Should my program keep its data locally or in the cloud?

Yes, provided the data is stored in one place every computer can reach, which is usually a cloud database that each machine signs in to over the internet. Installing the same program on several computers with local data does not connect them: each machine keeps its own records. So decide when you build, based on how many computers need the same records.

A program works offline when two things are true: it is installed on the computer itself rather than opened in a browser, and its data is stored in a local database on that machine. Then it opens, sells and prints even if the connection is down for days. The trade-off is that the data stays on that one computer, and backing it up is your own responsibility.

Take a copy of the program's data regularly and keep it somewhere other than the computer itself: an external drive, a second disk or cloud storage. A simple rule is one copy every working day and a weekly copy kept outside the shop. Most important, test a restore at least once, because a backup you have never restored cannot be trusted when you need it.

Keeping company data safe rests on four habits: a personal sign-in for every employee instead of shared accounts and files; role-based permissions so each person sees only what they need; regular backups that you have actually tested restoring; and control over who can export or delete. Most data loss in small companies comes from human error or a copied file, not a sophisticated attack.