Your business depends on software for many of its day-to-day operations, whether it’s an email system, productivity suite, or other specialized software. When it comes to acquiring software, you have two options: the traditional method of acquisition, i.e. buying it from a vendor, or subscribing to a Software as a Service solution. What are the differences and how can you make sure your organization is getting value out of its investment?

What is Software as a Service?

The traditional method of acquiring technology often involves purchasing a license, which gives you permission to use the software for what you see fit. For example, you might purchase a handful of licenses for Microsoft Office for employees in your office. This provides consistent access to the software, often through a downloaded application or client located on the user’s desktop or on the network.

Software as a Service, or SaaS for short, can be seen as more of a subscription-based model of acquiring technology. In fact, chances are you use SaaS in your personal life. Consider the business models of Netflix and other streaming services; you pay a flat fee for access to an app and its content. This is how SaaS works. Rather than purchase the software outright, you pay for access to it, often through the cloud.

How Does It Benefit SMBs?

SaaS can help SMBs in a variety of ways. Here are just a few of them:

• Fewer up-front costs: Let’s face it; licenses are pricey and not always affordable for a large workforce. Rather than pay for the full licenses, you pay per user. This means you don’t have to scrape together funds to pay for a new solution, and therefore can get right to work.
• More up-to-date software: You might find yourself constantly upgrading your software as new versions are released or as patches are issued to cover security vulnerabilities. With SaaS, you get the most up-to-date version of that software, complete with patches and updates.
• Less maintenance and management: SaaS solutions aren’t hosted on your infrastructure in most cases; they are hosted by the provider or a managed service provider, meaning less responsibility on your part to take care of them.
• Greater accessibility: Since the software is often located in the cloud, you can access SaaS applications on your preferred devices through either an app or an Internet browser.

Overall, SaaS is a great investment and one that can help your SMB either get a new project off the ground or save capital in the long term.

Get Started Today!

415 IT understands that you don’t always have the funds available to invest in software licenses, especially when you have a larger workforce. We want to help you get access to the software you need to be successful in all of your endeavors. We can equip your business with Software as a Service solutions that are scalable and in line with the needs of your business, and we can even host them on our infrastructure so you don’t have to worry about a thing! It’s a great investment and one that will pay off in spades.

To get started with SaaS solutions today, reach out to 415 IT at (415) 295-4898.