The Benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS)

The Software as a Service market is predicted to be worth more than $700 billion by 2028.

It's no wonder. Software as a Service, or SaaS, is a way of delivering applications over the internet rather than having to install them locally. It offers a wide range of benefits, and the market continues to grow at pace.

If you're wondering whether Software as a Service can help your business, then you're in the right place.

Let's look at some of the key benefits of SaaS.

Cost

One of the biggest benefits of Software as a Service is the cost savings it can offer.

With a traditional software model, you incur more than just the costs of licensing the software. You also have overhead required to install the software, configure it for your needs, maintain it, update it, and more. With SaaS, you pay one monthly fee and you don't need to worry about any of the other issues, which means that SaaS will usually work out to be the more cost-effective option.

It also means that it's much easier to manage your cashflow as you're making the same regular payments each month.

Time

Time is money, especially in business.

The beauty of SaaS is that you can be up and running almost instantly. With a traditional software model you need to purchase the software, install it, configure it, and deploy it before you can start using it properly.

SaaS doesn't need installation, and will already be configured for optimum usage, so you and your team can start using it from minute one.

Accessibility

The world of work has changed dramatically in light of the global pandemic. For many, working from home has become the norm rather than the exception.

One of the key benefits of Software as a Service applications is that they can be accessed from anywhere that has an internet connection. You're no longer tied to software installed on specific devices in specific locations. SaaS can be accessed from home, at work, and even on the road.

SaaS is the perfect solution to changing work practices. However, the new normal brings its own challenges. With more people accessing software over the internet, you'll need to be sure that you think about how to protect them against data loss and cloud downtime.

Cross Platform

If your team are using software on the go, then they will be using a wide range of different devices.

Many traditional software applications were designed to work only on specific platforms, meaning that a wide range of devices were rendered useless. With SaaS, you can access the software on a whole selection of cross-platform devices; even mobile phones. You don't need to worry about providing specific hardware for your employees to use at home; they can use their home computers without issue.

Since your team can access the software on any device, anywhere, at any time, it means that productivity and efficiency can increase.

Scalability

With traditional software, as your business grows, your software doesn't always grow with you.

You may have a set number of licences, and even if you have some headroom with licenses, you'll still need to install and configure the software on every new device for each new employee. You become a victim of your own success; the more you grow, the more time you have to spend on installing software.

SaaS is easily scalable. Contact your SaaS provider, tell them how many more licenses you need, and you're up and running almost instantly. If you hit hard times, you can easily change things up again to ensure that you're only paying for exactly what you need.

Offering SaaS means that you don't have more hassle when your business grows.

No Upgrade Issues

Software doesn't sit still. There will always be upgrades, updates, and improvements to any software.

With traditional software, you need to keep on top of these updates yourself. You'll need to make the updates across all of your devices, and ensure you do it in a timely manner to reduce the risk of compatibility issues. All of which takes time and money.

With SaaS applications, you don't need to worry about upgrades anymore. If the software is upgraded, you'll instantly be able to access the upgraded version seamlessly. It means you're always using the most up-to-date, secure, and efficient version.

Security

One of the big risk of delaying updates and upgrades with traditional software is that it puts your business at risk.

Security patches are intended to fix software vulnerabilities that could leave your business open to attack. These patches are only effective once they've been installed, however. Until this happens, you and your business are vulnerable.

SaaS takes many of these concerns out of your hands. Updates and upgrades happen automatically, so there is a reduced risk of falling foul of security vulnerabilities.

With any service that requires internet access, there will always be a risk of cyber threats. Whilst SaaS can reduce these risks, you should always be sure to have systems in place to keep your business data protected should the worst happen.

Are You Looking to Reap the Benefits of SaaS?

If you're ready to take advantage of the many benefits of SaaS, then you need to be sure that you do it in a safe and secure way.

We're here to help with solutions that allow you to protect your business when using SaaS. Datto SaaS Protection offers comprehensive backup and recovery solutions for both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Datto SaaS Defense offers advanced threat protection against malware, phishing attacks, and business email compromise.

To learn more about how to stay safe when using SaaS, download our free SaaS Protection Buyer's Guide today.