Cloud computing

Cloud computing refers to the use of multiple server-based computational resources. These resources can be accessed through various digital networks such as WAN, Internet, etc. The resources of the server can be accessed by Smartphones, tablet PCs, Notebooks or other such type of devices having network connectivity.

Cloud Services:

SaaS (Software as a Service): A service provider builds software while the end users configure it to suit their needs. The clients (end users) however, do not get the flexibility to change or modify the software.

PaaS (Platform as a Service): provides a platform to clients to carry out several different tasks. For example, the platform provided by the Windows gives an opportunity to developers to build, test, and host applications that can be accessed by the end users.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Provides infrastructure on demand. The infrastructure can be anything from storage servers to applications to operating systems.


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Cloud Computing And How It Can Impact Your Business

Successful business is done by groups, not individuals. It takes an entire team of people to efficiently create, test, and distribute products and services. So why are so many business programs on the computer designed to be only used by one person? Wouldn't it make sense to provide all the workers on a team with an option for real-time collaboration and the ability to access to the same set of resources and tools related to the project they're working on? Cloud computing allows the storage of information on a server that can be accessed by multiple users. There's many benefits to this system of computing. Some of these benefits include improved worker productivity, decreased expenses for users, and the ability to work from any device with Internet access.

Workers can save time using cloud computing therefore increase their productivity. Instead of working on documents and spreadsheets individually and then e-mailing them to coworkers asking for comments and criticisms, members on the cloud can receive real-time input and assistance from their peers who are working in tandem with them on the same file.

Hard drive space is both essential and expensive, and cloud computing can save its users a significant amount of money by freeing up room on users' computers. Large, important documents that once needed to be kept in a folder on a user's personal computer can now be stored on a server, leaving more room for other files that the user may need. There are no downloads required for cloud computing. Simply log into the network and store the desired files.

Since work is stored on a server and not on an individual's computer, project team members can access files on the cloud and work from any computer, phone, or tablet that has Internet access. This allows files to be edited regardless of their location, so if a user remembers they need to make a change to a document but they've already left their computer, it's possible to use another computer or a smartphone to open and edit that document.

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A Cloud Computing Company To Watch In 2011- 12 : Albion InfoTel

The Albion Infotel Pvt. Ltd. was awarded the Best Cloud Service Provider for the year 2011 by the Compuer Reseller News – a renowned magazine and TV channel on computer’s in their glittering summit for Excellence Awards 2011 on August 18-20th, 2011 at Leonia Holistic Resort, Hyderabad. The award was received by CEO of the company Sh. Sanjeev Gupta in the presence of over 100 CXOs from leading IT solution providers, System Integrators, Enterprise VARs and vendor companies.

For more information visit our site :http://www.albion2000.com

Cloud Computing : Albion InfoTel

Cloud computing is based on having a centralized server like a giant hard drive connected to the internet similar to the one in your computer but probably much larger. This stores information and allows information to be accessed off of it from anywhere that has internet. Any good cloud system is up 24/7 and is encrypted with great security features and also has an extra backup so the user's information can never be lost or stolen. The other part is the portal and how you as a user accesses it. This is the platform that you will use to access your information and share the information. It will be formatted for some specific work like Real Estate, or pictures, or some other purpose. This is so all of your work doesn't look like a big jumbled mess when you get to it. These are usually provided in the form of an App or website that will provide you with a great robust cockpit that is easy to understand.

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Cloud Computing For Business Applications

Advancements in computer technology have increased performance levels and productivity in businesses of all sizes. Increased data speeds and internet usage in conjunction with larger storage capacities and a diverse lineup of electronic devices have brought about a new era in networking capabilities. On the cutting edge of this technology is cloud computing.

What exactly is cloud computing? Through a service provider, cloud computing is a platform that acts as a remote data center where users can access files and software securely through a multitude of devices wherever there is internet access. It is a solution for businesses and individuals looking for an easy way to store and access media from one device to another and the ability to share that media with other people who have been given access.

The cloud computing network may seem complicated, but it can be used by anyone. It is not necessary for the end user to understand the complexities of the infrastructure involved or the networking system and how it works. The interesting and applicable example for comparison would be electricity, where users have access to the service but don't necessarily understand the systems and the component devices, which provide the service.

It is a model, which provides an environment where networks, applications, and storage can be shared by many users with minimum effort. This requires minimal service provider interaction and makes available the pooled computing sources, which can be shared on-demand. This capability to store information remotely opens many possibilities in small business. Without the need to keep programs and files stored locally, a person can now work from a phone, touch pad, or laptop from anywhere, and share their files with anyone else in the company. Cloud computing can also be used as a remote backup, storing an off-site copy of important documents in case data recovery is necessary for computer repair.

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Advantages of Cloud Computing

So you've just about got your head around the basics of cloud computing, you've been told that it's an amazing advancement for your business and it's the way forward, but what now? Technology and marketing research specialists, Gartner, has said that by 2012 80% of America's 1000 biggest businesses will pay for a cloud computing service, but what does that mean for you? Why should you bother investing in the cloud? Here are some of the biggest benefits of cloud computing:

Scalability: The biggest buzz word surrounding cloud computing is scalability. The ability to increase or decrease your cloud capacity as the network usage fluctuates which means, in theory, you shouldn't suffer from any crashes or downtime as you can simply contact your cloud provider and increase capacity. The main advantage of this to both personal users and businesses is that you only pay for what you use and the process of altering capacity takes just minutes.

Remote Accessibility: The obvious major advantage of cloud computing is its accessibility. Whether you're a big business or a personal user you're able to access your data from any PC with an internet connection, as long as you remember your log-ins of course.

Quality of Service: As with choosing any web host, choosing your cloud host comes with a check list. Some of the main points on the list are often quality of service and up-time, something which is vital for a network running solely on internet connections. Cloud providers will often employ skilled practitioners to manage the networks and make sure that down time is as close to zero as possible. Along with this you should expect 24/7 support from your vendor and immediate action to be taken if your network goes down. Though it may be annoying for you to sit at the other end twiddling your thumbs if your network goes down, it should give you some piece of mind knowing that professionals are sorting it out.

IaaS Vs SaaS Vs PaaS: The Differences in Cloud Computing

Chance are if you were to ask 10 people at a cloud computing event the question "What is cloud computing?" you would get 10 different answers. This can be really frustrating to those trying to learn more. The reason for this confusion is that there are so many ways that the cloud can be utilized. It might be best to think of cloud computing in terms of SaaS - software as a service, PaaS - Platform as a Service and IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service.

Here are some basic level definitions on these terms and some examples of how they can be utilized. What they all have in common is that they are all scalable, on-demand, cost effective and secure. They are completely managed so that the end user can focus on their business rather than maintaining their software, applications or hardware.

