Exploring SaaS: Transforming IT with Data Protection 101 Series

Find out what Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is and why it can benefit your organisation in this week’s series on information security basics, titled “Data Protection 101.”

A saas company make its applications accessible to the user so that they can leverage from their products all over the internet 

What is SaaS?

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. This means that the software is hosted on the SaaS company’s server and that the user can access it remotely. This definition can obviously be applied to many software publishers today.

The SaaS business model: how a SaaS company works

A SaaS company operates servers, databases and software that enable the application to be accessed via the internet, usually using web browsers.
This product is accessible from anywhere all over the internet.

SaaS customers typically pay a subscription – often monthly – to access the application. Some subscriptions are based on the amount of data to be stored, the number of users who will access the application, or the level of technical support required.

Examples of SaaS companies

• SaaS companies can manage almost any business function. In the market there are a number of applications here are few that we mention.
• Customer Resource Management or Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  
  These applications allow SaaS customers to manage customer information and track sales in their pipeline.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)  

This is a system of many SaaS applications that are best suited for large organisations.

Accounting and Billing 

Some SaaS companies focus on billing services. Others offer a full suite of financial monitoring and reporting services.

Project management 

Software can help employees communicate and stay on schedule.

Web hosting and e-commerce 

Remote servers can manage everything a company needs for its online presence.

Human Resources 

SaaS companies can offer tools to track employee time, manage payroll, and plan and manage the hiring process.

Data Management 

SaaS products can help analyze and protect a company’s data.

Many B2B companies offer software applications such as marketing automation, email marketing, social media marketing, sales force automation, and more. These companies can also be divided into different SaaS categories, such as multi-tenant or single-tenant.

Many SaaS products, such as Google Workspace, Google Cloud, and Adobe’s Creative Cloud  are not Saas base but are providing services that can help users.

Benefits of SaaS companies

The main advantage of SaaS companies is that it’s much more efficient to use their centrally managed applications instead of installing the software on-premises. This means that SaaS customers can benefit from the following advantages:

Reduced costs 

 Most SaaS companies charge a subscription fee that spreads the cost of the application over time. SaaS customers have lower upfront costs because they don’t need to invest in expensive hardware to host the applications since they offer cloud services.

Seamless updates – SaaS companies maintain the software and update it when needed. SaaS customers do not have to install software or install patches and updates.

Saas products are easily accessible.This is very useful for a workforce that is not confined to one location or central office.

IT expertise 

 SaaS companies invest in the IT needed to troubleshoot and maintain applications so that their customers don’t have to. Additionally, SaaS companies have the resources to ensure system reliability and data security better than customers with limited IT budgets.

Scalability

If a SaaS customer needs to increase capacity or add users, they don’t need to buy new hardware or install new software. A SaaS company can quickly increase capacity using cloud technology and storage, but this will likely come with higher subscription costs.

Once you find a SaaS company

• Even if you find the perfect solution, chances are you won’t use it to its full potential.
• Every tool is different in nature and once you find perfect solution for your self .there is learning curve.
  
• Use educational materials – Most SaaS products have tutorials, knowledge bases, and other materials that help users get the most out of the product.

   

Talk to the commissioning team 

The next level is to engage in a call or video conference with the representative(s). Make sure the availability of your all team members who knows the working of product.

Consider third-party setup

Some SaaS tools are so complex that it’s ideal to have everything set up by an outside contractor. The company may also offer this service.

Team buy-in – The right tool

combined with training and extensive communication, will make adoption easier, but any change takes effort to be successful.

Re-evaluate usage at regular intervals 

• After a few months, it’s a good idea to check if the software is doing what you expected. This is a good, regular practice for any tool your company uses.
• SaaS companies can provide necessary business services at a low cost. Due diligence will help ensure that the user experience lives up to expectations and promises.

How does a SaaS company differ from a software company?

• There are many ways in which SaaS can differ from traditional software.these kind of products are usable for end users and creators . Customers want affordability. By their very nature, cloud and web-based applications are considered multi-platform. A SaaS company offers low-maintenance services that can be accessed by remote and internal teams. SaaS is an excellent option for those who want to replace their on-premises servers, but still need a storage solution for licensed software.

• SaaS companies are invaluable for disaster recovery.The storage space is enough to hold all kind of transactions . If an emergency affects a user’s hardware, the data is now stored in cloud infrastructure, making it recoverable. The data security of products are on top.Users can specify the frequency of backups. With this, companies can schedule these updates automatically without manually entering them into the system.

Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks to SaaS. Each company is different in nature and they need saas company depends upon their need.Sometimes the customer’s software needs human intervention. Additionally, if a company doesn’t have a stable customer base, it can be challenging to make the switch to a SaaS platform. Traditional software may be a better option for companies that have not yet discovered or defined their audience.

• If a company wants to gain the most benefits, its software should already be a popular option among users. In addition, the software must have the potential to generate consistent revenue. Adobe has succeeded in meeting these challenges. All software solutions are licensed .. Over time, Adobe was able to move from a one-time payment model to cloud-based subscription plans.

• SaaS systems can be changed and upgraded at a rapid pace, which can affect both users and developers. These individuals don’t want a stagnant product. Customers want to use products that constantly improve their services and platforms. However, some vendors may be unwilling to continually update products because it costs money and time.

• Additionally, frequent back-end and API processes that need to change can have unintended consequences, especially for those customers that need to integrate SaaS platforms. Many enterprises rely on SaaS solutions because these services are easy and fast. SaaS solutions can complicate or slow down operations, leaving users without a convenient option. In these cases, SaaS are no better suited than traditional software companies.

Frequently asked questions

What is an example of a SaaS solution?

Microsoft 365 is an example of a SaaS solution. Users can access all the features of Microsoft’s suite of applications from any location with an internet connection. Mobile workers make extensive use of SaaS solutions to access the applications they need, wherever they are in the world.

What is SaaS in a nutshell?

Software as a service, or SaaS, is a cloud-based delivery model that allows customers to access a fully supported software application via an internet connection. The cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining all aspects of the application, with the exception of user data. A SaaS solution is an excellent way to add functionality to an IT environment without the capital expenditure involved in purchasing and maintaining hardware.

Who was the first SaaS company?

Salesforce is generally regarded as the first company to offer a SaaS solution to its customers.