Why hosted solutions make sense for public safety
This article originally appeared in print with the headline, "Seeking the host with the most."
When the concept of software as a service (SaaS) was introduced more than a decade ago, the reception was
lukewarm, at best. Now, it’s a multibillion-dollar, double-digit-growth industry. From 2008 to 2009, the hosted solution market grew 21.9% to $8 billion; according to Gartner Group, it’s expected to continue on a steady growth path, to a projected $32.8 billion in 2016.
Why the changeof heart? Simple—like many great ideas that have gained acceptance over time, hosted solutions have proved that they make sense, especially financial sense. Companies turn to hosted solutions to increase efficiency and business capabilities, without the downside of investing in expensive infrastructure and IT staff.
Sometimes referred to as Internet- or Web-based applications, hosted solutions are software solutions accessed through a private network or the Internet using a thin client. The application’s associated data also are stored on the network, alleviating the need for onsite servers, storage and support staff. “Cloud services” is another term used for this type of application. There are subtle differences between hosted solutions and cloud solutions, but they all follow the same basic principle: the critical software and hardware are managed for you, and are accessible to you anywhere there is network connectivity.
If you’ve used your computer or Internet-connected mobile device today, chances are you’ve accessed a hosted solution. Popular e-mail applications like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail and Windows Live Mail are all examples of hosted applications, as are YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Examples of hosted applications common in the business world are various office and messaging applications, Web collaboration tools (like WebEx), customer-relationship management solutions (like Salesforce), enterprise-resource planning (ERP) and marketing automation software (like Marketo).
