Software As A Service Information Technology Essay

SaaS is nothing but a high end software model that enhances the interaction of companies with their clients or consumers. The most common instances of SaaS are to track the shipment online or online billing. The advantage of implementing SaaS is that there is no cost incurred upon the consumers/ clients. The software is developed and ported on the internet and is accessible 24×7 throughout the world.

This document covers the information regarding traditional Client-Server model and SaaS. Also advantages and disadvantages of SaaS are discussed in this paper.

Document Overview:

This document gives an overview of the SaaS, basic architecture how it is using in the real world, and describes the advantages and disadvantages of SaaS.

What is SaaS:

SaaS is a software application which is ready to use where user can purchase or rent the software on a monthly or yearly basis, and user nothing to worry about application software or any other installation process.

Client Server Vs SaaS:

Traditionally, most of the software applications have been developed using client-server model. In a client-server model, we can find many hidden costs for supporting and deploying a client server system, together with expensive hardware to install and maintain. In most of the scenarios, the initial software license worth of a client server system is only one third of the total worth of the system.

Client Server Model

The significance of SaaS is that is a technology platform and its becoming increasingly recognized as a more efficient way to deploy software application.

SaaS model is a technique of providing the same software to dissimilar customers through a network, over the Internet. In other way, we can say that the software is not installed on the customer’s personal computers.

SaaS model delineates a vendor is whole responsible for the creation, maintenance, enhancements and all software and hardware related updates. Customers are only responsible for initial purchase of the product or subscription to access it. This subscription includes a separate license for each individual person that will make use the software.

The Saas model can add cost savings and efficiency for the both the customer and product vendor. Customers save money and time since they do not have to install drivers and maintain software programs or any other hardware related system upgrade.

We get software’s from different customers through network, commonly Internet. Software is not presented in client side, it is provided by a vendor. Vendor have to be uploaded the software in the server. If anything needs to update, preparing to upload new software and maintenance of the application means software vendor has to do this. Once customer purchased the software, he gets the licensed key, it is unique and applicable for one time and no one can share the information.

SaaS MODEL

SaaS and SOA:

SaaS also uses Service Oriented Architecture to communicate between subsystems in the Enterprise Applications. Each application subsystem can act as service to interact with other subsystems via public brokers. These services also act as service requesters.

Enterprise application some time requires a web services to verify the data with some other third party agencies. In order to interact with some other application, web service call will be routed through SOA.

SaaS Applications:

In our real life we are currently using many SaaS applications. Those are free to use but more useful in our real world.

Free SaaS Applications:

Gmail

Google Calendar

MapQuest

Google Maps.

Wikipedia

All these above applications have simple interfaces and powerful enough to do everything we want to do. Any types of enhancements for any SaaS application vendor do it in a single shot then everyone (customers) can use those changes on their machines without doing any operations.

Profit Organizations Using SaaS Applications:

FedEx

Chase

Air Canada

Hertz

Google Finance

All profit organization using SaaS applications are fully tested while they going for any new application related enhancements or any application related fixes.

Benefits of SaaS:

Lower Costs:

Most SaaS solutions are offered at a lower subscription cost (Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly) with no up-front fees. By using Saas software consumers can save a lot of money. All they have to do is pay a subscription fee for the duration of time they will be using an application for and vendors bear all the security and infrastructure costs. This is a very cost effective solution for users who may only use a software application on rare occasions.

Data storage requirements:

Some application can occupy a lot of hard drive space at end users systems. By using SaaS software consumers can save a lot of hot drive space because data is stored on the vendor’s database. Also users don’t have to worry about constantly backing up the data as this is handled by SaaS vendors.

SaaS vendor profits:

SaaS allows software vendors to receive a continuous stream of income in the form of subscriptions.

Speed of deployment:

Potentially very fast as the application is already up and running on the vendor’s server so you just have to get your data onto the system.

Simpler Solution:

The less software and hardware components installed on-premise, the simpler & faster the deployment becomes. The time to value is much faster compared to on-premise Alternatives – usually measured in minutes.

Lower Risk:

In a SaaS model the customer can unsubscribe or cancel the subscription, and with no databases and application servers to install, this means lower overall risk to IT and the business.

Enhance Scalability: 

In SaaS Model expansion of business and contract is easily accommodated by providing the flexibility to expand their operations without having to wait for their Information Technology infrastructure to grasp up. This allows organizations to simply add new applications when they needed. This type of flexibility in other business model is not possible. 

Improved Data Security:

The SaaS provider has many resources to provide systematic and widespread data security options and guard the computer centers from casual access.

Access Anywhere:

Users can access their data by using the SaaS application from anywhere as long as they have the internet connection. This will enhance the user experience in making the work done in a faster way.

Automatic Upgrades:

The version of software available when you log into your SaaS account is latest because there is only one version offered. If there is an error found in the software the SaaS provider can quickly make the changes.

Not Platform Specific:

The software is platform independent and can be used from any operating system as long as you have an internet connection to use the application. It will enable you to use a wide variety of platforms.

End User Advantages:

End user or Customer no needs to main the Software, deployments in the server and updating.

If new versions are release user nothing to bother about any type of operations. Vendor is responsible to upgrade the versions. But user needs to update those versions.

Risks & Disadvantages:

More costly in the long run:

Flouting point usually occurs around two to three years

Less manage over the application:

Customization and integration of application is more limited for end users.

Vendor feasibility becomes even greater unease:

Since users data is restricted by the vendor.

Security issues:

Since the data is stored on the servers of the SaaS application provider there might be a security issue of intruders hacking the personal information while the data is transferred over the network. To prevent this, the SaaS application providers need to apply necessary security patches. It depends on the vendor for providing good security.

Limited applications:

Generally SaaS vendors offer the applications which are more popular and the application user wants to use may not be he is from that group. So the only way to user use the application is to buy it and install it in his computer.

Summary:

In this paper we discussed about Software as a Service (SaaS) how it works in a real time and why SaaS replaced by traditional Client Server Model. Also we discussed about various types of applications that are using SaaS. At the end we discussed about advantages, Risks and disadvantages by using SaaS.