Q. With reference to “Software as a Service (SaaS)”, consider the following statements:

  1. SaaS buyers can customise the user interface and can change data fields.
  2. SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices.
  3. Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • 1 and 2 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Software as a Service (SaaS)
  • Software as a service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which a cloud provider hosts applications and makes them available to end users over the internet.
  • SaaS is a way of delivering applications over the Internet—as a service. Instead of installing and maintaining software, you simply access it via the Internet, freeing yourself from complex software and hardware management.
  • In this model, an independent software vendor (ISV) may contract a third-party cloud provider to host the application. Or, with larger companies, such as Microsoft, the cloud provider might also be the software vendor.
  • SaaS is one of three main categories of cloud computing, alongside Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and Platform as a service (PaaS). A range of IT professionals, business users and personal users use SaaS applications.
  • Products range from personal entertainment, such as Netflix, to advanced IT tools. Outlook, Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS. With these services, a user log into their account over the Internet, often from a web browser. The email software is located on the service provider’s network and your messages are stored there as well. You can access your email and stored messages from a web browser on any computer or Internet-connected device
  • Examples of popular SaaS products:
    • Google Workspace
    • Microsoft 365
    • Salesforce
    • Trello
    • Zoom
    • DocuSign
    • Slack
    • Adobe Creative Cloud
    • Mailchimp, Outlook, Hotmail
    • Netflix
    • Spotify, etc.
  • SaaS Benefits:
    • Low Set Up and Infrastructure costs: You only pay for what you need, so it is a very cost-effective solution for all-sized businesses.
    • Scalability: You can adapt your requirements to the number of people who need to use the system, the volume of data and the functionality required as your business grows.
    • Accessible from Anywhere: Just connect to the internet, and you can work from wherever you need to be via desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile or other networked devices.
    • Automatic, frequent updates: Providers offer timely improvements thanks to their scale and because they receive feedback about what their customers need. This frees up your IT department for other, more business-critical tasks.
    • Security at the highest level required by any customer: Because of the shared nature of the service, all users benefit from the security level set up for those with the highest need.