Software & Service
Key attributes of the SaaS model
The key attributes of SaaS software:
- Internet based access to commercially available software
- Web based management of the application
- Managed from a central location, normally a Service Provider
rather than at the customer's site
- 'One the many' application delivery model (single instance,
multi-tenant architecture)
- Application management including servers, updates and upgrades,
patching is all centralized and handled by the Service
Provider
- Priced on a usage basis , per-user per month or utilisation
basis
ASP? SaaS?
ASP or application service provider terminology generally
referred to the traditional client-server applications with web
based access added as an afterthought. Because the applications
were not written as net-native applications, performance was
sometimes poor and application updates were no better than self
managed applications.
Current drivers for SaaS
It is only very recently that SaaS applications have truly
flourished, as reported by many of the analyst firms that cover the
sector. Several important changes to the way we work have made this
rapid acceptance possible.
- The adoption and access to computing power and most importantly
bandwidth
- Computing is no longer just complex technology. Compute power
is recognized for what it delivers - business process and data,
workflows and efficiency
- Applications are becoming standardized, the user interfaces are
more common and so more intuitive, users can now dive in and be up
and running in minutes
- A specialized software provider can target a national or global
market
Software specialization within a vertical is not only possible, but
preferable
- Internet based technologies are now enough
Security is sufficiently well trusted and transparent with the
broad adoption of SSL; organizations have a way of reaching their
applications without the complexity and burden of end-user
configurations or VPNs
- The big players have arrived, the market forces of Google,
Microsoft, BT all drive awareness adoption and market growth
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