Software as a Service: Also called: SaaS ("sass"), web based software, on-demand software or hosted software. Essentially, it is software made available to end users via the internet. It is accessible from anywhere a user has an internet connection, including mobile phones, and it is not downloaded to any computer. Software as a Service has the ability to be customizable to the user. It is a very low maintenance and cost effective because SaaS providers manage the servers where software is stored to ensure availability and performance. They also apply any needed software upgrades and administer the security of the product.

Examples of SaaS are all around us. In business applications, you may be familiar with CRM tools (such as Salesforce), banking services, project management tools, CAD/CAM, retail point of sale, meeting software (WebEx) etc. In personal use, all Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Facebook, Turbo Tax, Twitter, YouTube, etc. are all examples of Software as a Service. Some are free and paid for by ad space, while offers are paid for with monthly or annual subscriptions.

Platform as a Service: Also dubbed PaaS, is possibly the most nebulous of terms related to cloud. Even companies selling the service seem to have different definitions. But, PaaS is referring to application development platforms where the development tool itself is hosted in the cloud and accessed and deployed through the internet. And, just like SaaS, this service is maintained by the PaaS provider.

Examples of PaaS are: force[dot]com (it supports Salesforce, an SaaS), AppEngine (from Google), Bungee Connect, Long Jump, Wavemaker, and more. Usually developers are more familiar with these platforms as they are typically specialized to those in development.

Infrastructure as a Service: IaaS is considered the most flexible cloud model. Infrastructure as a service provides fully scalable computing resources such as RAM, CPU, and storage infrastructure. This enables companies to design IT systems that can scale based on demand. It is the responsibility of the IaaS provider to maintain uptime on all systems including power, broadband, and associated hardware. Therefore, most IaaS providers incorporate a high availability design model. High availability means that there are always infrastructure resources available if there is a hardware failure of any kind. High Availability enables IaaS users to not only grow their infrastructure as needed, but also provide extremely secure uptime. IaaS' can provide the necessary infrastructure to the PaaS and SaaS companies and can even manage it for them, too.

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IT as-a-Service Using Cloud Computing and How it is Changing Organizations Today

There are many challenges when building a reliable, flexible IT infrastructure that can manage unpredictable behaviors of today's internet-based business environment. But Cloud-based IT is changing the way organizations used to look at building and maintaining IT infrastructures.  The digitally dynamic business world can no longer be served effectively using a static IT architecture.  To be competitive, businesses need to re-think the IT as an on-demand sharing of resources using the Internet - a totally a web-based platform that provides IT services to employees anytime/anywhere in the world.The idea of cloud computing is nothing new. There's a good chance you've already used some form of cloud computing. If you have an e-mail account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then you've had some experience with cloud computing.  Imagine taking your IT closet, including all that it hosts, and put on the cloud while virtualizing the desktops.  That is what Cloud IT offers.

Think of cloud computing as the ability to provision computational resources on demand via a computer network. Take for example; when a user executes a task, such as launching Word processing application, or opening a contact management database, these tasks taking place without actually possessing the software using a local hardware (the user's PC). In fact, the end-user's computer may contain very little software or data, if any at all.  A display terminal connected to the Internet with a minimal operating system and a web browser.  The cloud is the underlying delivery mechanism, the user's desktop and all the required business applications can be served on the cloud by the cloud on-demand. 

In such an unstable economic environment, budgets are under scrutiny and companies are feeling increased pressure to reduce operating costs without sacrificing quality. At the same time, in order to remain successful and competitive, a business cannot forego investment in areas such as IT that has proven to be a major differentiator among competitors.

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How Cloud Computing Can Be A Better Way

It seems like every time we turn around we're hearing about different computer programs and new technologies – all designed to make us more efficient and increase our productivity. One of the latest and fast emerging technologies we're constantly hearing about is cloud computing.

Cloud computing is becoming so widely known and recommended that cloud computing training is offered in a number of places. Individuals and professionals really wanting to get a grasp on this new technology are checking out cloud computing boot camp.

Cloud computing will help you run your business better and more efficiently for many reasons. Unlike many traditional business apps, applications that are cloud based can be up and running in a couple of days. Let's face it – for your business to be efficient, you can't have a lot of downtime.

Cloud computing will also save you money because you don't have to pay tons of money in employee wages to run your applications as well as many products to keep them running and updated. Any performance or security enhancements and upgrades your cloud based programs need, they'll get automatically.

Another way you'll save with cloud computing is by not having to constantly buy software and servers. They don't take up as much of your IT resources as traditional applications.

Although you're hearing and reading all about the benefits of cloud computing, you may still not be convinced. Enrolling in a cloud computing class or cloud computing training program can teach you everything you need about the basics of cloud computing.

 source:http://www.articlesbase.com

Company Name changed from Albion Informatics Pvt. Ltd. to Albion InfoTel. Ltd.

In persuit of the Company’s Mission & Vision Policy, we broadened our business venture and made a foray into Telecommunication Services like efax, Hosted Contact Centre, BPO etc. which necessitated to reflect our enlarged business activity in the name of the Company. Thus the change in name from Albion Informatics Pvt. Ltd. to Albion Infotel Pvt. Ltd..

Cloud Storage - Important Things to Know

Cloud storage is really gaining more and more popularity these days. Well, it is a type of data and information storage that is obtainable on the internet. There are a large number of services that such service providers can proffer, varying from saving pictures to entire backup of your system. This method is an exceptional substitute to a hard disk drive or several other types of storage devices, efficiently crafting the data reachable to more individuals and with simpler admittance. This is an increasingly popular form of data storage, with more providers keen to offer their services.

You would be quite amazed to know that cloud storage is comparatively a fresh notion that is gaining a more identifiable standing in this field. Basically, it comprises in 3 characteristics or features. They are: the entire storage space service should be on a particular network, it should be easy to level transparently without a specified time, and it should be easily manageable. This method is not only flexible but quite economical as well. So, you can easily consider opting for this method.

I would like to inform you that good cloud storage service permits you to store in set of connections outside of any particular geographic position, sensing the information is not attached to a permanent location. This is really advantageous method for all of us. The most amazing thing about this method is that you can easily access your data from anywhere you want to by using a simple net connection. This simply eliminates the unwanted use of an external storage device. You need not carry such heavy devices wherever you go.

If you want then you can even allow your clients to access your private data. This is also a good option for you to pursue. You can easily save your data in the best possible way using this method. However, there is always a risk of theft or data loss in this kind of a method. If you have really made up your mind to opt for such services then you need to surf the net and look for your prospective options. It is of utmost importance to opt for the best possible services in this regard.

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Albion launches research company as its subsidiary with the name of “Albion Research & Labs”

Albion hither to before had an in house research and development wing to cater to the development of IT needs of the company. Recognizing the importance of the in-house research, and the need to focus on specific Product Development, the company has decided to launch Albion Research & Labs company as a subsidiary of the Albion.

Cloud Computing : Albion2000

Cloud computing is a phenomenon which is described to deliver a standard model to the IT services which are totally based on the internet. It provides a very easy and efficient way to access the remote computing which is provided by the internet.Without Cloud Computing, a business must generally house one or more computer servers, from which all employees access the company's licensed programs. Through Cloud Computing, the servers which house the software are entirely off-site, with program usage licensed on an as-needed basis through subscription.

