News Details
(Ann Arbor, MI - September 21st, 2009) Software as a Service (SaaS) providers not only have to convince their clients of the benefits of cloud computing - they're also under pressure to deliver 100% uptime which means they need a robust and scalable infrastructure. Since high availability server hosting isn’t a core capability of most SaaS providers, many are now looking to partner with managed dedicated server hosting companies who can deliver an always-on experience, such as Michigan-based Online Tech.
Mike Klein, Online Tech's President, said the company has just released an e-tips white paper that addresses the top 7 questions SaaS companies ask managed server hosting providers before selecting a partner.
The seven essential questions every SaaS company should ask their hosting partners are:
Q1: Is a 100% Service Guarantee the Same Thing as an SLA?
Many hosting providers will offer you a "guaranteed 100%" uptime. However, this doesn't mean they’ll actually deliver 100% uptime.
Q2: Does the Server Hosting Provider Understand a Bigger Picture Than 'Ping, Power and Pipe'?
This is probably a SaaS company's worst hosting nightmare. Make sure you get all the pertinent facts up front.
Q3: Do They Provide 'High Availability' Managed Dedicated Servers?
Failure to offer this level of server hardware and software redundancy can be a 'show-stopper' for many SaaS companies.
Q4: How Do They Balance Real-Time Maintenance Windows With Always-On Service?
Managing and monitoring production and development server environments is a job for IT professionals who know what they are doing and who follow documented procedures.
Q5: How Exactly Will the Managed Server Hosting Solutions Keep Pace With Your Business Growth?
SaaS companies are nervous about getting locked into hosting solutions that restrict their growth and profitability.
Q6: Do They Offer Professional Incident Management and Escalation Procedures?
Professional incident management and escalation procedures require field-tested systems and experienced staff.
Q7: How Can You Be Sure That Your Customers' Application Data Is Securely and Reliably Hosted by the SaaS Provider?
SaaS clients often require hosting of highly confidential data such as medical records and personal financial information. Beware of classic 'single point-of-failure' scenarios such as a 'data center' where electrical power comes from one supplier via a single sub-station.
The complete SaaS hosting e-Tip is available at Online Tech’s web site: 7 Essential Managed Server Hosting Tips For SaaS Providers
About Online Tech
Online Tech (www.onlinetech.com) is one of the Midwest’s premier Managed Data Center Operators. Online Tech helps companies manage their growing demand for data and computing capacity through its SAS-70 secure and reliable multi-tenant data centers. With a full range of colocation and managed server hosting, industry leaders trust Online Tech to insure their servers are always on, always online, and always safe.