CLOUD COMPUTING - SaaS

What is Cloud Computing and Software as a Service (SaaS)?

Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is the capability to use the vendor / provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email). The user organization does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Aligning Business and IT Needs in the Cloud

Enterprises are under constant pressure to anticipate and adapt to the turbulent business landscape. Traditional software and information systems have been critical in helping companies gain insight and optimize performance, but tension persists between business and IT leaders over the cost, efficiency and availability of these systems.

Cloud-computing technologies can offer significant advantages over traditional systems. With resources provisioned on-demand and as-needed, enterprises can benefit from the collaborative, flexible, and cost-effective nature of cloud systems.