Transition to SaaS: An ISV Cookbook
Research and Markets has released the addition of the "Transition to SaaS: An ISV Cookbook" report to their offering. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is increasingly considered "enterprise grade" by many IT buyers, and a viable choice to achieve reduced costs, improved service and ongoing timely functional currency. As a result, many established independent software vendors (ISVs) are faced with strategic questions that will determine the future of their companies: Will buyers continue to purchase and deploy new perpetual licensed-based software? Should our company begin developing SaaS-based offerings? - If so, when? What is the best roadmap to follow to "SaaS-ify" my business?
Not surprisingly, most software providers are eager to avoid mistakes by learning from others who have already made the transition to SaaS. This research report provides guidance to ISVs in transition, with a goal to share the key critical success factors and best practice learning from more than 300 ISVs, system integrators, hosting providers, and pure-play SaaS providers that we have either conducted deep-dive briefing as part of on-going research agenda (over the past 18 months), or with whom Research and Markets have conducted various engagement work.
The research indicates that the decision by a traditional ISV to invest in SaaS should be approached the same as any other strategic business investment. Any such evolution or transition will no doubt affect every aspect of the ISV's business, and will require development of, and most likely, partnerships for, new competencies and capabilities. The research indicates that for many software providers, the technical aspects of the transition are often fairly well understood, even if the roadmap for success may take some time. However, what is less understood are the changes that are required in other areas of the business that are typically much deeper and harder to execute, and often entail much more risk. What many do not understand is that making the transition is more than just re-architecting the software. It is often a fundamental re-examination of the business itself to fully understand the organizational and cultural transition issues that are required for a company shifting from a product- to services-based focus.
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/cb0838/transition_to_saas
rPath and WANdisco Partner to Reduce the Cost and Complexity of Enterprise Application Delivery
WANdisco has selected the rPath rBuilder and rPath Lifecycle Management Platform to build and maintain its Subversion MultiSite solution as a manageable set of application images for delivery in virtualized and cloud-based environments. rPath is a pioneer in solutions for reducing the cost and complexity of application delivery, and WANdisco is a provider of distributed software development solutions. As a result of this partnership, WANdisco's Subversion MultiSite solution will be available as a virtual appliance, dramatically reducing deployment and maintenance costs and enabling resource-constrained IT organizations to "do more with less."
"Virtualization and cloud computing are important topics in IT organizations today because they promise a quick way to cut server costs without hurting the service provided to the business," said Ian Finley, vice president of AMR Research. "However, moving to a virtualized environment is not simple, especially with packaged applications, because few are enabled for these environments today. WANdisco is making it easier for its customers to leverage virtualization and cut server costs. It's also showing IT organizations how they can use rPath to do the same with their custom applications."
Ascentium Earns Rare International Microsoft Accreditation
Ascentium Corp., a digital agency, has received accreditation as a Microsoft Business Value Planning Services (BVPS) provider. The award-winning company is the first Systems Integrator in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to receive BVPS certification. Ascentium is also among a select few of Microsoft partners to earn this honor.
BVPS is a benefit available to all Microsoft customers with Software Assurance. The new service enables companies to revamp everything from HR and recruitment processes to internal communications. As an accredited BVPS provider, Ascentium can work with its customers to propose and implement a plan that will improve existing business processes. Other BVPS benefits include a greater return on existing Office System technology investment and the ability to solve everyday problems using a familiar technology platform.
Business Value Planning Services also has a strong potential to add business value outside of the IT arena. For Ascentium, the Software Assurance service will offer wider consultancy opportunities as well as a reliable revenue stream.
"This accreditation provides a great opportunity for Ascentium to showcase its business intelligence, CRM and back-office business expertise," said Tony Slogett, director and chief solutions architect for Ascentium UK. "With today's uncertain economy, BVPS will also help our clients to save money without having to justify new project funding."