This may bring down the cost per employee, in that access through a Cloud will generally be more cost effective than purchase of in-house licenses and hardware, and subscriptions are scalable per actual need.With cloud computing, your business pays incrementally, only for the services they use, reducing overall business costs by not forcing you to pay energy costs associated with idle time.Cloud services allow your company to share internal data over the cloud, rather than making your internal data center itself available to outside parties.

Cloud Computing will not only remain a staple in modern business, but will likely streamline organisational operations in many new ways, as well as expanding upon its current uses.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

So you've just about got your head around the basics of cloud computing, you've been told that it's an amazing advancement for your business and it's the way forward, but what now? Technology and marketing research specialists, Gartner, has said that by 2012 80% of America's 1000 biggest businesses will pay for a cloud computing service, but what does that mean for you? Why should you bother investing in the cloud?

Here are some of the biggest benefits of cloud computing:

Scalability: The biggest buzz word surrounding cloud computing is scalability. The ability to increase or decrease your cloud capacity as the network usage fluctuates which means, in theory, you shouldn't suffer from any crashes or downtime as you can simply contact your cloud provider and increase capacity. The main advantage of this to both personal users and businesses is that you only pay for what you use and the process of altering capacity takes just minutes.

Remote Accessibility: The obvious major advantage of cloud computing is its accessibility. Whether you're a big business or a personal user you're able to access your data from any PC with an internet connection, as long as you remember your log-ins of course.

Quality of Service: As with choosing any web host, choosing your cloud host comes with a check list. Some of the main points on the list are often quality of service and up-time, something which is vital for a network running solely on internet connections. Cloud providers will often employ skilled practitioners to manage the networks and make sure that down time is as close to zero as possible. Along with this you should expect 24/7 support from your vendor and immediate action to be taken if your network goes down. Though it may be annoying for you to sit at the other end twiddling your thumbs if your network goes down, it should give you some piece of mind knowing that professionals are sorting it out.

Security & Backup: A great advantage of the cloud, especially for businesses, is the option of having real-time or frequent automatic backups. This results in little data loss and takes away the hassle of sourcing a backup provider and paying a separate cost. With security, the cloud's allusiveness means that cloud servers are less prone to attacks/hacks as the location of data is unknown. Again, for businesses, you have the option of an internal cloud with provides even more security, hiding your cloud behind a firewall or passwords.

Cost & Efficiency: Implementing any new system into a business is never easy work, but without the need to purchase and set up a load of new hardware, moving a business into the cloud is as easy as it's ever going to get. Most of the work is left in the hands of the cloud provider, as well as most of the costs. This advantage means that you'll be able to focus on any changes within the company and leave the rest to the experts. (It is important to note that financial advantages of the cloud are often only seen in the long term - see Disadvantages of Cloud Computing.)

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A guide to choosing facility management companies

The term ‘facility management' includes within its folds several disciplines like infrastructure, availability of resources, accessibility, performance and security. Multiple disciplines are handled at the same time to ensure maximum functionality of the environment through the integration of people, processes, places and technologies. Managing infrastructure through a third party involves a combination of processes, technologies and tools so that the IT infrastructure of the client company is always up and running.

Effective facility management ensures that processes, technologies and tools are in top operational order. This allows businesses the freedom of executing their business instead of getting bogged down by issues pertaining to the day-to-day management of their IT infrastructure.


Facility management companies provide essential services to their clients. This in turn enables the clients to:

    * Spend their energy on their core business interests
    * Minimize the cost of their operations
    * Improve their uptime
    * Tools are available for immediate deployment
    * Improve operational efficiency significantly
    * Provide greater accessibility to available systems

Facilities management companies in India are in the business of ensuring the smooth running of the facilities they provide. So, managed offices may come with a comprehensive range of solutions that include various aspects of the industry. This makes it easier for business to operate smoothly as soon as they start working with the company. Ultimately, that is the objective of a good facilities management company.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/a-guide-to-choosing-facility-management-companies-3936952.html

Cloud Computing Technology

The concept of future technology and how it should be managed should be looked at keenly in many organizations. This report will look at how cloud computing as a future technology could be managed. This report will explain the implications of cloud computing on business especially in the IT department. In this case, this report will look at the history and the current state of cloud computing, what are its effects in the changing technology, and how it will affect the management issues in organizations .Cloud computing is an emerging technology that is aimed and bringing all business processes at the central point. Internet is created in such a way that all processes needed in any business will be found there. In order to ease the usage of this new technology, companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have come up with new ways of creating spaces for storage of both data and software in the internet. As a result of this, managers and other business operators are relieved from the burden of purchasing and installing software, hardware, and hard discs into their computers. Cloud computing technology is bringing about the aspect of global village as one can access his/her business information at any time and place even while away from the business premises.

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Cloud Computing

There are some things in this world that are very hard to understand. Cloud computing is among those many things in the world that are hard to understand. This kind of computing is starting to become very popular nowadays with technology increasing. Cloud computing allows you to increase capabilities and capacity within a business without having to invest money in things such as software or infrastructure. It can be a really cheap way to help your company become more effective. There are many different kinds of cloud computing, and this article will discuss three different kinds of computing available.

The first kind of cloud computing that will be discussed is Platform as a service. This kind of computing is very close to SaaS, a different kind of computing. Platform as a service gives you development environments as a kind of service. You will build the applications yourself. These applications will then be run on the infrastructure of the providing company. Then the application will be delivered to your users through the Internet. This does not mean that you get to do whatever you want. Each provider has their own capabilities, and you will have to work around what your provider can and cannot do.

The second kind of cloud computing is MSP. MSP stands for managed service providers. MSP is very old when compared to the newer kinds of computing. An application will not be exposed to end-users, but it will instead be exposed to IT. This kind of computing involves things such as virus scanning services that can be used for your e-mail. Scanning e-mail messages is something that has been done for quite some time, and that is why this kind of computing has been around for awhile. This service also includes things such as anti-spam services as well.

The third, and final, kind of cloud computing that will be discussed is Service commerce platforms. This kind of computing combines qualities from SaaS and MSP. This kind of service gives people a place where users can go to interact. The most common use for this kind of computing is through trading environments. One example that I can offer to help you better understand is something that allows people to order travel services. Pricing can be done by the user of this kind of computing. Just another kind of the many different types of cloud computing technologies out there in the world today.

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IT Services Explained: How They Can Help

Information technology (or "IT") covers a wide variety of technology services, including software consulting, computer training and repair, data input and processing, systems engineering, disaster recovery, Internet security, and web hosting. These IT services can address any technology or Internet-related issue within a businesses network of computers and information. Although most people can handle basic technology issues in their home, as a business expands, an IT expert is needed to address these issues on a much larger scale.In the home, most IT issues can be addressed by simple trial and error because most people will only have basic IT needs including their Internet connections and network setup. This typically only requires an instruction manual and minimal knowledge of how computers work. However, as a business expands, its needs will change. These needs will include firewall and virus management, spam filtering, and emergency data back-up. Companies that can keep up with this IT maintenance can focus their energies on other issues, and even find it easier to compete with other companies, especially if the IT services team makes it easier to disseminate and file information.

