SaaS Explained

The growth of Software as a Service (SaaS) sometimes called 'Cloud Computing' is rapidly eliminating the need for the traditional purchase-and-install model of running applications. Put simply, a SaaS application is simply one that is hosted in a data centre and can be accessed from anywhere via the Internet.
That brief description belies a radical new business model that is making huge changes to the IT industry. A revolution may be happening, but you need to understand whether now is the right time for your business to move to SaaS.
Here are some of the key reason why you should seriously look at SaaS:

The Economic Climate

A SaaS based platform addresses a number of urgent requirements facing many organisations today:

• Get the best software available now: We’re all familiar with IT projects that overrun on time and budget. SaaS applications can be deployed in a fraction of the time it would take to roll out an on premise system. They also are particularly suitable for branch offices and home based workers.
• Make best use of limited budget: with no-upfront CAPEX and fixed running costs, SaaS enables Finance teams to plan their expenditure. It means you can switch to more efficient applications without crippling start up costs

Efficient Licensing

• Flexible seat counts: with an on premise installation you buy a number of perpetual licenses and run the application. If your business changes and you need to adjust the seat numbers, that’s too bad. With SaaS you can flex the licenses you buy dynamically on pay-as-you-go basis.
• Standardisation: Supporting a lot of users and their desktops becomes a lot simpler if everyone uses a standard set of applications delivered from a defined source. It reduces training requirements for both IT and end users, with faster fault finding as a bonus.

Higher Service Levels

• Reliable infrastructure:  A SaaS provider will typically run their operation to much higher standards than en end user Company can achieve because they are investing in highly specialised training and infrastructure which is then shared across many users. This investment may include manufacturer accreditations (e.g. Microsoft Gold Partner), independent audits (e.g. ISO 27001), ISP/Telco standard data centres, diverse connectivity and so on.
• Scheduled maintenance: With plenty of in-house expertise, a good SaaS vendor will make sure all the relevant manufacturer upgrades, patches and configuration settings are applied in a timely manner. They also are applied according to a secure, low risk methodology that does not cause user downtime. This means extremely high service levels can be achieved with SaaS.

Ease of Deployment

• Rolling out applications: Because the application is readily available, deploying it to your user base is a straightforward operation. Well designed, mature applications will have off the shelf migration tools for tasks like moving legacy email. In many cases if a client is needed it can be pushed to the desktop in bulk by means of Active Directory.
• Project backup: In larger organisations, the integration process is nonetheless a complex one, due to the sheer numbers of users and sites involved. The timing of training and user readiness workshops becomes a significant consideration, which is where a formal project based methodology will ensure a smooth rollout, but only so long as the SaaS vendor has experienced staff that can accommodate this.

Integration with your IT

• Don’t re-invent: If a SaaS provider can provide a high quality service that addresses common business processes then you have to look very hard at the reasons why you should have an on-premise application. Outsourcing the routine back office tasks  to SaaS frees your own IT staff and resources to focus on those areas where they can really innovate and make a contribution to the effectiveness of the business.

Compliance & Security

• Secure by design:  Ideally a SaaS application should be built to to a scalable design on a proven industry platform and then supported by an experienced provider. That much goes without saying.

However, it’s also crucial that your company is able to demonstrate the integrity of its business systems and the data contained within them. That means knowing where and how data is stored and asking the SaaS vendor the difficult ‘what if’ questions about Disaster Recovery and how the provider manages their internal processes. Standards like ISO 27001 have been specifically formulated to provide independent accreditation of these areas.