SaaS
SaaS (Software as a Service) is originally referred as the Application Service Provider (ASP) model by the International Data Corporation (IDC) or it is sometimes called "'on-demand software"' which enables entities to access a complete business software functionality on a cloud based application.
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) defines SaaS as an application or service deployed in a centralized data center across a network such as the Internet, Inranet, LAN or VPN.[1] Users maybe able to access the SaaS through subscription or by renting it from a vendor or service provider.
Delivery Models for SaaS
SaaS are delivered in different ways such as:[2]
- Cloud Based SaaS Delivery Model- Vendors offer software service at a hosted ISV data center such as cloud computing platforms on a monthly subscription
- Hybrid SaaS Delivery Model- Software applications are hosted by SaaS vendors on a multi-tenanted application wherein a separate database is located in every tenant company. This delivery model is normally used by companies with database security or compliance issues with government regulations
- On-Premises SaaS Delivery Model-the software applications are oftentimes delivered by vendors to its the customers personal servers or through the appliances provided by the vendors which runs under a firewall.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) based SaaS Delivery Model- software applications are delivered via platforms such as the as the Force.com offered by Salesforce.com
Benefits from SaaS Model
Users of SaaS enjoy the benefits of:[3]
- easier administration
- automatic updates
- patch management
- software compatibility
- easier collaboration
- global accessibility
- faster software modifications
- cheaper and more affordable software services