Software as a service (SaaS) is the most known branch of cloud computing. It is a delivery model in which applications are hosted and managed in the data center of a service provider, paid for on a subscription basis and accessed by a browser via an Internet connection. SaaS is becoming increasingly popular delivery model for a wide range of business applications. Therefore we’ve decided to list, here below, most common advantages and disadvantages of this model.
Expression SaaS, used for nearly a decade:
The term “SaaS” for “Software as a Service”, has been commonly used for nearly a decade, while other expressions of the cloud computing, such as, PaaS – “platform as a service” and IaaS – “Infrastructure as a Service”, are more recent
Platform as a service (PaaS) refers to the on-demand delivery of software tools and services that enable SaaS applications to be coded and deployed, while an Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) relates to on-demand delivery of operating systems, system maintenance, network capabilities, storage spaces, back-up, and virtualized servers.
An infrastructure hosted in a third-party service provider’s data center is called a “public cloud” infrastructure, while the same technology hosted within a company’s network is referred to as a “private cloud” infrastructure. “Hybrid” cloud environments combine both approaches, with some business processes or workloads remaining in-house, while others (perhaps less crucial) are outsourced to public cloud services.
Reason to consider SaaS:
For companies, adopting the SaaS model has many potential benefits, including the following
Cost reduction: it is economically very tempting to trade the heavy costs of installing, maintaining and upgrading an on-site IT infrastructure against the cost of operating a SaaS subscription, including on the short to medium term. However, it is important to be aware of the potential hidden costs associated with adopting SaaS.
Scalability: As your business grows and you need to add more users, rather than investing in additional software licenses and in-house server capabilities, you can adjust your monthly SaaS subscription as needed.
Accessibility: in general, a browser and an internet connection are sufficient to access to a SaaS application, which can then be made available on various desktops and mobile devices.
Upgrade capability: Your cloud service provider takes care of software and hardware updates, which frees your internal IT department from a considerable workload (in theory, the teams can be redeployed on different tasks, such as integration with existing on-site applications).
