Majority of the discussions in IT at the moment has centered on the "next big wave" in Information Technology using Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). You may already be hearing more about SaaS than the Cloud Computing it really powers. SaaS is the Software Deployment Model currently used in Cloud Computing.
Some of the major things going on, questions being asked, and key considerations for Business IT, IT Departments and Businesses; many of which we await to learn the outcome(s) or find answers in the area include:
Is the proposed "flat fee per-user per month" and the 'pay-as-you-go', elastic or non-elastic computing pricing models by your SaaS vendor really what it says it is, 'Fixed' and 'Affordably Variable', as stated in the marketing materials, contract and agreement for your initial configuration, setup, migration, support, and all the important KEY functionalities, and training your business will need, now, down the line, in the near future and in the future for same, less or larger number of users?
Is Clouding Computing really about to replace the Desktop Client / Server On-Premises Systems? Who and What is 'THE', and a 'TRUE' Cloud Computing Platform? How can a 'Cloud' or a Cloud Vendor be TRUSTed with intellectual properties, trade secrets, business data, employee information, customer/client personal and private information? What kind of information protection rights and business information intelligence use rights do you and your business have? Will the SaaS Solution meet your business compliance requirements?
Will "the" or a Cloud Service being offered integrate well, and work seamlessly with your existing On-Premise Systems, Remote Locations, and other Cloud Infrastructure(s) with the highest level of Security Built-In? What is the SLA (Service-Level Agreement)?
Could it be that SaaS-Powered Cloud Computing, 'Clouding Our Computing' is just another lofty dream of the future of the technology(ies), or will it be the one to help create the new radical and ground-breaking business models? How and Why is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) different from Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), the Platform itself, and other Technology Services and Solution Models?
Many of us will recall when Active Server Pages (ASP) became very popular in 1996 to 2000 prior the ASP.NET version. The Active Server Pages technology with the Application Service Provider Model (ASP) (..which was a failure mostly) was really the first incarnation of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) before the Dot-Com Bubble Busted in that era in a brutal Vicious Cycle, and the preceding False Virtuous Spiral.
Before we begin please take moment to View Video below, PARTS 1, 2, 3 and 4 (1997)- "America's Obsession With Wall Street and It's Implication For The Country": "Betting On The Market" (1997) for a solid refresh down the memory lane 1996/97-2000, that is 9 to 12 years ago during the Greatest Tech-Bubble in history. -Courtesy of PBS's Frontline (1997).