strategies. This blog outlines what that means in practice, the trade-offs to consider, and how to approach next steps without pressure or disruption.
Why this matters now
Technology in property management has changed significantly over the last decade and the pace of change isn’t slowing.
Across the industry, there is a clear shift away from traditional on-premise systems towards cloud-based platforms. This isn’t simply about new features. It reflects changing expectations around security, resilience, scalability, and how technology is supported over time.
At the same time, Grosvenor Systems’ own technology has evolved. Propman continues to be developed in line with this direction, and cloud environments are now the core state for how it is supported and enhanced.
The challenges many organisations are facing
For many property organisations, on-premise systems have served them well. However, they are increasingly becoming harder and more expensive to sustain.
From our experience, three challenges come up most often:
- Rising infrastructure and IT support costs
- Security and compliance pressures
- Slower access to updates and innovation
As a result, many organisations find they are carrying more cost and operational risk, while gaining fewer long-term benefits from their technology.
This is why Grosvenor Systems has already supported nearly 50 clients in moving away from on-premise Propman environments not as a rushed decision, but as a planned step towards greater stability and future-readiness.
What good looks like in practice
Moving to the cloud is not about technology for its own sake. Done properly, it should make your organisation simpler to run and better prepared for change.
For property firms using Propman in the cloud, this typically means:
Improved security and resilience
Cloud environments are designed with built-in monitoring, redundancy, and protection, reducing exposure to single points of failure.
Reduced reliance on internal IT teams
Infrastructure management, updates, and performance are handled as part of the platform, allowing internal teams to focus on higher-value priorities.
The ability to scale as portfolios and requirements change
Whether your organisation is growing, restructuring, or moving offices, cloud platforms provide flexibility without major infrastructure decisions.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Organisations that get the most value from cloud adoption tend to approach it as a business decision, not just a technical one.
Two common pitfalls are:
- Focusing only on short-term cost
Looking solely at immediate cost can overlook wider factors such as infrastructure refresh cycles, security risk, internal effort, and long-term scalability.
- Underestimating internal dependencies
On-premise systems are often closely tied to people, processes, and other systems. Mapping these dependencies early helps avoid surprises later.
A successful transition is less about speed, and more about clarity and preparation.
What to do next
If cloud adoption is on your roadmap — or simply something you want to understand better — the next step doesn’t have to be a commitment.
A good place to start is:
- A conversation about your current setup and future plans
- A short assessment to help you assess timing, dependencies, and options
This allows you to make an informed decision, at the right pace for your organisation.
