SaaS in Cloud Computing

This article provides an in-depth understanding of what SaaS is and explains various aspects of SaaS in Cloud Computing.

In this article we will go through the below points to learn more about Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) –

• What is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)?
• How does SaaS work?
• Architecture of SaaS
• Benefits of SaaS
• Disadvantages of SaaS
• Popular SaaS providers

What is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)?

Did you know that the term “Software-as-a-Service,” or SaaS, was first used by John Koenig in the year 2005? And since then, SaaS solutions have become one of the fastest-growing categories of IT services.

SaaS is a delivery model used in the cloud computing industry where software vendors employ SaaS cloud servers to make applications accessible to users for use online. To guarantee the seamless delivery of SaaS products, the SaaS vendor maintains servers, databases, and other hardware.

The following are the traits of the SaaS service model:

• SaaS makes the software accessible on the internet.
• The vendor looks after the software applications.
• The software license could be subscription-based or usage-based. And recurring charges are made on it.
• They are accessible upon request.
• SaaS applications are affordable since they don’t need any end-user maintenance.
• They can be scaled up or down as needed.
• Every user is running the same version of the software.
• They are continuously updated and upgraded.
• A shared data model is offered by SaaS. As a result, numerous users can share a single infrastructure instance. Hard coding the functionality for specific users is not necessary.

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How Does SaaS Work?

SaaS products are delivered through software as a service using a centralized cloud-based architecture. Applications for SaaS can either be hosted by an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) in the data center of a SaaS provider, or they can be hosted on the databases and servers.

The ASP (Application Service Provider) can host customer software and then assist its delivery to authorized users over an Internet connection. This is how the Software as a Service model is closely tied to on-demand software delivery.

By purchasing a subscription, end users can access ready-made SaaS solutions without the effort of setting up an infrastructure for managing software products and connecting to applications via a web browser on any device.

By utilizing the Application Programming Interfaces, users are also free to combine SaaS apps with any other program (APIs). For instance, using the service provider’s APIs, enterprises can create software solutions and combine them with SaaS offerings.

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Architecture of SaaS

Software as a Service (SaaS) applications often utilize the multi-tenant SaaS architecture, in which each cloud tenant or subscribing client is served by a single, shared instance of a SaaS application running on a host server.

Instead of pursuing the time-consuming path of deploying changes across several instances, cloud service providers may easily and rapidly manage, maintain, debug, and upgrade software thanks to the multi-tenant SaaS architecture.

Additionally, the multi-tenancy SaaS design makes a bigger pool of computing resources accessible to more users while maintaining key aspects of cloud computing like speed, privacy, and security.

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Benefits of SaaS

Following are some of the primary benefits of using SaaS cloud services as a user or using SaaS technology as a software provider.

• Ease of Access:

The main advantage of a SaaS service is that it offers a subscriber access to software or applications virtually on any compatible device and from anywhere. SaaS architecture in cloud computing provides unmatched flexibility and simplicity of access because there are no constraints on location or device due to the lack of installation on the local device.

• Flexibility in Payments:

Companies and businesses will be able to manage their finances better because they won’t need to buy a copy of a specific piece of software or acquire the hardware systems that enable it. More importantly, because consumers typically pay for the services on a monthly basis, they can cancel at any moment and avoid wasting money on a one-time purchase of software.

• Cost-Effective:

Businesses that choose SaaS services get a large reduction in IT service overhead costs because the software infrastructure and servers are managed by the providers themselves.

• Automatic Updating and Maintenance:

The service providers update the program automatically with the required patches and new features, thus reducing the workload that must be handled by the IT team.

• Scalable:

SaaS services are highly scalable since the software providers can scale up the program to deliver better performance. Additionally, since users are only forced to pay for the services they really use, they have more options.

Related Read – Evolution of Cloud Computing

Disadvantages of SaaS

Despite all of its advantages, SaaS software nevertheless has some disadvantages for users and businesses choosing such services.

• Interruptions or Downtime:

Even the largest and most effective software programs occasionally experience problems that might cause service interruptions or software downtime. Large companies may experience confusion, lost productivity, and administrative and financial losses as a result of these types of disruptions.

• Higher Access Control:

It is crucial for organizations and users to make sure that there are sufficient degrees of identity verification because anyone with legitimate credentials can access SaaS apps on the internet. This is important since organizational data is now kept online on remote SaaS servers rather than local networks.

• Lack of Vendor Flexibility:

This is another issue that businesses employing SaaS services may encounter. Switching to a new service provider may prove to be difficult and time-consuming due to the current company databases and information that must be transferred from the old program to the new one.

• Low Control:

If the developers of the applications decide to patch or upgrade the current software to improve performance, new features may be added. Even if there would be additional expenditures for training staff to adapt to the changes, the firm typically has little say in whether or not such an update is practicable.

• Security concerns:

 SaaS cloud security is entirely managed by the service providers, which may provide a challenge for some businesses that prefer to handle and safeguard their data according to their own security policies.

Popular SaaS Providers

Do you know that another name for SaaS is “On-Demand Software?” End users don’t need to install any software on their devices to access these services because they are accessible to them over the internet. It is a software distribution approach where a cloud service provider hosts the services.

Some well-known SaaS providers are listed below, along with the services they offer.

Now let us take a look at the services that are offered by SaaS providers:

Business Services: SaaS providers offer a range of business services to help new businesses get off the ground. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), billing, and sales are some of the SaaS business services.

Document management: SaaS document management is a type of software used to create, manage, and track electronic documents.

Example: Samepage, Box, Slack, and Zoho Forms.

Social networks: As we are all aware, the general public uses social networking sites. As a result, social networking service providers employ SaaS for their convenience and to manage the data of the general public.

Mail Services: Many email service providers now provide their systems as SaaS in order to manage the unpredictable amount of users and load on email services.

In a Nutshell

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud computing models are revolutionizing the technology industry and significantly lowering the dependency of software applications on local hardware systems. These services are unmatched in their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and convenience of use, and as a result, they are incredibly well-liked all over the world. Despite its many benefits, this model may also present customers with a number of drawbacks, including a lack of control over updates and data storage and a lack of vendor flexibility.

We hope that this article has given you a better knowledge of SaaS cloud computing so that you can decide whether or not SaaS apps are appropriate for your company or enterprise.

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