Hosted PBX (Cloud deployments) provides several benefits
over traditional on-premises deployments.
- More secure – A widespread perception exists that the cloud is less secure than on-premises deployments. However, the reality is that cloud security (PDF) trumps on-premises security, facing a more limited variety of attacks, a smaller number of incidents, and fewer total breaches than on-premises deployments.
- Less expensive up front – Because there is no equipment or licenses to buy, cloud deployments cost less to set up.
- Frequently cheaper long term – Cloud deployments are frequently, but certainly not always, cheaper over the long term as well. For smaller companies who do not have their own data centers and system administrators already, cloud deployments can actually cost less over time. Companies who already have those facilities and staffs in place will likely find that on-premises systems with traditional perpetual licenses are less expensive long-term.
- Consistent IT costs – Service providers deliver cloud services at a consistent monthly rate, making it easier to budget reliably for IT costs. There are no surprise costs for equipment failures or upgrades.
- Quicker to deploy – Sign up, download the client application, and you are ready to go. The cloud eliminates virtually all the set up and configuration.
- Simpler to maintain – Service providers perform all of the necessary maintenance on the server end of the client-server relationship.
- Automatic upgrades and updates – Service providers maintain all of the servers and performs all of the software updates.
- Immediate access to cutting-edge software – With SaaS, you always have access to the most recent releases and updates from the software publisher.
- Gain access to infrastructure and expertise – Few companies can afford the equipment and personnel necessary to run a reliable data center. The cloud allows smaller companies to leverage the expertise and equipment of larger companies who are focused on delivering services remotely.
- Uptime guarantees – Most cloud service providers guarantee 99.9% uptime.
- Less risk – Adopting new technologies and software versions involves risk. Cloud service providers assume nearly all of that risk.
- Easy to add or decrease capacity at will. With cloud deployments, it is much easier to increase and decrease capacity.
- Focus on your core business – Choosing cloud services—whether SaaS, STaaS, Managed Services, or some other offering—allows you to reallocate resources from IT to the core business that actually makes you money
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Storage as a Service (SaaS) / Software as a Service
Storage as a Service is a business model in which a large company rents space
in their storage infrastructure to a smaller company or individual.