What is Software as a Service?

Software as a service (SaaS) enables users to connect and use cloud-based applications over the internet. It is a software distribution and delivery model that allows data to be accessed anywhere, and from any device with a stable internet connection and web browser.

The main category of cloud computing, SaaS enables a third-party provider or a vendor to host applications over the internet so the organization isn't required to install or maintain software, and can purchase pay-as-you-go usage plans. Because SaaS is provided on a hosted platform, organizations do not need to install or maintain software. This provides numerous advantages, including those related to maintenance, multitenancy and compatibility, ease of deployment, scalability, and accessibility. A disadvantage is that a third-party service provider or vendor manages the overall SaaS platform so there could be security, billing, or service disruption issues.

Why is SaaS important?

On-premises models require a substantial amount of hardware which, in turn, costs a lot to maintain and monitor. Moreover, the pay as you grow model of SaaS is more beneficial compared to on-premises software, as it is easy to pay only for what you need. SaaS addresses these issues by enabling organizations to grow and pay with flexibility. SaaS aims to reduce the time and cost of deployments and operations.

How does SaaS work?

SaaS is a hosted platform. Organizations or users don't need to worry about installing and maintaining software. The app servers, databases, code, and networks are maintained by the service provider. Users can simply access SaaS via web browsers or API. In simple terms, SaaS is a software model in which a third-party provider makes applications available to customers over the internet. The third-party provider is responsible for providing access, security, support, and a service-level agreement (SLA).

Benefits of SaaS

Here are the benefits of SaaS deployments:

• No hardware and maintenance costs: You don't need to invest in hardware and its maintenance. SaaS cuts cost on internal IT and overhead. Moreover, you can pay only for what you use.
• Multitenancy: SaaS has a multitenant architecture in which different applications and users share the same infrastructure, ensuring the applications are compatible across devices serving multiple tenants. Upgrading packages and patches is also much simpler.
• Easy setup and deployment: Cloud deployments have a minimum set up time, and the deployments are much simpler compared to traditional on-premises software as the users don't need to install and deploy software.
• Scalability: SaaS lets you easily scale to your needs. You don't need to worry about the server requirements. You can scale up and down based on your specific needs at a particular point in time.
• Accessibility: Since everything is hosted on the cloud, you can access your resources from anywhere, and on any device.

Disadvantages of SaaS

One common drawback with SaaS is that organizations rely on third-party service providers and vendors to keep their operations running. This can cause issues like service disruptions, security issues, and billing issues. It is recommended that an organization choose a vendor after reading the SLA and determining if it meets the organization's needs.

Site24x7 and SaaS

Site24x7 is a SaaS-based all-in-one monitoring solution that monitors websites, servers, applications, network, and the cloud. You can also track your cloud deployments across platforms using Site24x7's monitoring insights.