What is SAAS? – L&D – (Lesson #1 -09042017)

Even if you’ve never heard the term software as a service (SaaS) before, you know what it is already. What makes these SaaS? They’re all cloud applications, which means that most of the storage and processing takes place on computers, called servers, owned by entities for e.g. Google, Facebook or IBM. Then, when you connect to them, you use a fairly simple and common client (often a web browser) to access the service and interact with it. It often doesn’t matter if that browser is on a PC, a Mac, Iphone, or Android Smart Phones or any other kind of computer; SaaS makes the same cloud-based services available on a multitude of devices.

What is SaaS?

In today's digital world, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) generally refers to a new and alternative way of accessing software, as opposed to more traditional methods of access.

Whereas in the past software would generally be purchased outright and loaded onto a device, SaaS normally refers to a subscription based model where the software is hosted in the cloud and accessed via the internet. There are a number of benefits of this to consumers, whether that is individuals using software for private purposes, or businesses.

There are many well-known examples of SaaS, including Office 365, Google Apps, Salesforce, Citrix Go-To-Meeting, Cisco WebEx and Netflix.

Traditional software vs. Software as Service

• Traditional Software

  Users purchase the software upfront as a package and then install it onto their computer Licenses may be limited to the number of users and/or devices where the software can be deployed

• Software as a Service

  Users subscribe to the software, usually on a monthly basis, rather than purchase it, meaning no upfront costs Users can usually end their subscription when they no longer require it Applications are updated and used online with files saved in the cloud rather than on individual computers

What makes SaaS so great?

It seems simple enough: do most of the application’s work in the cloud, then provide access through a web browser or thin client and you’ve got SaaS. So what makes SaaS powerful? Well, if you use YouTube or Craigslist, you already know. When everything is stored and processed on the cloud, thousands (or even millions) of people can interact with the same bit of information at once. While you’re liking your friend’s Facebook post in Boston, her friend in Singapore might be commenting on it. And even better, software as a service means you don’t have to have a powerful computer to do truly powerful things.

What SaaS means for enterprise

Consumers aren’t the only winners with SaaS; enterprise SaaS has overall market will reach $164.29 billion by 2022, according to Transparency Market Research (TMR)., a number that is expected to grow by more than 50 percent in just two years. From Salesforce to NetSuite, SaaS is starting to reshape the way we work in the same way it changed how we play and connect. If you’re like me, you use dozens of applications for work, each more clunky and less useful than the last. Why can I load that viral video in half a second by googling “ketchup robot,” but can’t find that one e-mail from last week?

Wikipedia’s history of SaaS shows how deep those roots go—IBM was one of the first companies in the world to centralize computing resources. And now we’re working on the next step in enterprise SaaS: collecting the power of human resources. The problems we face today require collaboration on a scale humans have never seen before, and it’s time for our tools to catch up to a globe that’s already connected. Software as a service (SaaS) allows users to connect to and use cloud-based apps over the Internet. Common examples are email, calendaring and office tools (such as Microsoft Office 365).

SaaS provides a complete software solution which you purchase on a pay-as-you-go basis from a cloud service provider. You rent the use of an app for your organization and your users connect to it over the Internet, usually with a web browser. All of the underlying infrastructure, middleware, app software and app data are located in the service provider’s data center. The service provider manages the hardware and software and with the appropriate service agreement, will ensure the availability and the security of the app and your data as well. SaaS allows your organization to get quickly up and running with an app at minimal upfront cost.

Common SaaS scenarios

If you have used a web-based email service such as Outlook, Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail, then you have already used a form of SaaS. With these services, you log into your account over the Internet, often from a web browser. The email software is located on the service provider’s network and your messages are stored there as well. You can access your email and stored messages from a web browser on any computer or Internet-connected device.

The previous examples are free services for personal use. For organizational use, you can rent productivity apps, such as email, collaboration and calendaring; and sophisticated business applications such as customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and document management. You pay for the use of these apps by subscription or according to the level of use.

Advantages of SaaS

Gain access to sophisticated applications. To provide SaaS apps to users, you don’t need to purchase, install, update or maintain any hardware, middleware or software. SaaS makes even sophisticated enterprise applications, such as ERP and CRM, affordable for organizations that lack the resources to buy, deploy and manage the required infrastructure and software themselves.

Pay only for what you use. You also save money because the SaaS service automatically scales up and down according to the level of usage.

Use free client software. Users can run most SaaS apps directly from their web browser without needing to download and install any software, although some apps require plugins. This means that you don’t need to purchase and install special software for your users.

You don’t need to worry about developing apps to run on different types of computers and devices because the service provider has already done so. In addition, you don’t need to bring special expertise onboard to manage the security issues inherent in mobile computing. A carefully chosen service provider will ensure the security of your data, regardless of the type of device consuming it.

Access app data from anywhere. With data stored in the cloud, users can access their information from any Internet-connected computer or mobile device. And when app data is stored in the cloud, no data is lost if a user’s computer or device fails.

Benefits of SaaS

• No hardware costs: Processing power is supplied by the cloud provider

• No initial setup costs: Applications are ready to use once the user subscribes

• Pay for what you use: Particularly beneficial when something is only required for a short period

• Usage is scalable: Additional storage or services can be accessed on demand without needing to install new software and hardware

• Updates are automatic: Updates are often free of change and deployed automatically by the software provider

• Cross device compatibility: Applications can be accessed via any internet enabled device, such as desktops, smart phones and tablets

• Accessible from any location: Users aren’t restricted to one location and can access applications from any internet enabled device

• Applications can be customized and white labeled: Applications can often be altered to suit the needs and branding of particular customers