Software as a Service (SaaS) takes a lot of the IT concerns off of your IT team and typically provides a better experience for users (no need to update, availability on any computer). However, there are risks with using SaaS that many people overlook.
For example, reputable SaaS providers have been known to shut down after a severe hacking incident. SaaS providers can also shut down due to financial problems. Whatever the reason, companies can and do lose data that they thought was safe.
Using SaaS carries the same risks as other IT options, they are just transferred to a third party. That is why you should:
1) Find the Right SaaS Provider
While it is no fun to lose access to your service, the most important thing is what data they will be storing for you. How critical is that data to your organization? The more critical it is, the more important it is to choose an established, financially stable company. For example, Salesforce.com is going to have more safeguards in place than a small CRM provider, even though neither is bullet proof. Which brings us to the second point:
2) Backup Critical Data
Regardless of the reputation and financial stability of the SaaS provider, make sure critical data is backed up. Most providers make it fairly easy to make a backup of your data. If they don’t allow you to backup your data or if it is difficult, consider using a different SaaS provider.
For many companies, SaaS is an excellent option. You get to outsource some of your IT infrastructure and let experts handle it. You just need to be aware that some risks exist and take appropriate measures to minimize those risks.
Could Moving to SaaS Help Your Company?
Most businesses can benefit from having someone assess their business processes and how they could use technology to be more effective. Skyriver IT helps you collect the right data, leverage the right applications, and put the right technology in place to to make your company more effective.
Contact us if you would like to talk find out whether we might be able to help your organization improve its effectiveness with technology.
