When it comes to business IT, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is what type of software to use. There are two options available in terms of software deployment: on-premise and Software-as-a-Service. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of SaaS software for your business.
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What is SaaS?
SaaS is a deployment model in which software runs on the cloud and is accessed by users via the internet. SaaS apps are subscription service that is usually paid monthly or annual basis. Some examples of SaaS apps include Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Salesforce. Instead of managing and maintaining the software on their own servers, businesses that use SaaS apps leave those responsibilities to a cloud services provider.
What are the benefits of SaaS?
SaaS offers a number of advantages for businesses, which can be summarized into five main categories: cost-savings, flexibility, competitive advantage, security, and scalability.
Cost-savings
A major benefit of SaaS is that it can significantly reduce IT costs. With SaaS, there are no expensive servers and in-house IT staff required to run the software. There are also no maintenance fees associated with managing the software. All of these costs are essentially outsourced to the SaaS provider.
Businesses only have to pay for cloud subscription fees, which are often much lower than the cost of traditional software licenses. If the company no longer needs the software, they can simply cancel their subscription since cloud apps usually are not attached to long-term contracts.
Flexibility
Since SaaS is hosted in the cloud, users can access their apps via the internet. This means they can effectively work from anywhere with an internet-enabled device. In fact, the flexibility that SaaS provides makes it particularly useful for enabling remote or hybrid work arrangements.
Competitive advantage
The affordability and accessibility of SaaS apps help you outperform your competition. Today, there are SaaS apps that feature artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, automated workflows, and much more. These tools were once exclusively used by big businesses. But now, even small businesses can take advantage of these same technologies and innovate to stay ahead of the competition.
Security
SaaS apps are typically more secure than their on-premise counterparts. That’s because they are hosted in remote servers protected by advanced firewalls, anti-malware software, threat detection systems, and other robust security measures. SaaS providers also automatically install software updates and security patches to defend against the latest threats. Plus, SaaS apps store copies of your data in multiple backup servers to ensure data redundancy. That means if one backup server fails due to a system failure, your data will still be accessible from another server – thereby minimizing the risk of downtime and data loss.
Scalability
Another benefit of SaaS is that it is highly scalable. If your business needs more user accounts or storage space, you can simply add them to your subscription plan. All you need is to call your cloud services provider or log into your administrative account to request the changes. In contrast, on-premise software is far less scalable. You’d have to purchase additional licenses, install the software on new servers, and manage it all yourself, which can be both time-consuming and expensive.
There are SaaS apps for almost every business need, from accounting and customer relationship management to human resources and marketing. If you’re not already using SaaS, it’s time to talk to an experienced cloud services provider and discuss how it can elevate your business.