Best IT solution for a small CPA firm?

Hi everyone,

I’m an IT professional helping my nephew set up the infrastructure for his small CPA firm. He has a mix of US-based and offshore employees. We’re looking for a centralized, secure solution that handles two main needs:

1. Accounting Software Access: He needs a central environment where all staff can run the accounting software (likely QuickBooks Desktop) simultaneously.
2. Client Portal: A secure way for clients to upload/download sensitive tax and accounting documents.

Current Thinking: I’m considering a cloud-hosted VM (Azure/AWS) running Windows Server with RDP access for the team, but I’m concerned about latency for the offshore staff and the overall monthly cost.

The Question: For those of you running or supporting small firms:

• Is a hosted RDS/WVD setup the standard, or are you seeing better results with tools like Rightworks or QBO?
• What are you using for a budget-friendly but professional client portal (e.g., Citrix ShareFile, TaxDome, or something more lightweight)?

I’d love to hear about any setups that are reliable and budget-friendly for a firm with about a dozen total users. Thanks in advance!