Several companies rely on SaaS (Software as a Service) as a double-edged solution. Traditional IT systems are increasingly moving to the cloud gradually and steadily. Software as a service provides the best solution to every old age problem, increases the effectiveness of security policies, manages insightful data, and rebuilds the new maintenance module. There are many other benefits of SaaS that we will see in today’s blog. But before that, let’s see a basic overview of Software as a Service.
Overview Of SaaS
SaaS (Software as a Service) is a method of distributing software where a cloud provider hosts applications and makes them available online to end users.
In this model, a third-party cloud provider may be hired by an independent software vendor (ISV) to host the application. In the case of bigger companies like Microsoft, the cloud provider may also be the software vendor. Software as a Service is one of three types of cloud computing, along with IaaS and PaaS.
Software as a Service (SaaS) evolved largely when the Internet presented a viable alternative to on-premises application installations. There are several benefits of SaaS for businesses. It eliminates the requirement for businesses to install and run software on their own computers or in their own data centres, which usually require a large investment in terms of logistics, infrastructure, and labour. It removes the cost of software installation, licensing, and support, along with purchasing, provisioning, and maintaining hardware.
Many business users, IT specialists, and personal users use SaaS applications. Products range from high-tech IT equipment to personal entertainment options like Netflix. SaaS products are commonly marketed to both B2B and B2C users, unlike IaaS and PaaS. Software as a Service market analysts expect further growth and forecast the market for SaaS products to reach $200 billion by 2024.
Benefits Of Saas
The Development of SaaS products has greatly impacted the information technology industry because of their remote connectivity and management. SaaS is gaining popularity among businesses due to its simplicity and ease of use. It’s crucial to understand the benefits of SaaS if you are a student of cloud computing or want to implement it in your business. Here are the various advantages of cloud computing-
Implementation Cost
SaaS products have relatively minimal implementation costs. There is no hardware installation cost as they remain on the cloud server. The price of operating the system decreases in the absence of hardware elements such as dedicated servers, workstations, network infrastructure, firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), storage, backups, and disaster recovery plans.
For this reason, a lot of startups use the SaaS business model. There are no startup expenses, and companies can continue paying for the services they use as they grow. Additionally, this cloud service cuts downtime and troubleshooting time, lowering the total cost of ownership and financial risk.
Security
These days, security is everyone’s top concern. That’s why cloud developers are working hard to protect all data stored there. Businesses may increase the trust of their customers by using proper security techniques.
SaaS services are frequently protected by strong cryptographic cypher suites, single sign-on (SSO), encrypted storage, two-factor authentication (2FA), and other security measures, which go beyond what most businesses can construct (or afford) on their own. So, high security is one of the best benefits of SaaS.
Integration
SaaS is simple to install on the cloud network and doesn’t need any further maintenance. The sole steps in the implementation procedure are only registration, downloading, and integrating an application or web browser extension. Building infrastructure and then designing software is no longer necessary. All enterprises, old and new, can easily integrate SaaS.
Collaboration
SaaS continuously syncs to the cloud’s memory to keep itself updated. It makes working on the same file for multiple team members simpler. We can take an example of the Microsoft Office suite, which was already among the most popular applications for preparing presentations, word processing, and making spreadsheets.
The company created its SaaS offering, Office 365, which enables customers to sync and edit their Microsoft Office files from any device and share them with peers.
Scalability
Quick deployment, simple provisioning, and de-provisioning from a central location are all made possible by SaaS. Instead of waiting hours or days for the onboarding process, new users can launch the application using their web browser. The project management, update rollout, and scalability of the SaaS products are all under the control of the IT team. A company can easily scale using the computing power and limitless cloud storage of SaaS.
Reliability
Reliability is another benefit of SaaS. Information is saved across multiple servers that are located at different places. The cloud network keeps automatically saving the information across these servers to prevent any data loss with the help of SaaS CRM.
In case of an emergency, backup servers are also accessible. Because of this, SaaS is reliable, and companies who create SaaS products can guarantee excellent customer support.
Management of time
Time is Money, and fortunately, SaaS can help companies save both. SaaS applications only need an internet connection and the acquisition of a log-in to be installed.
Furthermore, SaaS vendors take on the maintenance duties associated with traditional software, so there is no downtime or extra labour required to replace traditional software. Therefore, we can keep good time management on the list of the best benefits of SaaS.
Smooth Rollout Of Updates
SaaS applications are hosted remotely by the supplier. The team constantly look for ways to improve the user experience. It’s simpler to update the user experience and introduce new features without having to download or install any applications.
Free Trials
SaaS service providers usually give away the full-version trials of their products for free. So, before investing in the products, companies can take advantage of “prep time” to evaluate the solution’s viability and compatibility with their organisational need.
Wrap Up
Over the past few years, SaaS product development has completely changed the game. It improves the productivity of businesses and reduces costs by simplifying their business processes and adopting a cloud-first approach. Hopefully, now you are aware of all the benefits of SaaS.
Frequently Asked Question
What are the issues involved in SaaS?
Data access risk, lack of transparency, the uncertainty of your data’s location, and identity theft are some of the top issues involved in SaaS.
How can you secure your SaaS application?
You can follow the best security practices to enhance the security of your SaaS applications. Data encryption, enhanced authentication, CASB tools, situational awareness, and SSPM are some of the best security practices of SaaS.