If you are considering moving to SaaS or Software as a Service, the chances are that you have questions about this new technology.  Here is a Top 10 List of questions many companies have about SaaS; the chances are your question is here!

1. What is SaaS? SaaS stands for "software as a service" and is a delivery method that allows users to access software and data from any device in any location.  SaaS "lives" in the cloud, a virtual data repository that can be accessed anywhere.  With SaaS, your software is not "on" your devices but cloud-based, making it easy to use the software anywhere you choose.
2. How do I choose between on-premises software and SaaS? Depending on how complex your business is, SaaS may be a great choice for you.  If you want to improve your cost effectiveness and have easy access to your data, SaaS can be a great choice.
3. Is SaaS new? SaaS has actually been around since the 1990's, when the Internet began to be widespread and used by businesses around the world.  The past five years has seen an explosion in interest in SaaS models.
4. Can SaaS be customized? While it was difficult to customize SaaS in its early days, today it is usually easy to order custom software and support.
5. Who owns the data when I use SaaS? The Service Level Agreement or SLA spells out the terms of your SaaS agreement.  Be sure that you specify that your company owns all data housed on virtual servers.
6. How safe is my data on SaaS? Online systems are becoming the norm, and with that trend comes a greater focus on safety.  SaaS is one of the best ways to protect data, because the responsibility for security is centralized with the software company rather than with your own IT department.
7. What if my software vendor goes out of business? It is important to read your SLA carefully to ensure that your data is safe if the company goes out of business.  In general, companies guarantee that data will be backed up so that another company could take over if necessary.
8. What are the limitations associated with operating systems? Many SaaS vendors have developed offline functionality, but you will be limited to a certain extent by your access to the Internet.  In times when your operating system is down, you may not have access to your data.
9. Does SaaS mean cloud computing? The "cloud" is a collection of servers and databases that connect to provide a virtual platform.  However, not all cloud computing is based on software.  Specifically, SaaS refers to the use of certain standard software that is accessed via the cloud.
10. What is a private cloud? Most small and medium businesses cannot afford to create and maintain a private cloud.  Therefore, SaaS becomes a useful option for these businesses.

    Contact C3IT today with your questions about SaaS!