XaaS stands for “anything as a service.” It refers to technology that is available through Cloud computing. It covers software as a service (SaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and it has advantages over on-premises solutions. On-premises solutions require the end user to manage their technology and be responsible for deployment, security, updates, IT, etc.  When you invest in XaaS, the responsibility rests with your service provider. A service provider specializing in your designated software will have more expertise, experience, bandwidth, resources, and security than you could provide in-house.

XaaS Makes Financial Sense

Of course, you’ll need internet service to access XaaS. But that’s a standard expense for any business. Hosting services save you money by switching your technology costs from capital expenditure to operational expenses.

Traditionally, purchasing technology required a significant upfront capital outlay. Then there would be the cost of implementation, upkeep, and an active on-site IT department to handle maintenance and unexpected issues. You’d have to pay for separate security technology and upgrades to keep your system scaling with your growing business.

XaaS technology solutions are generally subscription-based. You’ll pay a subscription fee per user for access to the solution with all the benefits of support, upgrades, security, maintenance, and troubleshooting provided by your vendor. As an operational expense, your monthly payments will be predictable.

Some Examples of XaaS Models

Many organizations worldwide use these four “as a service” technology models to efficiently and effectively manage their technology needs:

•  IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) – With IaaS, a technology provider with a large digital base will provide access to its infrastructure to businesses without the funds or space to support on-premises servers. The provider guarantees network access, maintains the hardware, and includes storage, security, and troubleshooting.
•  PaaS (Platform as a Service) – PaaS furnishes hardware and middleware and provides operating system management. PaaS is more comprehensive than IaaS.  If your organization uses on-premises hardware, you can use PaaS with your present infrastructure. Or you can combine PaaS and IaaS for a more versatile experience.
• SaaS (Software as a Service) – With SaaS, you can have a fully managed solution hosted in the Cloud. You purchase an operating license, usually per user, and begin using the solution immediately. Your technology partner will handle data, storage, infrastructure, updates, security, and maintenance,
• DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service)  – DraaS involves a complete backup of data, ERP, and other business applications in the Cloud. Your hosting partner ensures that your information and processes are secure and that your business will keep operating even during disruptions or natural disasters.

If you are hesitant to adopt XaaS models, you should realize that most organizations already use these services. Perhaps your company already uses:

• Email platforms
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
• Marketing automation platforms
• Data storage, data backup, and file sharing
• Office applications
• Business Intelligence and data analytics software

 Benefits of XaaS

XaaS offerings like IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS are more scalable, cost-effective, and secure than comparable legacy on-premises solutions.

Choosing a trusted technology partner to host and manage these solutions is essential. You’ll require a vastly pared-down on-site IT team, or maybe none at all. Updates are automatic and done behind the scenes and outside of business hours, saving your team many hours of labor and business downtime.

Users are eager to adopt these Cloud technologies because they are more straightforward, and access is streamlined. Other benefits of XaaS offerings include:

• Additional security
• Exceptional reliability guaranteed
• Access to expert IT teams
• Data conformity between departments
• Remote access to critical documents and processes
• Affordable “pay-as-you-go” subscription models

Choosing A Trustworthy Technology Partner  

Be sure to vet any potential Cloud partner. How long have they been operating? Do they have experience in your industry? What are their security measures and guarantees?

Technology Subscriptions Are on The Rise   

Subscriptions provide more value and cost less. On-premises solutions require a capital expenditure for a solution that will need continuous costly upgrades and will eventually become obsolete. XaaS technology calls for a specific monthly operating expense subscription that covers fully maintained and always up-to-date software.

Your fee covers updates, security, maintenance, and everything else, so your team can focus on what they do best without worrying about unforeseen disruptions or dealing with outdated technology.

Get Started  

The best way to start is by thoroughly evaluating your current technology and software. Is your hardware or software outdated? What would you like your ERP or other systems to do that they are not doing now? How much are you spending on workarounds and patches? Is your IT team too busy? How would “as a service” offerings benefit your organization’s efficiency and revenue?

Enavate is a top-tier Microsoft Gold Partner. Whether it’s improving productivity, increasing profitability, or moving to the Cloud, our solutions can take your business to the next level.

Enavate can help you identify areas that need improvement and create a roadmap for success. Contact our experts at Enavate to learn about the ROI potential of your investment and develop an implementation strategy to drive successful digital transformation.

By Enavate,  www.enavate.com

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