Both home and business networks should have a firewall to prevent unauthorized access. A firewall is a security measure that serves two main purposes. First, it protects the networks from information stealing attacks or hackers. Usually, an onsite firewall within the companies network can provide the protection needed. However, as the company expands, and there is more sensitive information they must keep protected, having an offsite firewall becomes more valuable. Only professional IT service consultants can build a proper offsite firewall to protect your company's information. A firewall can be installed in both software and hardware applications to protect the networks.Spam filtering does not seem like a critical service until the companies email systems are flooded with spam, making productivity more difficult because employees must separate legitimate emails from the junk email. Although most email providers have a spam filter, it is possible to completely block unwanted email through the consultation with an IT services provider.

Many companies rely on computerized data and information to conduct daily business. For these companies, information back-up is a primary concern. If this information is lost, it could severely damage business productivity. As with other IT services, there are onsite and offsite methods of storing information. While onsite information backup is valuable, having offsite, or remote information back-up can prevent any productivity issues if this information is lost.

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SaaS - History and a Look Ahead

Software as a Service (SaaS) is method for delivering software that provides remote access to software as a web-based service. SaaS allows businesses, usually smaller businesses, to acquire the rights to use particular software by paying a monthly fee rather than purchasing the software and whatever hardware might be required for the software to perform.For example, many of us purchase word processing software that we install on our home computer. SaaS gives us access to the same functionality but via a web-based service for which we pay a monthly fee (typically considerably lower than purchasing the software) so that we can still use the word processor without installing it on our PC. For businesses, this means a wide range of software applications can be made available, as most software fits well with the SaaS model, at a reduced rate and in a way that is specified to the business owner's needs.

History of SaaS

The idea of using software as a service first popped up in the late 1990s in order to allow for the sharing of end-user licences in a way that reduced cost and also shifted server demands from the company to the software provider. Software changes and evolves all the time. The most widely used software programs are frequently being adapted and upgraded to improve functionality and usefulness. With SaaS, licenses often include technical support as well as access to upgrades. Before SaaS, investment in software meant that business owners had to accept the product as is and there was little opportunity to make the software more useful for specific purposes. On the other hand, SaaS allows users to upgrade their software more frequently so they are always using the most up-to-date technologies. As the internet has become a ubiquitous entity that is evolving to be faster and farther reaching, SaaS along with its reduced up-front costs and risks, is positioned to be the leading method of software licensing.

The Future of SaaS

Combined with lower start-up costs and a faster return on investment, SaaS is catching the eye of business owners looking to invest in new software technology. However, these two benefits are only part of the story and SaaS is likely to be a key component of business systems evolution. On-site software products worked faster in the past and this mean that SaaS couldn't compete. But as the internet is becoming much faster and is available in more sites, SaaS becomes more feasible.

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Cloud Computing - The Best Key Features Revealed

Cloud computing is a well known computing service which is totally based on the internet network. Basically in cloud computing, the mutual resources, shared data and software are made available to the computer systems and the other systems on their demand. You can easily recognize the cloud computing service as a paradigm of the shift of the data from the mainframe computer to the client and server. All the details are specially hidden from those users that do not have a control over the infrastructure of the technology in the shared cloud. Cloud computing is a phenomenon which is described to deliver a standard model to the IT services which are totally based on the internet. It provides a very easy and efficient way to access the remote computing which is provided by the internet. The key features which made the use of Cloud computing very much are mentioned below:

1. Agility
The access to cloud-computing is really very quick which made it the first choice of the users. Users can share the resources rapidly. Agility is one of the most important features of the Cloud-Computing.

2. Location and Device Independency
The most attractive feature of the cloud-computing is that, it is a fully location and device independent application. You can use any device for cloud-computing from anywhere throughout the world. You can either use your PC or your mobile for it, all you require is a web browser to access the content as the content can easily be shared with the help of the internet.

3. Multi-tenancy
Multi-tenancy enables the users to share the resources between large groups of users. With the help of this property the load capacity increases. It also helps in the utilizing the resources very efficiently. It enables the centralization of the infrastructure.

4. Reliability
The best feature of cloud-computing is that it improves the reliability in the condition when the numerous unnecessary websites are used. The reliability is the necessary property of the cloud-computing, which increases in the case when the redundant websites are accessed.

5. Security
The security in the it is really very improved because the data is centralized over here. This centralization of data increases the security over the focused resources. The security provided by the cloud-computing is much better than the security provided by the other traditional systems.

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CRM software the Tool of the Future

CRM software is also known as Customer Relations Software and is designed to help track and manage marketing, customer interactions and relationships across companies large and small. Day planners, appointment books and notebooks gave way to software to manage appointments, issue reminders and keep contacts listed in an organized manner. Such software was excellent in its way but did little to coordinate efforts or share information.
CRM software is far more sophisticated than the software designed as a day planner or schedule planner. Instead it integrates seamlessly into these as well as email and contact sheets and acquires date for analysis fro the first moment of contact to after sales support.

Customers are the key to any business' success and a tracking system which keeps all departments current of the status of a customer in the system. CRM software can track the customer after the sales and then mark them for up sells or resells at a later date.

CRM software can help manage and track the statistics from ad campaigns, the successful and the less successful and even help sales force automation reducing the time each salesman must spend on an individual phase of the sales process. Because this data is compiled and analyzed centrally by the software greater insight into new opportunities and approaches can be gained and strategies refined as well as new opportunities possibly defined. Less time devoted to every stage of a sale means less time spent on each customer and more revenue for the salesperson and more potential sales for the company.

Sales is only a single stage where CRM software can be implemented and improve opportunities as well as customer satisfaction. Customer interaction throughout the financing, sales and after sales support is an important factor in whether the company keeps that customer or whether they become dissatisfied. Using customer relations management software can help monitor customer support, common customer issues, and customer complaint resolutions and even help engineering or development identify weaknesses or common stress points in a product.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/crm-software-the-tool-of-the-future-3810096.html

Software As a Service - SaaS - Can Help You Save Money

Today's challenging economic times can make it difficult for businesses to do the right thing. Choosing to be "green" when faced with financial constraints presents a dilemma and for many businesses, the only viable solution is finding eco-friendly practices that can also save money.Whether they are using less electricity or reducing their waste, companies will be able to reduce their carbon imprint in several ways. Green technology solutions offer numerous opportunities, but IT professionals face notable challenges when evaluating options. You will find that many technology vendors will claim to be environmentally friendly. However, it can be hard to figure out which of their solutions are actually "green" and which are a marketing ploy. The biggest obstacle to implementation, though, is justifying the green initiative to management. Now more than ever, IT teams must demonstrate that the chosen solution will deliver corporate savings and ROI in addition to environmental benefits.

