Messaging News - December 2008 - (Page 12) SaaS billion USD in 2012, representing a compound annual growth rate of 31.6 percent. “It does seems that terms are being used very interchangeably,” agrees Roberto. “There is a whole range of how people are using the term SaaS and cloud computing. From our perspective, we look at the distinction based on whether you are utilizing an application and licensing a service to run certain applications vs. just having a platform available to you.” Key Drivers Ferris Research recently produced a commission paper for Mimecast entitled: Email Archiving: SaaS customer to quickly purchase and begin using new services immediately and take advantage of new technology and applications more quickly.” Even more, Eades notes that SaaS frees internal resources so that focus can be centered on core business. Support is also an important aspect, as he notes that Everyone.net offers quality support by real people. Briceno sees “End-user customers of the PGP MSPN program gain cost-effective access to enterprise-strength encryption technology without infrastructure, datacenter and helpdesk investments. Customers have access and messaging solutions offer significant benefits over on-premises solutions. Typically, SaaS-based solutions require low administrative overhead, and can result in ‘green’ benefits such as reduced power consumption, floor space, etc. With SaaS-based approach, there is also a reduced need for training internal IT staff, particularly in terms of 3S skills—the convergence of security, storage, and systems management. In addition, solutions available in a SaaS model are more rapidly deployed and often more flexible than on-premise solutions. SaaS services also focus on the business deliverables, abstracting from the organi- “We have clients that have seen reductions of costs in some cases between 60 and 80 percent in what they had anticipated expending on an alternative on premise solution. We definitely are seeing economic conditions driving people to a SaaS model/ approach. It is very attractive in the current economic climate.” —Mary Kay Roberto, Mimecast U.S. Strengths vs. On-Premise Solutions. In the paper, David Ferris writes, “The costs of installing a SaaS solution are very low compared with those of on-premise solutions. A SaaS solution does not require large up-front expenditures for software licenses, storage, dedicated servers, and backup systems for the archive. Nor does it incur the extra costs of training for IT staff or the associated planning and installation time. The implementation costs for a SaaS solution are predictable and relatively fixed.” As previously noted cost, while a key attraction for SaaS, is not the only reason organizations are trending toward the model. To Eades there are many reasons to consider SaaS saying it is “a service that is accessible anytime, anywhere through a Web browser via laptop, desktop, or mobile device.” He also says SaaS is “an application that is simple and easy to use, where all services are integrated into a single intuitive user interface. SaaS also offers the ability to customize and self-configure your service. That is, allowing the 12 to quick and easy deployments with a pay-as-you-go model with no annual commitments. Customers have choice, flexibility and cost-savings to fulfill their business needs and protect their key data assets.” Briceno, like Eades, notes that ultimately SaaS “allows customers to remain focused on their core competency— be it healthcare, legal services or accounting assistance—while the PGP partner assists them with their security and encryption needs.” To Miles & Stockbridge law firm CIO Ken Adams, when asked if cost was the primary driver in deciding on Mimecast, he comments, “Support was number one for me; cost came second. These guys and gals have their support nailed-down.” He also notes that “the storage limit of Mimecast is far greater than any other solution and the business continuance component of Mimecast did not exist with the others we looked at.” IDC believes that “For customers in both the SMB and enterprise markets, cloud-based email management zation the day-to-day management of the underlying technology.” Other trends are also pushing SaaS acceptability. Eades observes the following that will impact SaaS: • Interaction through email, IM, SMS, and fax with customers, partners, etc. continues to lead the way for SMB SaaS adoption. • Sharing will be adopted as collaboration takes hold for document management, workspaces, and calendars. • Sync of connections through social networks, Outlook, and other contact managers will add realtime dynamic value. • Security: protections of data and content through archiving, AS/AV, and filtering all done in the cloud will be the base ticket to the game by 2010. Addressing Concerns The obvious SaaS hurtle to overcome, for a customer, is to have faith and trust in the SaaS provider. With messaging so critical to a company, in many ways the SaaS provider becomes a business partner. “This MESSAGING NEWS DECEMBER 2008 http://www.Everyone.net
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.