The Two Major Deployment Options for Your Software

First, let’s start off with the basics. As we hope you already know, when purchasing any of our software solutions you are given 2 deployment options:

• Self-hosted
• SaaS

The difference between the two is very simple to understand, Self-hosted means the solutions are installed and run on the customers’ own servers, which can be physical servers or in the cloud. In any case, the servers are managed by the customer and the purchased software is also installed and configured by the customer. Then, on the other end of the scale is SaaS, “Software as a Service”, an exclusively cloud-based deployment type. As its own name indicates, being a service, the solutions are run externally. SaaS management is a responsibility of the software vendor, which means that the customer does not have to worry about installing the software, managing the server or operating system, backing up data, etc. All that is managed by the software provider. The only concern for the customer is having a stable internet connection and configuring the software to their liking.

As with everything, both these deployment options have benefits and drawbacks. Let’s look at a few:

For Self-hosted management, the aspects that usually catch the eyes of customers are:

•  The ability to customize the servers to their specific needs
• Being in full control of their data
• Arguably supplying the highest security level possible, since data is stored on the clients’ own servers.

However, there are some cons to keep in mind, such as:

• Higher time-consumption because of installing, configuring, and maintaining the software
• Higher costs, as you will need expert team members to fix any bugs, security updates, perform general maintenance, and have technical knowledge.

SaaS is greatly associated with convenience. Its pros include:

• Being easy to maintain and upgrade, since the software provider is the one who undertakes the SaaS server monitoring
• Readiness of use, cutting down on configuration and setup time
• It eliminates the need for a high upfront cost to set up the physical infrastructure and the server itself
• SaaS has a predictable cost model. Unlike self-hosted solutions, if unforeseen hardware problems come up, e.g. a disk failure, it will not generate any extra expenses for the customer
• It is better in terms of flexibility, resembling a “pay as you go” model
• Having the ability to run through any internet browser, at any time, from any device.

Although there are some cons to consider, such as:

• Having to share data with your software provider
• Risking spontaneous termination in case the software provider goes bankrupt.

We believe it is up to each customer to evaluate which option best serves their needs. Every case is different, as there is no “one size fits all” rule.

When it comes to SaaS deployment, generally, the biggest concern has to do with it being unsecure. This is because the clients’ information is stored in servers that are not their own, thus, the information is owned by a third-party. This may seem odd at first, but it is just a normal aspect of SaaS deployment. When purchasing from us, we assure you that your information is kept private and secure. These are two of our top concerns, and apart from our solutions being based on Microsoft Azure, our technical experts have also put countless effort and time refining our servers to ensure the maximum protection and availability of your data.

We hope to have made the differences between these deployment options clear for you, however, in case you have further questions, feel free to leave a comment below!