Over the last several years, the SaaS model, also known as cloud computing, has grown in popularity. Now a proven technology, SaaS is used by companies in order to receive expert services in a specified business area, such as email or web security. Business benefits include reduced operational costs, simplified management and improved productivity and the environmental benefits are just as substantial.

Hardware and software are two of the main contributors to toxic garbage and e-waste. The SaaS option reduces the need for businesses to purchase and replace these items. Energy is conserved through the power of multi-tenancy. Instead of 10 separate businesses having 10 different web filtering boxes, SaaS will run 1 dedicated web filtering box and remotely connects all the sites. Using this option, each business will receive the benefits of web filtering however, it will be in a much more cost effective and efficient manner.According to some reports, businesses deploying SaaS applications have shown a 20-to-1 savings in energy consumption as compared with running the same application on premise. At an average of 450 watts per server, multiplied by tens of thousands of servers, massive amounts of electricity and money are conserved. The benefits will not end there. Along with lower energy costs and reduced e-waste, SaaS greatly conserves IT resources by streamlining management of every company computer through one centralized console. Specialized services are provided through a small monthly fee. The end result is a fully sustainable approach that simplifies future planning and cost predictions.

The cloud model is most likely to continue in popularity as businesses around the world search for ways to balance financial needs with eco-friendly practices. Businesses are able to have a sustainable solution that will lead everyone into a future that is green through SaaS.

source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Software-As-a-Service---SaaS---Can-Help-You-Save-Money&id=3646083

How Cloud Computing Can Help

Cloud computing is not brand new. Cloud-based services such as Hotmail and MSN have been delivered successfully for many years. Of course these capabilities were typically consumed by the general public and only more recently have private companies ventured into cloud based information technology services. Here is a simple list that might help in understanding the benefits of cloud computing for the business enterprise:

1.Scalability: can start small and grow as needed

Determining the right size for your infrastructure can sometimes be difficult. Because of the hardware and software investment, you have to decide in advance the extent that your company would grow over the life of the computer systems. Online services take both growth [and decrease] out of the equation, allowing you to add or subtract user services as needed.

2.External User Access: including customers, suppliers, and partners

Some information technology or network managers may be concerned about opening up access to resources within their corporate networks or even within the DMZ at the edge of their networks. Cloud computing enables full collaboration capabilities without the worry or security headache associated with opening up your private network to customers, suppliers, or partners because the data resources are shared outside the corporate firewall.

3.Access Anywhere: from inside and outside corporate firewalls

Although collaboration technologies have helped to decrease the need for travel and their associated expenses, many corporate users are still finding the need to connect to business systems and information from remote or off premise locations. With cloud computing telecommuting becomes as simple as finding an internet network connection wherever you may be. You can see how this solution can significantly minimize the need for managing virtual private networks.

4.Multi-Tenant: shared infrastructure means better pricing

Many of you can readily understand the value of volume discounts. In information technology this has led to the rise in consolidation efforts and sharing under used resources. Likewise in the multi-tenant cloud environment, you can take advantage of the price breaks associated with sharing resources with other users and companies while maintaining complete isolation and security.

5.Known Service Level Agreements: highly trained support personnel

Every in-house IT support organization struggles with keeping their personnel up to date with training in all the latest technologies. Inherent in delivering service levels agreements, cloud computing ensures that the support and maintenance staff are current on all the key techniques required to guarantee a consistent, dependable environment. Guaranties often take the form of penalties or refunds for not delivering on the pre-arranged service level.

6.Reliability: built in availability and disaster recovery

Reliability metrics are usually determined by uptime or downtime and even though this is true, it is also impacted by performance and the availability of the particular services you expect to be accessible. Cloud computing makes use of virtualization, hardware failover, and service monitoring to assure that your computing needs are met when you need them. Although the term "cloud" is nebulous in nature, the actual infrastructure is real and geographically disbursed giving rise to disaster recovery fail over.

7.Choice: pick only the services you need

Cloud computing suppliers can provide a single service, such as e-mail or CRM technologies, or they can package key services together including messaging and collaboration as a full suite of capabilities. There are some services that you may want to retain in-house for business reasons such as international legal requirements.

8.Hybrid: mix of on-site and cloud services

Cloud computing does not have to be an "all-or-none" proposition. On premise hosted services may be best for concentrated employee locations while remote isolated branch offices may be best served through cloud utilities. Other key uses of cloud based services include collaboration with outside entities such as your suppliers, partners, customers, or even the government, thereby avoiding the need to provision access through your on-site network firewalls.

9.Current: no more server infrastructure upgrades!

As new software and services are developed, more and more capabilities are being added to provide businesses with a quicker "time to decision" which can translate to money saved or money earned. Deciding when to upgrade your systems can often be difficult and the actual upgrade can often be costly. Cloud computing facilitates a much easier method for migration to the latest and greatest infrastructure.

10.Future: for the next generation users

Technology seems to be changing and evolving at a rate never before seen in history. Do not worry, this is a good thing, but keeping up with access to business services from the various form factors such as a personal computer, a mobile device, or even a simple web browser can get complicated. The next generation of business users expect to be able to access the information they need via a myriad of devices (such as phones or kiosks) and tools (such as instant messaging and social computing sites). Cloud computing looks to the future enabling people to communicate and collaborate in new ways that could stretch your imagination.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/how-cloud-computing-can-help-2514273.html

Benefits of Hosted CRM Software

‘CRM’ represents ‘Customer Relationship Management’, a process or method used to study more about customer requirements and behavior in order to build up stronger relationships with them. Hosted CRM can be defined as a web based CRM software where the CRM system is hosted at an Application Service Provider (ASP).Today CRM programs have become the most useful tools for all marketing and service providing companies, irrespective of size or industry, so as to add to customer contentment. Hosted CRM is not as difficult or expensive to install as packaged solutions and also it does not requires vast infrastructure or important IT resources and too much time to organize. Hosted CRM software helps large, medium and small businesses to provide quality customer relationship management; but it is the small businesses who are benefited most.

The main benefits of Hosted CRM are

It only requires low initial cost because hosted CRM customers invest in limited initial consulting and mainly rely on the elasticity of the application to prop up the way they do business and to keep short process times.Uncomplicated customization and expansion helps most companies to make rapid changes in their sales or marketing techniques.The deployment cost is low and it puts an end to the need of setting up backend systems.

