The limitations of SaaS and what it means for your business
With more and more businesses moving their digital assets to the cloud, Software-as-a-Service or SaaS is a major factor in these shifts since it’s the largest component of cloud computing. SaaS now enjoys immense popularity as platforms such as Netflix, Google Workplace, Microsoft 365, Zoom, and other SaaS applications deliver different types of high-performance software-based services.
However, despite its continued popularity and use, there are significant challenges that hinder the growth and use of SaaS. If your business is looking to make a move to the cloud, it’s important to keep these SaaS limitations in mind and understand how they could affect your migration.
Interoperability Issues
As SaaS has grown, so too have its growing pains. There are very specific interoperability and adoption issues that haven’t been addressed yet, and these could be key challenges.
SaaS as a standalone platform works fine, but there are several elements in its infrastructure that need higher performance and better network security because of the need to work across multiple clouds. Companies need to have real-time interoperability between SaaS applications and applications in other areas which SaaS does not allow for. You might need to adopt different cloud services and solutions strategies, and looking for a partner who can create customized services could help address this issue.
Vendor Management and Data Exchange
The portability of apps in a cloud network is another issue with SaaS-related concerns and interoperability. If you choose one SaaS vendor, you’re likely accepting their terms, standards, and tools, which could cause problems when embarking on a cloud file server migration. This could also cost you more money if you end up having to transfer apps over to new cloud systems.
Additionally, data exchange demand can be another challenge. When working with different cloud systems, the biggest problem can be the heightened level of data exchanges, requiring a better system of data integration. It can seem like a simple process, but in reality, it can be tedious and daunting, from identifying existing problems to defining the information to be exchanged, to designing a data transformation and integration solution, to completing the transaction and testing the results.
Lack of Control and Customization
Since every business is different, the ability to customize software solutions can be critical to their successful implementation and use. Many businesses rely on in-house software applications that can afford them a higher degree of control than hosted solutions where control resides with a third party. Unfortunately, with SaaS solutions, that control is not in-house, making it challenging to deploy customized solutions that truly fit specific needs and can grow with the business.
Finding Solutions
While SaaS is growing in popularity and usage, that doesn’t mean it’s always the right solution. Growing pains, data exchange, and lack of customization can all present real roadblocks in a business’s cloud services strategy.
Before you invest in a solution that may not be right for your business, be sure to do your research to see what other options exist. At Everestek, our in-house team of cloud experts can tailor the right solution for your business and help with migrations, DevOps, and ongoing support.
We have an ‘infrastructure as code’ philosophy, so creating new environments, switching cloud providers or introducing automation is a seamless experience. Reach out to us today to discover how we can help make your cloud migration easier and empower you to reach your business’s goals.