In a time where most people are being bombarded with Cloud technology and acronyms such as SaaS, DaaS, PaaS to name but a few, Microsoft have taken a different stance and calling their equivalent technologies "Software Plus Services", but what does this actually mean?
SaaS is a web based model where the customer pays (typically) a flat fee to a hoster and they have no responsibility for the infrastructure - similar concept to consumer utility services (Gas, Electric, Water etc), the software is never purchased. These are strong compelling models especially in an age of economic uncertainty coupled with a desire to provide business continuity plans and mobility solutions; especially when the winter flu season (read swine flu) is coming.
Microsoft is taking a different approach to this and offering the customer "choice" throughout the software implementation life cycle.
Software Plus Services provides 3 options:
- Hosted, subscription model (SAAS)
- Purchasing software in a hosted environment
- Purchasing the software to deploy on-premise.
In the subscription-based, hosted model, initial cost outlays are limited and responsibility for the customer’s IT department is low. However, over the long run this can be a significantly more costly approach, and can have some impact on customisations, integrations, etc. At some point in time, the customer may opt to bring the solution in-house, purchase the software, and maintain it internally going forward. With a SAAS solution, this is impossible (at present).
With the Microsoft approach, this can be achieved on the same version of the software. All modifications are moved into the customers environment etc. This approach gives the customer the flexibility to operate as their business needs dictate, not as their software company dictates.
If the SAAS model is appealing, evaluate the reasons why and consider Software Plus Services instead. want to know more about this and other cloud technologies, then click here