CORBA and SaS

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

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. 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. Unlike IaaS and PaaS, SaaS products are
frequently marketed to both B2B and B2C users.
How does software as a service work?
• SaaS works through the cloud delivery model. A software provider
will either host the application and related data using its own servers,
databases, networking and computing resources, or it may be an ISV
that contracts a cloud provider to host the application in the
provider's data center. The application will be accessible to any device
with a network connection. SaaS applications are typically accessed
via web browsers.
• As a result, companies using SaaS applications are not tasked with the
setup and maintenance of the software. Users simply pay a
subscription fee to gain access to the software, which is a ready-made
solution.

• SaaS is closely related to the application service provider (ASP) and

on-demand computing software delivery models where the provider
hosts the customer's software and delivers it to approved end users
over the internet.
SaaS architecture
• SaaS applications and services typically use a multi-tenant approach,
which means a single instance of the SaaS application will be running
on the host servers, and that single instance will serve each
subscribing customer or cloud tenant. The application will run on a
single version and configuration across all customers, or tenants.
Though different subscribing customers will run on the same cloud
instance with a common infrastructure and platform, the data from
different customers will still be segregated.
• The typical multi-tenant architecture of SaaS applications means the
cloud service provider can manage maintenance, updates and bug
fixes faster, easier and more efficiently. Rather than having to
implement changes in multiple instances, engineers can make
necessary changes for all customers by maintaining the one, shared
instance.

• Furthermore, multi-tenancy allows a greater pool of resources to be

available to a larger group of people, without compromising
important cloud functions such as security, speed and privacy.
Advantages of SaaS
• SaaS removes the need for organizations to install and run
applications on their own computers or in their own data centers.
This eliminates the expense of hardware acquisition, provisioning and
maintenance, as well as software licensing, installation and support.
Other benefits of the SaaS model include:
• Flexible payments. Rather than purchasing software to install, or additional hardware to support
it, customers subscribe to a SaaS offering. Transitioning costs to a recurring operating expense
allows many businesses to exercise better and more predictable budgeting. Users can also
terminate SaaS offerings at any time to stop those recurring costs.
• Scalable usage. Cloud services like SaaS offer high Vertical scalability, which gives customers the
option to access more or fewer services or features on demand.
• Automatic updates. Rather than purchasing new software, customers can rely on a SaaS provider
to automatically perform updates and patch management. This further reduces the burden on in-
house IT staff.
• Accessibility and persistence. Since SaaS vendors deliver applications over the internet, users can
access them from any internet-enabled device and location.
• Customization. SaaS applications are often customizable and can be integrated with other
business applications, especially across applications from a common software provider.
challenges and risks of SaaS
• SaaS also poses some potential risks and challenges, as businesses
must rely on outside vendors to provide the software, keep that
software up and running, track and report accurate billing and
facilitate a secure environment for the business's data.

• Issues beyond customer control. Issues can arise when providers

experience service disruptions, impose unwanted changes to service
offerings or experience a security breach -- all of which can have a
profound effect on the customers' ability to use the SaaS offering. To
proactively mitigate these issues, customers should understand their
SaaS provider's SLA and make sure it is enforced.
• Customers lose control over versioning. If the provider adopts a new version
of an application, it will roll out to all of its customers, regardless of whether
or not the customer wants the newer version. This may require the
organization to provide extra time and resources for training.
• Difficulty switching vendors. As with using any cloud service provider,
switching vendors can be difficult. To switch vendors, customers must migrate
very large amounts of data. Furthermore, some vendors use proprietary
technologies and data types, which can further complicate customer data
transfer between different cloud providers. Vendor lock-in is when a customer
cannot easily transition between service providers due to these conditions.
• Security. Cloud security is often cited as a significant challenge for SaaS
applications.
The End