What You Need to Know About Software as a Service

The cloud has offered businesses exceptional remarkable capabilities and opportunities, but let's take a moment to focus on one in particular: software as a service (SaaS). What exactly is SaaS, and how can it assist you in your operations? 

Comprehending Software as a Service

For some context, consider Netflix, a service that is more popular in the consumer space.

Netflix’s streaming service is pretty analogous to the SaaS model in a business. Want to watch the 1971 Clint Eastwood film Dirty Harry, or binge-watch the AMC series Halt and Catch Fire? Just pull up Netflix: you can view these titles whenever you want, from multiple different devices.

This is so similar to how SaaS works for businesses, many of the benefits have been repeated by countless other apps and organizations.

How SaaS Offers Businesses an Advantage

Let’s take a moment and translate how the examples we just reviewed translate back into your business processes.

Accessibility

One of the biggest benefits to Netflix is the fact that you now have access to a large repository of content, available at your fingertips from assorted different devices… as long as you have a connection to the Internet. This is exactly why so many businesses like using SaaS for their software needs: it gives them the confidence that their employees will have access to their tools and, thus, be capable of being productive.

Speedy Deployment

Another reason that Netflix is so popular is its convenience. All a user really has to do is install it, sign in, and they’re off. SaaS platforms work in a similar way; once everything is configured, you’re set! Often SaaS licenses even make it easy for a user to move between multiple devices without requiring additional licenses and costs.

Naturally, SaaS provides businesses even more benefits than Netflix provides its customers, simply because a business has greater need of its software than it just being there at the right time. For instance:

Security

It’s no secret that all businesses are very concerned about their security nowadays, and a SaaS provider is no different. In fact, they need to be even more concerned, as they are also protecting other people’s data. As a result, they have some extra motivation to deploy some serious protection.

Scalability

There’s always the possibility that you will need to add or subtract employees at some point in time. SaaS makes it easier to do, as scaling up or down only requires you to adjust your subscription.

Cost Benefits

In fairness, it isn’t always apparent how a SaaS solution offers you cost benefits over a solution that you just host yourself - in fact, on the surface, SaaS seems considerably more expensive. Still, you need to consider the real costs associated with your software - like the costs of acquiring and maintaining the hardware and labor to facilitate it - and factor these in as well. Oftentimes, SaaS is the more budget-friendly approach.

Interested in learning more about SaaS solutions? Macro Systems is the Metro Washington, DC area expert in all things IT. Reach out to us to learn more about cloud-based software solutions by calling 703-359-9211.