SaaS

By Messaging News staff
in

This article is the first in a three-part series where we explore software-as-a-service, virtualization, and cloud computing and the nuances of each. The series will continue in the February edition of Messaging News.

Strengths of SaaS

In summarizing the main benefits of software-as-a-service (SaaS) over on-premises David Ferris, principal analyst at Ferris Research, offers a few thoughts. While Ferris is speaking particularly about email archiving in the below, generally speaking the same benefits can be said of other SaaS offering types.

  • SaaS is much easier and cheaper to install. 
  • The total cost of ownership of SaaS is usually lower than on-premise software, but watch out for services that run up the cost with storage and professional services fees.
  • SaaS costs are generally more predictable, subject to the prior caveat about additional fees.
  • SaaS allows IT staff to focus on the business issues (of archiving) rather than on the technology. 

Source: Ferris Research white paper commissioned by Mimecast, Email Archiving: SaaS Strengths vs. On-Premise Solutions

Published December 1, 2008