12-27-21 | Blog Post
Cloud services provide technology solutions over the internet (or cloud) or via a dedicated network. Resources provided by third-party vendors include hardware and networking infrastructure, software, data storage, processing power, and memory which are delivered on-demand using a pay-per-use model.
Outsourcing the provision of IT resources to third-party vendors gives businesses of all sizes access to the latest technology and trained personnel without having to invest in on-premise solutions and in-house IT staff.
In the 1960s, MIT developed an early form of cloud computing; a technology that allowed two or more people to use a computer at the same time. Since then there have been a few milestones.
Salesforce began delivering CRM applications to organizations over the internet in 1990 and in 2002, Amazon started Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver storage and computation services via the web. When Google launched Google App Engine in 2008, it paved the way for browser-based apps like Google Apps that we are familiar with today.
Advances in cloud computing technology have given rise to the Everything as a Service (XaaS) model. As technology advances and businesses seek to reduce costs and improve agility, the adoption of XaaS is increasing at a rapid rate.
Everything as a service, also known as “anything as a service” or XaaS, aims to deliver any IT-related solution as a service to users via the cloud. The initial adoption of XaaS was due to lower costs and increased efficiency, but as technology advances, businesses are implementing XaaS solutions for greater digital transformation and agility. In a Deloitte study, 82% of respondents said XaaS was critically important to the success of their business.
The pioneering and most well-known form of XaaS is the Software as a Service (SaaS) model used to provide software application subscriptions remotely. But more businesses are moving to XaaS solutions for email, CRM, analytics, storage, and networking infrastructure.
The XaaS model helps businesses avoid the costs of bigger, better, newer, faster hardware and software to keep up with the latest technological advancements.
XaaS offers significant benefits to large and small companies alike. Here are a few to consider.
With over 70% of cyber threats aimed at small businesses, it’s clear that hackers know small businesses don’t always have the resources to implement robust cybersecurity measures. When hackers target small businesses they are looking for weaker protection mechanisms and access controls.
Larger businesses, especially those in the financial services and healthcare industries, are prime targets for ransomware attacks. Cybercriminals assume that these types of organizations have the financial capacity to pay the requested ransom and will do so to avoid losing customer confidence or putting lives at risk.
Cybersecurity is a must for all businesses. With XaaS solutions like Security as a Service (SECaaS) businesses can use multi-factor authentication, password policies, and access controls to implement better security to protect business and customer information.
XaaS gives smaller companies access to the same resources as larger enterprises to create innovative solutions that target new business opportunities or changing market conditions. An organization can move quickly to customize its IT environment in response to changing customer or employee needs.
Development teams can deliver products and services more rapidly and implement solutions with reduced risks. Solutions like Platform as a Service provide a framework that allows developers to build, test and deploy applications in the same environment. This makes it easier for businesses to test new products and services without having to spend additional money on supporting IT infrastructure.
Implementing any XaaS solution will certainly increase productivity by reducing the time your IT administration spends on administration and maintenance tasks. Service providers monitor and maintain infrastructure, allowing your IT staff to focus on more value-added projects.
With XaaS solutions like server virtualization and Desktop as a Service (DaaS), entire server and desktop environments are set up in a matter of minutes. IT support teams no longer spend hours setting up or maintaining physical infrastructure. Management tools provided with cloud-based services also allow IT admins to manage and monitor the entire IT environment in real-time from one centralized interface.
XaaS also facilitates communication and sharing of resources over the cloud, providing support for remote teams.
Businesses that adopt XaaS solutions see a reduction in capital and overhead costs. XaaS service costs are far less than the costs associated with building and maintaining an on-premise data center. Since all IT infrastructure is purchased and maintained by the XaaS service provider, there is no need for a business to invest heavily in physical infrastructure.
Businesses save more by eliminating the cost of purchasing excess physical storage, processing power, and memory in anticipation of future needs. These resources can be increased or decreased based on current needs.
XaaS helps businesses move from a capital expense model to a predictable monthly operating expense model that results in fewer overhead costs and reduced hiring and training costs for IT staff.
XaaS solutions like Storage as a Service (StaaS) give businesses access to unlimited storage capacity. This allows them to store larger amounts of data for longer periods of time. Services also come with sophisticated analytical tools and technologies that were once only available to larger corporations.
With large amounts of data at your fingertips, you can analyze historical and current data including transactional sales and marketing data, for trends and insights to make more informed business decisions and capitalize on emerging trends.
Advanced data insights give companies a better understanding of their customer needs, helping them create solutions that solve their customer problems.
Otava offers a full range of XaaS solutions for small businesses and large enterprises including Security as a Service, Desktop as a Service, and Backup as a Service. Contact us to talk to an expert about finding the right solution for your business.
