The End of the Tech Closet (PDF)
In an age where on-site tech closets are facing near extinction, many businesses are questioning why they continue to throw away time, money and IT resources on keeping an outdated hosting model alive when there is a more secure, less expensive and more efficient way of managing software delivery - Software as a Service (Saas).
The Evolution of SaaS (PDF)
Back in the early days, the concept of outsourcing IT systems came from the need to mitigate the high cost of hardware, including mainframe computers. As the cost of hardware decreased over time, the issue shifted to the high cost of software - specifically the cost to manage specializedsoftware and effectively distribute it to end users.
SaaS vs. On-site Hosting (PDF)
The concept behind SaaS is simple. Rather than the client hosting the application on their own servers, the SaaS provider hosts the application on their servers while taking care of support, maintenance, installations, upgrades and security on behalf of the client. On the other hand, in the traditional on-site hosting model, the client is tasked with building the proper infrastructure to host the application in-house and employs their own IT esources to provide ongoing maintenance and support.
How to Select a SaaS Provider (PDF)
Depending on the buyer, there are varying key factors in selecting the best SaaS solution. For example, when IT is involved, decisions are often based on overall performance, application response time, uptime, availability and reliability. Other buyers, such as the specific business unit, may be more concerned with overall performance and security. In that case, the buyer needs to locate a provider that offers a robust set of security measures such as data encryption, user authentication, and 24X7 monitoring.