“As A Service – aaS – solutions are nothing new. They have been in existence for a few years and are often associated with cloud computing. They are presented in a long list of variations including API as a server (AaaS), AI as a service (AIaaS), backend as a service (BaaS), business process as a service (BPaaS), desktop as a service (DaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), games as a service (GaaS), and management as a service (MaaS), among many others.
When it comes to software, the basic idea of aaS is the ability to utilise reusable and fine-grained application components over the internet. In other words, it allows users to use a full software without the need to install it locally. All of the functions are accessible through the web. It’s similar to what cyber security firms like MMR IT offer with its cyber essentials certification as a service package.
Advantages
The “as a service” scheme has been gaining popularity because of the many benefits it offers. For one, it reduces the barriers to entry or adoption. Software and services become more accessible to businesses or individuals because of the lower price offering users the option to pay only for specific components, functions, or modules. Prospective users are not forced to pay for an entire software suite or service. They do have the option to upgrade to increased functionality or features in the future as they deem it necessary.
Additionally, aaS solutions are inherently massively scalable. They can be used by organisations of any size. Rapidly growing businesses will find it convenient how they can easily scale up the service to address their growing needs. Conversely, they can also scale down quickly in case they are forced to downsize.
The advantage of multi-latency also benefits users. Multiple users can share the resources as well as the costs of the service. This is an efficient arrangement for most businesses, but some may have issues, especially with the sharing of system resources. Some users may encounter performance hiccups.
Moreover, the aaS setup creates the advantage of not being tied to a device and location. With software as a service, for example, any computer can access the application as long as the user has the necessary login credentials. The software can be used from anywhere and at anytime too. Users don’t have to go to a specific workstation or office to finish a project.
Popular aaS Solutions
Some of the well-known SaaS solutions include Salesforce.com, Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, Amazon Web Services, ZenDesk, Dropbox, and Slack. These web-based applications successfully serve numerous businesses in diverse industries and sectors. Not many may recognise them as SaaS, but they have allowed many companies to experience the advantages of efficiency, reduced costs, scalability and being device and location-independent.
The rise of aaS solutions yields significant benefits for businesses and organisations. They allow instant access to the expertise and experiences of specialists, which eliminates the costly need to establish an in-house team to address specific security or administration needs.
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