Solidcore Granted Foundational Patent for Endpoint Security
Solidcore Systems, Inc., a provider in protecting critical IT infrastructure, has been granted a US patent titled “Damage Containment by Translation.” This is a foundational patent that covers Solidcore's single-solution for securing endpoints like point-of-sale (POS) systems, ATMs, Kiosks and virtual environments where anti-virus technology does not work. Solidcore's patented technology replaces anti-virus by preventing known and unknown computer threats, security risks, and malicious code with zero performance overhead.
Solidcore's endpoint security technology is the first to combine dynamic whitelisting, host intrusion prevention and file integrity monitoring capabilities. The technology is the foundation for Solidcore's S3 Control, POS Check & Control and S3 Control Embedded products, and is currently replacing anti-virus on more than 100,000 endpoints worldwide. The technology ensures only pre-authorized software and code can run on a computer system while securely allowing software updates from trusted sources. Solidcore prevents disk tampering and provides advanced memory protection to authorized software to defend against buffer overflow vulnerability attacks and zero-day exploits. This level of protection extends across all forms of computer access, including access from a network or a USB key. Solidcore's single-solution for endpoint security also shortens the time, simplifies the effort, and lowers the costs for meeting Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance across store systems.
“This patent is a significant advancement for securing fixed-function devices and virtualized environments, which are two critical IT segments where anti-virus and the blacklisting security model simply does not work,” said Rosen Sharma, CTO for Solidcore. “The patent reinforces Solidcore as the leader for providing comprehensive security and PCI compliance across fixed-function devices, and it represents the foundation for how users will secure virtualized environments.”
Axceler Announces Strategic Partnership with BA-Insight
Axceler, a provider in administration software for collaborative platforms, has formed a strategic partnership with BA-Insight, a provider in Microsoft based information access technology. BA-Insight helps organizations access information across platforms, and Axceler brings extensive experience in the IBM Lotus Notes market. Together, they enable firms to extend the search capabilities of SharePoint Server and Microsoft Search Server to IBM Lotus Notes. The first product of this partnership, the Lotus Notes Search Connector, co-developed by both firms, will be unveiled later this month.
The Lotus Notes Search Connector automatically maps Notes security to Active Directory in a highly scalable way, resolving one of the major challenges with connecting SharePoint to Notes.
"Partnering with Axceler was a key element of our success in developing this technology. Axceler has many years in the IBM Notes market and has a large installed base," explained Guy Mounier, BA-Insight's CEO. "Combined with BA-Insight's experience in delivering Microsoft based search solutions, the Lotus Notes Search Connector fills a huge gap in the market to integrate access to information across both platforms."
Online Reputation Management Important for Small Businesses Too
With the explosive growth of new social media such as Facebook and Twitter, it's never been more vital for businesses to keep track of what people are saying about them on the Internet.
"People are rating your services on sites like ServiceMagic and Yelp," said Brendan King, CEO of the Canadian Internet startup MyFrontSteps. "They're blogging, and commenting on each other's blogs. One comment can be seen by tens of thousands of people. It's really upped the stakes."
MyFrontSteps has just released a new service called StepRep, located at http://steprep.myfrontsteps.com/, to help small businesses and independent contractors manage their online reputation. StepRep is free and was designed with simplicity in mind, to encourage non-tech-savvy users to give it a try.
"Small business owners might think, hey, I've got a low profile, no-one's talking about me," said King. "But when you don't have a large online presence, the effect of each comment is magnified. It's even more important to keep on top of what people are seeing when they Google your name." StepRep sends out an alert via email whenever a new result appears, allowing users to respond to blog posts or comments immediately.
Results can then be sorted and managed, and positive items promoted using a "widget" that can be added to the user's blog or website. These search-friendly widgets draw search engines toward positive results and away from negative ones.
StepRep is only the first part of a larger strategy to connect businesses and their customers through social networks. In March, MyFrontSteps will launch Homebook, a place for homeowners to share photos of their homes and get ideas for design and renovation. Homebook users will be invited to link to their trusted home service providers on StepRep.
StepRep and MyFrontSteps are products of VendAsta Technologies, a software development team based in Saskatoon, Canada. In August 2008 the startup received $3 million funding from Victoria Park Capital to develop a social networking initiative that would combine the founders' expertise in software and real estate services. |
