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

Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor: Identifying the Key Components and Choosing the Right Partner

Many companies have stepped into the new technological world of cloud-based applications, and this powerful tool is no longer relegated to the IT department.  More than 50% of all users are turning to this type of computing for brand management and other business priorities, and their numbers are growing rapidly – in fact, Business Wire reported in June 2013 that 75% of surveyed businesses use a cloud platform of some kind, and the usage increased dramatically in 2013, up from 67% in 2012.

When you're considering cloud-based software for your own company's product approvals and digital asset management needs, it's an exciting, paradigm-shifting process: you're changing the way your business does business for the better. Selecting the right product and vendor, though, can mean the difference between a successful transition and greater productivity -- or a daily exercise in frustration.

Over the next 10 weeks, we'll be digging deeper into the question of evaluating the most popular type of cloud computing programs, SaaS (Software as a Service), based on their reliability and fit to your business.  We'll explore a variety of best practices for identifying and leveraging the best-in-class vendors and applications, that, well-executed, can positively improve business performance.  Applying these tactics can help to avoid the significant financial, operational, technical, and legal risks which you might confront if you pick the wrong vendor.

A great deal of the initial information-gathering that makes your transition smoother is just a matter of asking tough questions of potential vendors early on.  Some of those are questions like these:

• Does the vendor have the financial strength to weather downturns or other unforeseen risks, or are they one lost customer away from being unable to pay their bills?
• Where are their offices located and can you visit them?
• Are their developers in-house or outsourced, domestic or in a high-risk country?
• How does this vendor address information security?  Do they have an Information Security Officer or other evidence to show you that security is a priority?
• Is the vendor a leader in the space?  Will they disclose their client list or other data to prove their market position?
• If things don't work out for any reason, what happens to your valuable data and assets?

How to find answers to those questions?  Let us help.  This blog series, “Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor,” is intended to offer experience, analysis, and advice on the thorough evaluation of cloud computing licensors in multiple categories.  Having found your own answers to each question, you and your team can come to the best possible decision for your business.

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