RSMUS.comFor many organizations, the promise of the cloud is clear: greater agility, lower infrastructure costs, improved security, and the ability to scale as the business grows. But while the destination may be obvious, the journey to the cloud is rarely straightforward. Most organizations are not starting from a blank slate—they’re navigating years of legacy systems, customizations, and operational dependencies that make modernization complex.
That’s why successful cloud transformation isn’t a single leap. It’s a progression—one that requires thoughtful planning, the right migration paths, and ongoing support long after systems move off the ground.
RSM’s Managed Application Services (MAS) team helps organizations navigate this complexity through a flexible Ground to Cloud approach. Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all migration, MAS provides multiple “paths” for modernization—meeting clients wherever they are in their journey and guiding them forward at a pace that aligns with their business, technology, and people.
Ground to Cloud Is Not One Path—It’s Many
Every organization’s starting point is different. Some are operating fully on-premise, others in hybrid environments, and many are already using cloud applications but struggling to optimize or scale them. A rigid migration model doesn’t work in this reality.
The Ground to Cloud approach recognizes that cloud transformation happens in stages. MAS supports multiple entry points, or migration paths, depending on a client’s current environment and goals. These paths may include stabilizing legacy platforms, modernizing ERP systems, shifting infrastructure to the cloud, or fully operationalizing cloud-native applications.
Microsoft Dynamics GP is a great example. While GP has long been a reliable ERP solution, many organizations are now looking to modernize and move away from on-premise infrastructure. Through RSM’s Ground to Cloud approach, MAS provides a clear migration path to transition from Dynamics GP to cloud-based Dynamics 365 Business Central, helping organizations modernize their ERP while minimizing disruption and risk.
Why Ground to Cloud Matters
Cloud migration is not a one-time project—it’s an ongoing transformation. Organizations moving away from aging on-premise systems often encounter challenges such as:
- Limited internal cloud and application expertise
- Difficulty standardizing processes across hybrid or transitional environments
- Rising costs due to misconfigured or underutilized cloud resources, along with maintaining and upgrading outdated hardware
- Security, compliance, and regulatory concerns
- Increased demand for reliable, around-the-clock application support
Without a structured approach, cloud initiatives can stall, costs can rise, and business value can be delayed. Ground to Cloud addresses these challenges by focusing not just on migration, but on what happens before and after systems move.
A Structured, End-to-End Managed Services Model
RSM’s MAS practice delivers a comprehensive portfolio of managed services designed to support every phase of the cloud lifecycle—from legacy environments to fully modernized platforms.
Application Management and Optimization
Cloud applications only deliver value when they are stable, secure, and continuously improving. MAS provides proactive monitoring, incident management, enhancements, and break-fix support for business-critical applications. This includes ERP and CRM platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 (including Business Central), Oracle NetSuite, Sage Intacct, and Salesforce.
For organizations migrating from Dynamics GP to Business Central, MAS ensures that applications are not only successfully transitioned but also optimized for performance and usability in the cloud.
Cloud Infrastructure Management
Modern applications rely on well-managed cloud infrastructure. MAS helps clients secure, manage, and optimize their environments across Azure, AWS, and hybrid hosting models. Services include identity and access management, backup and disaster recovery, infrastructure monitoring, patching, and security controls.
This foundation is critical for organizations moving off on-premise systems and into cloud-first architectures.
Advisory and Continuous Improvement
Technology doesn’t stand still—and neither should cloud environments. MAS partners with clients to continuously align applications and infrastructure with new capabilities, platform updates, and evolving business objectives. This ensures that cloud investments continue to deliver value long after the initial migration.
24/7 Support with Scalable Coverage
As organizations grow, so do expectations for system availability and performance. MAS provides round-the-clock monitoring and response, minimizing downtime to address issues before they impact the business.
Moving from Ground to Cloud the Right Way
The most successful cloud transformations are guided, structured, and deliberate. RSM’s Ground to Cloud methodology supports organizations through each phase of modernization:
Assessment
MAS begins by understanding the client’s current systems, pain points, and long-term goals. This helps determine the right migration path—whether that’s modernizing an existing platform, moving from Dynamics GP to Business Central, optimizing cloud usage, or a combination of approaches.
Migration Support
MAS assists with planning and coordination of migrations, ensuring workloads and applications move efficiently and securely. For GP customers, this includes guiding the transition to Business Central while preserving business continuity.
Stabilization
After migration, systems often require fine-tuning. MAS ensures performance, integrations, and security controls are optimized for the new cloud environment.
Ongoing Management
Once stabilized, MAS provides long-term managed services to keep applications modern, resilient, and aligned with changing business needs.
The Business Impact of Ground to Cloud Services
Organizations that adopt MAS’s Ground to Cloud model experience measurable benefits, including:
- Reduced operational and technology risk
- Improved system availability and performance
- Lower overhead compared to in-house application and cloud management
- Stronger security and compliance posture
- Better visibility into cloud spending and utilization
- Freed internal teams to focus on innovation instead of maintenance
Most importantly, Ground to Cloud provides confidence—confidence that modernization is being handled by a partner who understands both the technology and the business impact of change.
Ground to Cloud Is About More Than Technology
At its core, Ground to Cloud is about enabling organizations to grow with stability, flexibility, and control. Whether extending the life of existing systems, migrating Dynamics GP to Business Central, or fully embracing a cloud-first strategy, RSM’s MAS team delivers the continuity and expertise needed at every step.
Ground to Cloud isn’t just how organizations move to the cloud—it’s how they stay successful once they get there.
Ready to modernize?
Learn more about how RSM’s Managed Application Services team helps organizations optimize their Microsoft, NetSuite, Intacct, and Salesforce platforms from ground to cloud:
- https://rsmus.com/services/digital-transformation/managed-application-services.html
- https://rsmus.com/technologies/microsoft/services/managed-services/managed-applications.html
