Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor: Knowing the Technical Side

Businesses considering cloud computing frequently ask, “Is our data safe in the cloud?”  More than half of organizations – 62% of those surveyed – believe that storing data on servers outside of a business involves significant security risk.  The truth is that with the right provider, data is actually more secure in the cloud.

Determining which is the right vendor, however, involves finding answers to some tough questions about how well that vendor understands your business needs.  It's far better to make your decision with the full knowledge of where your data is going, where your brand management choices are being processed, and how your assets are being protected.

Greater understanding leads to more thoughtfully architected hardware/software, specifically built and optimized for consumer product licensing, how the data is managed and stored, and how safe that provider's infrastructure is.

When you're choosing your applications, evaluate your potential vendor carefully with questions like these:

• Does the company own its own hardware to provide the service?  
• Does this company outsource its software development to other companies, particularly those outside its own country?  Are the developers located in countries where hacking is rampant?  
• Are the upgrades to your systems conducted on the SaaS (Software as a Service) platform?
• Does this company undergo any regular security audits by certified third parties? What level of IT oversight is included with the SaaS?
• How is your team's data kept secure?  What methods are in place to protect those assets?  
• Does the potential vendor employ an ISO (information security officer)?
• Will this company keep your assets safe during occurrences like a stolen computer or natural disaster?

If the answers to all of these questions are satisfactory, your vital information can actually be safer in the virtual hands of a licensed digital asset management software than it would be if the data was held on site.

This early-on research allows you to determine whether the vendor you're considering is planning to take on their share of responsibility for the safety of your assets.

Getting reasonable answers to these and other questions early in the process will help shield your team from suddenly being negatively affected by another business's potential or actual financial and operational weaknesses in the future.

MyMediabox is a leading provider of SaaS hosted applications for digital asset management and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals and other creative workflows (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM).  For more information visit us at www.mymediabox.com