"Will "Software-as-a-Service" Work for Your Desktops?"

Remember ASPs? Well, they're back, more commonly known as "hosted applications" or "software-as-a-service." Salesforce.com has made headlines by demonstrating the ease in which hosted applications can be installed and maintained without sacrificing power or function. Now, the typically tedious and frustrating tasks associated with managing an enterprises desktop and mobile computing - asset management, software distribution, patch control, anti-virus, data back-up and even help desk and ticket taking - are available as outsourced hosted services. How does this new technology work, and is it right for your organization?

Even though executives recognize that keeping their employees' productive is of the utmost importance, IT success is more often measured by supporting business critical applications or revenue producing e-business systems. As a result, many organizations can only provide a minimum of support while end-users are left to fend for themselves.

Many companies are trying to improve PC and end-user support by purchasing desktop management tool suites and cobbling together their own solutions or contracting with traditional outsourcing firms. But current in-house solutions don't offer the benefits described above without substantial planning, business process improvements, and capital investment. And traditional outsourcing is not really less expensive than building a solution in-house, while it carries the disadvantage of ceding control to a third-party.

Key business challenges include:

•  Tools are expensive and difficult to implement

•  Tools only address pieces of the problem and do not reach all users

•  Skilled staff are tough to find and retain

•  Many vendors, many products stitched together

•  Not the biggest problem so it does not get enough attention

•  Desktop Management is distracting

•  Users are becoming more distributed

The specific issue is whether to purchase and maintain internally a suite of software management tools to keep the enterprise desktops current and protected, or to partner with a specialist that will serve as an extension of the internal IT team by providing these capabilities through a hosted and managed service.

There is a better way. Outsourcers provide a managed service that supports end-user computing infrastructure 24/7/365 for a low, predictable monthly fee per system. By leveraging the expertise of a MSP, companies do not have to hire and train additional IT staff or incur large up-front system integration or setup expenses. Key benefits include:

•  Large Cost Savings

•  Increase Service Levels

•  Gain Control of Assets

•  Focus on Strategic IT

•  Increase Productivity

•  Protection from Expensive License Audits

•  Reliable end-user Disaster Recovery Plan