SaaS

Hardware as a Service vs. Software as a Service

Alexander Darcy

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Alexander Darcy

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    Whether your business requires hardware or software, paying for IT resources as a service lets you hand them over to the experts so you can focus on what you do best.

    Renting Hardware as a Service (HaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) is a convenient way to manage your businesses’ IT operations. Instead of maintaining hardware, software, and all the necessary tools and tech required of a complicated IT network, renting Haas and SaaS allows you to outsource your IT infrastructure with a company that is skilled at maintaining and operating IT systems.

    Renting SaaS and HaaS is, in some ways, similar to how utility services work. Chances are your business doesn’t have its own power station out the back. Instead, your building is connected to the city’s electrical grid, which grants you easy access to all the power you need. A simple bill arrives in the mail at the end of the month and all you need to do is turn on the lightswitch.

    For your utilities, the job is outsourced to the power company, which is fully designed to deliver power to your building. While this process might seem very familiar related to utilities, it can be odd to think of “outsourcing” your IT in the same way. However, by hiring a company to manage IT-related services, such as hardware and software, then you are doing essentially the same thing. You are allowing an outside company to give you the power to your IT components and networks, while also maintaining the systems that are running.

    Clear advantages

    When you have IT experts managing your hardware and software, such as TechBrain, the experts can handle system upgrades, regular maintenance, software updates, security patches and everything needed for smooth-running IT. On top of that, hiring SaaS and HaaS means that you don’t need to update software applications, purchase hardware products, web applications, software licensing and much more.

    In return, you’ll enjoy greater uptime, enhanced redundancy, improved Internet security, access to the most improved tools, and more reliable and informed IT support.

    The “as a Service” model can also be more cost-effective. Under some models, you only pay for what you use, while others charge a subscription. Either way, it’s a lot more cost-effective than laying down a large sum of money upfront to buy all that infrastructure outright. This helps smooth out your cash flow, freeing up funds to invest elsewhere in the business.

    The beauty of the “as a Service” model is that you can quickly provision and de-provision services on the fly without the hassles of buying, installing, updating and maintaining the hardware and software. This lets your IT infrastructure grow with your business while making it easy to cut back when times are slow. If you’re a smaller business, you can also access emerging technologies to stay ahead of the game without the added expense.

    Hardware and Software as a service in cloud computing

    Cloud computing services in Perth can deliver HaaS and SaaS solutions. Your business would benefit from managed servers and software running in an enterprise-grade data centre rather than on machines on your own premises.

    SaaS in cloud computing includes Microsoft’s popular Office 365, putting the power of Microsoft Office at your fingertips for a small monthly fee, with ongoing access to upgrades. Rather than tying you to one PC, you’re free to jump between different devices and pick up working where you left off.

    For other tasks, you might opt for HaaS to access a powerful server (physical or virtual) sitting in a data centre. You can put it to use as if it was your own machine in the office. The subscription model allows small businesses to punch above their weight and access enterprise-grade hardware.

    HaaS tech support becomes a lot simpler once your IT service provider is taking care of your hardware rather than trying to troubleshoot it from afar.

    It’s time to take advantage of HaaS and SaaS

    SaaS and HaaS both have their merits and there’s likely room for both in your business. SaaS is perfect when you need easy access to the latest productivity software, without tying it to individual PCs. Meanwhile, HaaS is great for those tasks that require powerful hardware at your command. This includes times when you need short-term access to servers for development and testing. With both models, SaaS and HaaS, you can affordably explore emerging technologies through lease services.

    Your IT service provider can help you tap into the power of SaaS and HaaS to ensure you make the most of your IT spend. TechBrain also offers additional support with a disaster recovery plan, application development, service bundling, and leasing options.