Fast Implementation - The expense of implementing hosted CRM is low and can be implemented within a few weeks. The process of implementation of hosted CRM includes initial setup, configuration, data migration and integration.Users are able to access from anywhere through the Internet.Provides facility for direct information sharing across locations: This means any information provided on the web can be transmitted back to the CRM backend.In short, when using hosted CRM, small businesses can attain remarkable efficiency. They are able to make use of the CRM tools and strategies more effectively to serve customer requirements.Apart from its many advantages there are also some drawbacks for hosted CRM. They include inadequate customization options and the chance of accessibility of information by third parties, who are involved in the process. Hence, hosted CRM is not the best option for those organizations that deal with receptive information.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/benefits-of-hosted-crm-software-468723.html

Cloud Computing Services – The Emerging Trend in the Enterprise IT world

The latest buzz word in the IT industry is ‘Cloud Computing.’ The term also called Software as a Service (SaaS) refers to a set-up where software is shared over a wide network of computers. Cloud computing services are a natural extension of Web 2.0 and are a practical way of accessing all data and applications from any location or platform. In the US, over two-thirds of web users make use of cloud-based services.Forward-looking companies of all sizes are now looking at the cloud computing model to reduce infrastructure costs and increase computational capabilities. It is important to choose a reliable vendor, offering the most advanced techniques to protect client data.

The case for Cloud Computing:

* Cloud computing brings down hardware costs considerably. An inexpensive computer terminal with enough processing power to run the middleware necessary to connect to the cloud system is all that a company would require.
* Companies don't have to obtain software licenses for every employee. Instead, the company could pay a metered fee to a cloud computing company.
* Cloud computing gives companies the option of storing data on someone else's hardware, removing the need for physical space for storing servers
* It lifts efficiency and brings about proper resource utilization
* It reduces both capital and operating costs, through economies of scale.
* Cloud computing facilitates rapid deployment and immediate scalability with no on-premise infrastructure.
* It eliminates traditional IT infrastructure management hurdles that slows down and interferes with an organization’s overall progress.

Cloud computing is likely to be adopted across enterprises within the next five years. There is no doubting the efficiency and financial benefits that cloud computing will bring. The greatest barrier to moving to the cloud relate to issues concerning:

    * Security & data privacy issues
    * Regulatory / compliance concerns
    * Ability to bring systems back in-house
    * Integration with existing systems

Security concerns around this issue can be countered with the right technology and cloud computing systems can be made as secure - if not more secure - than existing server-based office systems. Top of Form

Cloud computing is a viable Internet model for small and medium businesses since it provides a cost effective solution to meet increasing computing needs and energy consumption.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/cloud-computing-services-the-emerging-trend-in-the-enterprise-it-world-1099004.html

Advantages of Software as a Service

Software application development services are becoming popular. This is evident from the rise in demand for large number of software programs that have been developed to cater to the fast changing needs of various business organizations.The software applications programs are tools that run on computer's operating system and help software users in accomplishing day-to-day tasks. Application development is of different types depending on the individual needs. The software applications can be either custom application, web application, or generic software application. The last one in the above list is useful for general software purposes.Software application development company offers a variety of business plans that might suit one or other business need. These companies provide reliable, quality and customized software application development, including SaaS, Cloud Computing, and custom mobile applications. Software as a service (SaaS) is looked upon by vendors as a way to cut down cost and increase efficiency. SaaS is everywhere now. Whether it is software application development services or web solutions, SaaS plays an important role in offering solution to a variety of business needs.

 Any business, big or small, requires software to perform variety of tasks needed during the process of conducting their business. These business houses buy the needed software at quiet a high cost. This is one factor that is inhibiting for many small scale businesses. The SaaS here plays an important role. It makes possible to provide software required by the business entity through vendors. These vendors furnish the software on licensing bases. The charges are then calculated based on the usage of the software. This software is made available to concerned business house through internet. In other methods, SaaS application can be uploaded in customer's server and the customer can access it from there. The user needs to have the authority to access the server at any given point of time to have maximum benefits if SaaS applications. The freedom from hardware quality or storage devices installed on each device while accessing SaaS also makes it popular among the masses.

source:http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/advantages-of-software-as-a-service-4041205.html

The Benefit of Hiring Professionals For Network Management

Network Management includes all the activities, tools, methods, and procedures that relate maintenance, administration, provision, and operation of network assistance. It can be classified as FCAPS which stands for Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security. It's the responsibility of network management to detect and resolve the issues regarding network.The network and its services are needed to be updated with time and it is the duty of Network Management to maintain efficiency systems in order to avoid users from shocking incidents. There are specific teams of administrators that are established by different companies to facilitate the organizations or individual businessmen. The advantage of Network Management is that it handles all the issues which can damage your system with in no time.Suppose suddenly your system has met with a serious problem that can not be handled by you then what will you do? Will you wait settling down the matter automatically or should you wait? Never, if you do this then definitely you will damage your whole network. At the start the problems look too small but if not handle properly then those small problems can destroy your system, sometimes your whole business. You should have links with different companies that have highly qualified network administrators. If you have met with a problem then you should not waste your time by moving here and there but should avail the opportunity. A good and successful businessman always hires the companies or individuals for Network Management.

If you are a new businessman then call a company and hire it for the arrangement of your systems and network, because large companies have professionals who can handle tasks in a better and advance manner. The main benefit of this step is that in the future the problems can easily be sorted out by them because the whole system is arranged by them. For example if your network is arranged by a local person, then at the time of error he or she may not be available. But if you appointed a company for long time then they will be responsible for solving the issue within short time even they have administrators at that time or not.In this age of advancement professional administrators have developed different Network Management Systems which have the quality of managing different Network Tasks. If you are using the Network Management systems then you must not be worried about the performance of your system because it identifies the problem that can damage your system, provides alerts, and solve that problem immediately.

These Network Management Systems not only detect problems but also gather device information with passage of time. The professional authors of these systems saved different problems along with solution in the library of network management systems the benefit of this is that in case of any fault in the devices, the network software searches out its library in order to find the best solution for the problem.

source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefit-of-Hiring-Professionals-For-Network-Management&id=6027030

Software as a Service - A Guide to Transforming Your Software Product into a Service

There is growing market demand for more economical and efficient enterprise applications to an ever-expanding global market. The combination of the ubiquitous Internet and the availability and legitimacy of open source software is creating substantial opportunities and economies for software vendors to deliver Software as a Service (SaaS).
Software as a Service is a model in which the software vendor provides an Internet hosted version of their application (in house or at a managed 3rd party site) that is accessed by customers from the website and paid for on a per-use, per-project or subscription basis.The SaaS model offers significant benefits to software vendors and their customers. The SaaS model offers customers cost-effective subscription-based or per-use pricing, eliminating the need for substantial capital outlays to purchase perpetual software licenses. It also eliminates the initial outlay and on-going costs and risks of installing, supporting and maintaining in-house hardware and the associated IT staff. In addition, user access and application performance can be dramatically improved with Internet-based, on-demand, 24x7 systems. The SaaS model opens new markets to software vendors. Established software companies can broaden their market reach by offering SaaS solutions to small and midsized enterprises. Other benefits include the financial advantages of predictable recurring revenue streams and strengthened relationships with customers. Software vendors migrating to or developing products from the outset as SaaS offerings will have a significant competitive advantage when competing with traditional license-model vendors.

