[sims] SIMS Hosted - who has made the jump from on-prem to hosted recently - pros and cons?

[kennysarmy]

Just putting the feelers out there for those that have jumped from on-prem to hosted SIMS.

 

Our Data Manager is pushing we go down this route, but just after balanced opinions of the pros and cons of such a move.

 

We currently have SIMS installed on around 188 of our 900 clients.

[kennysarmy]

No one?

[bobsmith]

I didn't want to respond because I haven't done it.

 

Nor would I given the choice.

 

It's not the concept that I don't like it's just all the bad reports I've heard about the speed when it's being hosted. It's after-all not actually a true cloud hosted solution, just in effect using Remote Desktop to deliver it to clients.

[Michael]

It's not something I've done first hand, but from I read, there's a general consensus that it's not great.

 

Probably the best advice is to speak with a school or MAT who have made such a move/change, or alternatively start a new MIS procurement process and change to a native cloud based MIS system.

 

You could argue the latter is inevitable as we know Capita are working on a cloud based MIS, but it's just not immediately available.

[Sonic007]

Do the maths and once you add FMS into the mix too you'll soon be staying onsite than hosted.

 

Otherwise see those pounds flying out the window.

[Wizross]

As a Hosted SIMS user, in summary - DON'T DO IT!

[MkII]

Isn't the plan that it is going hosted for everyone in the not too distant future.. or am I getting my wires crossed?

[matt40k]

Isn't the plan that it is going hosted for everyone in the not too distant future.. or am I getting my wires crossed?

Believe the next version of SIMS is Azure only. I guess that may change in the future if they don't get the numbers

[HereIGoAgain2601]

We work with some schools who use the hosted Capita FMS only as part of a MAT. We were considering moving SIMS at one point, but the general consensus is hosted Capita performance is awful, difficulties logging on, system going down etc etc. Everyone using the hosted platform dislikes it. The help desk is also particularly poor for any issues and a lot of the senior staff who handle migrations always seem to be on holiday or off sick. The other team members claim not to know where things are up to so it adds to the delay and frustration.

[FN-GM]

Isn't the plan that it is going hosted for everyone in the not too distant future.. or am I getting my wires crossed?

 

Its not really the same. The current provision is an install of SIMS you access via Windows RDP Remote App. Basically a bodge.

 

The new version is a complete re-write with a proper web interface.

[mwnci]

As a MAT, we have been running about 16 schools on the hosted platform provided by SCOMIS for the last few years. The experience has been a good one.

Speed and reliability have both been better than it was when we were locally hosted. You might raise your eyebrows regarding my claims regarding speed, but they have better servers than we have on site, and the RDP doesn't lag.

 

SCOMIS host their own servers and do not use Azure. They work well.

 

I would never go back to locally hosted.

[Wizross]

Main issues with Hosted SIMS are the limitations. For example, you can't access VBA/Developer if you intend to write code into your reports, etc. You have to purchase a separate code signing license if you want to access this. Even then, you can only sign the code, still not access VBA editor, etc. You have to do all the work in a local Excel, then move it over to Hosted for use in the Hosted Excel.

Even more basic things, like opening a SIMS report in a browser window - they don't even allow the right-click to export to Excel!

I've used local SIMS in many environments and Hosted is just that tiny bit slower moving between screens. Only a fraction, just enough to be noticeable. This is even when accessing it from home with a super fast fibre connection - so no delay with school internet.

Also, Capita determine when the maintenance periods/patches and filesets are uploaded are - and often don't contact before it - I've had to resort to putting a Watch on the Capita Service Status page for updates.

I can also count at least 5-10 times in the last few months when there's been issues and you can't login/it crashes. Sometimes only for 5-10 minutes, sometimes for an hour or two.

 

So many of my calls to my local SIMS support start with 'Oh, you're on Hosted aren't you?'

[CloudGeek]

Main issues with Hosted SIMS are the limitations.

 

I can also count at least 5-10 times in the last few months when there's been issues and you can't login/it crashes. Sometimes only for 5-10 minutes, sometimes for an hour or two.

 

So many of my calls to my local SIMS support start with 'Oh, you're on Hosted aren't you?'

 

As per my avatar, I may be cloud fanstic but my answer is simple.

 

SIMS7 and FMS6 were designed as a local desktop Windows application back in 1990s. Never suitable for cloud. Trying to put such software to work as a cloud application is simply classical case of trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

 

Best to listen to experts in this field. I have recently come across this thread on Edugeek with a video clip that explains elegantly - be it recording is not best quality:

 

Phil Wainwright's video clip:

 

Edugeek thread:

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/139401-government-cloud-mis-list.html

 

Does this help you?