Networking lessons in delivering 'software as a service'-Part II

Abstract

In part I of this paper, we described the origins and evolution of Software as a Service (Saas) and its value proposition to Corporate IT, Service Providers, Independent Software Vendors and End Users. SaaS is a model in which software applications are deployed, managed, updated and supported on demand-like a utility-and are served to users centrally using servers that are internal or external to the enterprise. Applications are no longer installed locally on a user's desktop PC; instead, upgrades, licensing and version control, metering, support and provisioning are all managed at the server level. In part we examine the lessons learned in researching, building and running an SaaS service.