Realizing the benefits of the SaaS model may require fundamental changes to a software vendor's business model, software architecture and operational structure. This white paper provides an overview of the issues associated with the software application itself and the development considerations associated with moving to a SaaS model.Time is of the essence. As with any new business model, the rewards often go to early market entrants. Accelerating the time-to-market of your software deployment is critical to your business success. Outsourcing product modifications to implement your SaaS offering, with the assistance of an expert services team, and engaging an optimal on-demand service delivery firm will accelerate your time-to-market and insure an on-time, on-budget, on-scope implementation.

The Challenge of Transforming Your Software

While there are a multitude of benefits in providing Software as a Service, traditional software companies may face challenges in moving to this model. First, your software must be web-enabled with all functions carried out by the user using a web browser. If you have a client-server application, you must replace the functionality implemented in the client with HTML, and possibly other technologies (XML, Java, etc.), that can be displayed by a web browser over the Internet. Next, in order to gain operational efficiency, your software needs to be multi-instance. You move from single-instance to multi-instance by loading multiple copies of your software on a single set of servers. Multi-instance enables you to share the cost of a server across multiple customers. Additional productivity enhancements and economies may be gained by moving to multi-tenant SaaS, or replacing proprietary commercial software with open source software. Web services provide an opportunity for integration with other applications and data flows.

Single Instance Applications

Traditional client/server applications are single instance. They require software to be installed on the user's computer to carry out computations and provide functionality. Clients often implement highly interactive features and enable the user to manipulate large amounts of data. This can be very difficult to implement in a traditional HTML, request/reply web application interface that requires frequent page refreshes. Migrating from client/server to an Internet-based SaaS model is highly dependent on your specific application.

Today, new Rich Internet Application (RIA) technology is available from Macromedia, Laszlo Systems and others that give web applications the look-and-feel and functionality of a desktop application or client. RIA requires little or no software be installed on the user's client computer. The most that is needed is a small browser plug-in or Java applet. This fundamental change to the user interface converts your client /server application to a single-tenant web application.Web applications may be single instance or multi-instance. A single-instance web application is typically installed on dedicated servers in the customer's data center and used only internally, behind the firewall. At installation time, your software is configured to consume whatever system resources are needed and available on the computers.

When a web application is offered as a service over the Internet, it should be hosted in a professional data center. This will minimize costs and delivery high quality service to your customers. If you have a single instance application and more than one customer, one approach is to install a new instance of your software on a dedicated server for each customer. This may work for a few customers or some big accounts, but it does not scale effectively for large numbers of customers. It also cannot be used for small and medium sized customers that cannot afford the set-up costs.

Moving from Single to Multiple Instances

An alternative to individual customer dedicated servers is to install multiple copies of your software on a single set of servers. This is called multi-instance. Multi-instance enables you to share the cost of a server across multiple customers. Most business applications use a database and each additional copy of the software installed requires a new database instance as well.Installing multiple copies of your software on one set of servers may not be as easy as it sounds. Installation procedures need to be modified so that each instance is installed without disrupting resource allocation or the security of the other previously installed copies of the software.

There is a limit to the number of instances that can be installed and eventually system resources will be consumed. System resources include shared memory, process semaphores and other internal operating system parameters. So the question becomes, "How many copies of your software can you install on a server?"Obviously, you can keep installing instances of your software until resources are exhausted. However, you must also consider the performance of the system under load by users. Typically there are a maximum number of simultaneous users your software must support and minimum performance or response time requirements that must be met to satisfy customer commitments.

An accurate answer to the "How many copies of your software can you install on a server?" question is derived by testing the software as you add additional instances. This is best done with automated testing software tools that can simulate the desired number of users placing a load on the system.

The testing process is to determine the optimal number of instances and the resulting performance. This is accomplished by installing additional instances of your application, and carefully monitoring system resources and running user load tests using variable traffic modeling to determine the point at which returns diminish.This process of maximizing the number of instances on the servers can take one to three weeks depending on the size and complexity of your system, the quality of your installation process whether you have already created automated user load testing scripts and procedures.

Minor code changes may be needed to move to multi-instance. For example, if your application reads and writes a file with a hard-coded filename and location on the disk, then the file must be created in different locations for each instance to avoid conflicts between each instance. These problems will be discovered and changes will need to be made during the one to three weeks.

Next Steps - Improving Functionality and Reducing Costs

Once your software is running effectively as a multi-instance SaaS application, you may want to pursue a multi-tenant architecture. In a single instance, multi-tenant architecture, multiple customers share a single instance of your software. Migration from multi-instance to multi-tenant can be a significant project and may even require a rewrite of your application from the ground up. The efficiencies gained in moving to multi-tenancy need to be closely examined. You might find your resources better spent in other ways.

Another possible step would be to focus on driving costs out of your model. Many applications have dependencies on expensive proprietary databases and/or middleware. Significant savings can be realized by migrating to lower cost or open source alternatives. An investment here might provide significant savings in operating costs that would be transparent to your end users and very beneficial to your bottom line.

You might also consider adding web services for inter-process communications. This will be particularly appealing if your application is part of a workflow with information passing-to or gathering-from another application. Designing with web services in mind will minimize long-term integration requirements.

A Single Instance, Multi-Tenant Web Application

Software companies have created web applications for over ten years now. These are often installed on the Intranet of a customer and only used internally, behind the firewall. This single instance of the software is used by just one customer. This is both single-instance and single-tenant.You saw above how you can install and test your software to make it multi-instance -- having multiple copies running on one server. However, each copy is a single-tenant web application.

Single-tenant web applications can be modified to support multiple customer tenants on the same instance. Multi-tenant web applications minimize the amount of hardware needed to support multiple customers. Also, customers can self-provision their use of your software by signing up for an account and entering payment information. This minimizes, and often eliminates, the amount of support needed to set up a new customer.

One of the modifications to support multi-tenant is the creation of a user interface for user provisioning of accounts in the system. Another modification, depending on the requirements for integration with other enterprise systems, is an LDAP interface for convenient provisioning and administering of user accounts. Modern database technology can enable quick duplication of the data model so each customer has its own copy of each table in the database. This is an elegant way to keep customer data separate when stored in the single database instance used for the service.

Templates for configuration of the software should be provided to accelerate customization and adoption of the service by new customers. Templates support various scenarios of system usage by customers.A system management dashboard showing system use by all tenants may be required. A mechanism must be available to measure system usage for purposes of billing as well as monitoring system load. Administrative accounts for customer support purposes may also need to be implemented.

It may be necessary to enhance the reliability of the back-end, using database technology to implement parallel servers at physically distant locations, to ensure constant up time during periods of natural or man-made disasters.

Maintaining Performance of Your Multi-Tenant Web Application

Multi-tenant applications must deal with several issues that are not as pronounced in single-tenant and client/server systems. Because multi-tenant systems are available over the public Internet, usage may be unpredictable. Therefore, demand planning must be done more carefully. The systems should be instrumented to detect increasing usage so additional hardware and bandwidth are provided to maintain service levels.

Driving Down Costs by Moving to Open Source

Many software developers are agnostic about the application server and database software used by their applications. The customer often dictates these choices. If your customers want to use Oracle as the database, then you must support this popular choice. Your software must have modules to support each database technically. Business-wise, you pass along the cost of the database license to the end customer, if they do not already own a license.

But what database should you choose for your software when it is offered as a service? There may not be a need for the technical features of an expensive commercial database. Moreover, the economics of offering your software as a service may preclude the expense of a commercial database license fee.Therefore, many companies converting their software to a service will choose one of the low or no cost open source databases available today. These database choices are now widely used and robust. Advanced features such as redundant clustering and automated backup capabilities rival those of commercial databases.

If your application does not yet support one of these databases, a few technical issues need to be overcome. The format and syntax of most SQL used to access and manipulate data in a database is standard. However, almost every database vendor extends SQL and many applications use these extensions, such as special functions to modify and compare data. There can be many variations in how each database vendor treats cursors, triggers, data types and package variables. If you use SQL extensions in your application, you will need to recode these SQL statements to work with the target open source database.

Migration to on demand delivery models works cohesively with bootstrapped technology deployment and investment. Even if the open source database software does not have all the features you want to have or if they run a little slower, you may have no choice economically when you first start offering your software as a service. It may not make financial sense for you to invest tens of thousands of dollars in a commercial database license while you can only charge a few hundred dollars per subscriber. Over time, as your subscriber base grows, you may choose to switch to the commercial database. Until you can afford it or activity levels grow to high levels, open source database solutions may be your only practical solution.

Another relatively expensive part of your software is the license required for a commercial Java application server. This is another category of software where several open source options exist. Generally, conversion over to an open source application server is relatively straightforward. All must comply with the specification for Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and your code should not need any modifications.However, there are differences in how you install your code in the application server. The installation and set up process is well documented for all open source application servers. You must modify your installation process to accommodate the requirements of the application server you use.

Again, the business case is clear. A huge community of users has made open source application servers a safe choice. The cost of a commercial application server is difficult to justify when you are just starting out offering your software as a service. As with the conversion to-and-from an open source database, you can always switch back to a commercial application server as your subscriber base grows.

Web Services For Data Transfer and Integration

When customers install your software in their own data center, behind their firewall, they are able to integrate the software with other applications and data sources. When you make your software available as a service over the Internet, then integration is not as easy. Authentication and encryption must be provided to enable safe data transfers.The most popular approach to data transfers and integration over the public Internet is with web services, the SOAP protocol and WSDL. If your application has an Application Programming Interface (API) in a native language like Java or C++, you will need to create a web services interface that uses the API to communicate with your software and enables bidirectional data flow with the external world using SOAP.

Time to Market

Time is of the essence. As the new SaaS model is adopted, early entrants will have a significant advantage. Evolving your application to web-enabled, multi-instance will allow you to become a SaaS player quickly. Time to market issues should be considered when deciding whether to partner with experts or pursue migration and infrastructure development in-house.

The Advantages of Outsourcing Software Development

Outsourced developers, who are experienced with SaaS, can help you move forward quickly in migrating to this new model. They can provide installation and load testing to determine the optimal set-up for your multi-instance configuration; adapt your software to migrate from multi-instance to multi-tenant; or develop a multi-instance or multi-tenant application from your client/server application.

source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Software-as-a-Service---A-Guide-to-Transforming-Your-Software-Product-into-a-Service&id=835325

CRM On-Demand Is In Demand

Over the past year, there has been another dramatic shift in the CRM Marketplace. On-Demand CRM solutions have gained significant market share in the SMB and Enterprise space.There are many factors involved in this significant shift from the traditional software purchase and implementation to the On-Demand offerings from companies like Salesforce.com, Microsoft, and Siebel. For the larger enterprise user, there may be implementation fatigue, from the long, drawn-out and expensive projects from the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. For the small and mid-market business, the elimination of the traditional software purchase and the need for less internal resources and infrastructure is very attractive. The increased bandwidth and dependability of the “pipe” and increased speed have also contributed to the acceptance of the On-Demand CRM Solutions.

Advantages of On-Demand CRM

The initial hesitancy for On-Demand Solutions when they were introduced in the marketplace has been replaced with a general acceptance and understanding of the advantages of this type of solution. The advantages included:

Replacement of large Software Purchase with a monthly subscription charge – The On-Demand model is based on a monthly subscription charge per user. This allows a company to extend the software component cost of a CRM implementation over a period of time and eliminates the yearly support & maintenance fees of a traditional software product.

Flexible Pricing, Licensing, and Scalability – Some of the On-Demand vendors provide flexible pricing, allowing you to choose and pay for the functionality and services you need. You pay for the number of licenses you need with the flexibility of added users when necessary. The leading On-Demand CRM vendors have invested in significant infrastructure and have the ability to provide services to enterprise organizations.

Decrease in Hardware Requirements and Support – With a traditional CRM software implementation, you need to make sure you have the appropriate servers, workstations, operating systems, database, and network infrastructure to properly run and support your system. With an On-Demand solution, the costs and support are significantly reduced. As long as you have Internet access, you are able to use your CRM service.

Decrease in IT Support Staff – You need an IT Support Staff with various skills to maintain a CRM Software System. As noted above, as long as you have Internet access, you are able to access and use your On-Demand CRM system. Your IT support costs are reduced significantly.

Elimination of Costly Upgrade Charges – With a traditional CRM software solution, you can expect a major software upgrade every 12-18 months. Depending on your existing solution, the upgrade can be time consuming and expensive. The On-Demand Solutions provide the upgrades as part of your monthly service fee.

Remote Management – The beauty of an On-Demand solution is access from anywhere at anytime as long as you have Internet access. This allows the System Manager to remotely monitor and support the system.

Faster and Easier Deployment – On-Demand solutions eliminates the need to load software on any computer, allowing for faster and easier deployment. It allows the end-users to concentrate on the solution.

Good Solution for Distributed Offices – Distributed offices and users adds complexity to a typical CRM software solution. This is eliminated with an On-Demand solution, giving every office and every user access around the world to the same database.

General ease of use – On-Demand Solutions have been designed specifically for the Internet, providing general ease of use and navigation.

Availability of Good Mobile Solutions – With the improvement and reliability of wireless technology, you have access to excellent mobile solutions for On-Demand services using Blackberry® or Palm® Treo™.

Security and Backup Services – In order to provide a secure and reliable service offering, an On-Demand vendor has to provide the highest level of security and data back-up services. In some cases, you may find their service in these two areas superior to the security and back-up system in your own organization.

On-line Training – As part of the monthly service fee, some On-Demand vendors provide free on-line training. This can be a significant cost saving compared to the traditional classroom training.

Significant Third Party Add-ons and Web Services – As the On-Demand offerings continue to grow and gain acceptance by companies, significant third party add-on offerings have become available to meet various needs including integration, extended sales methodologies, and email fulfillment, to name a few.

source:http://ezinearticles.com/?CRM-On-Demand-Is-In-Demand&id=148843