According to Gartner, Software as a Service (SaaS) is "software that is owned, delivered and managed remotely by one or more providers. The provider delivers software based on one set of common code and data definitions that is consumed in a one-to-many model by all contracted customers at anytime on a pay-for-use basis or as a subscription based on use metrics."

So what exactly does all that tech-jargon mean?

Put simply, SaaS is a way of delivering software applications over the internet, instead of physically installing and maintaining the software on-site, either on a server or right on your personal workstation.

SaaS can also be referred to as hosted, on-demand, or web-based software. It runs on the SaaS provider's servers, and all users need in order to access it is an internet connection. The SaaS provider manages all of the hardware and security updates.

Bottom line? In addition to finally freeing you from CD cases, organizers and readers for good, SaaS has some key advantages, which I've outlined below.

What started as a fringe movement among software developers has turned into a widespread practice.

In yesterday's blog post, I described open source software and the key role it has played in the development of the Internet and information technology (IT) as we know it today. We explored the ways in which it differs from proprietary software, as well as licensing and compliance requirements for both.

Many organizations now include open source software as part of their IT strategy. According to a recent Gartner Survey, over half of the companies surveyed use open source software. In an even more recent survey by Black Duck Software, this figure was reported as 78 percent. Many application development and software firms utilize open source as a development and distribution tool, as well as using it for their own product platforms.

With the widespread adoption of open source software, it has become imperative to adhere to proper governance and compliance guidelines. Using external code — such as open source — to build new applications, products, and services could result in technical and security risks to a company’s entire network operating environment. 

Continue reading to learn more about:

1. Licensing open source software
2. FOSS compliance
3. Risks
4. Why you need a policy

The term “open source” gets tossed around a lot — but, what exactly does it mean, and does it matter to businesses in the Washington DC area?

Today, the phrase usually refers to open source software, whose source code is available for modification or enhancement by anyone. Before the phrase became widely adopted, developers and producers used a variety of other terms to describe this sort of platform or software. The now popular term open source gained hold with the rise of the Internet, but the concept pre-dates the Digital Age.

In this blog, I'll explain and discuss the following topics related to open source:

1. How the concept began in the automobile industry 
2. The impact of the Internet 
3. Its role in the development of IT 
4. Why it's commonly used today
5. And more

Microsoft Office 365 and Exchange Online represent more than a decade of innovations over older on-premises versions of server software solutions. The migration presents some short-term challenges and long-term benefits. The migration won't be simple, and it may take some time depending on the enterprise.

An Osterman Research White Paper, Best Practices for Migrating to Office 365, identified four key issues that organizations should keep in mind when considering a migration to Office 365:

1. Migrating to Office 365 is a major undertaking, with significant IT, security, and compliance issues.

2. Know why your organization wants Office 365 and what business drivers are motivating the change.

3. Top decision makers will need to plan the migration, and understand its impact on the whole enterprise.

4. Those same top-level executives should manage the migration process.

Read on for details about each of these four key issues, as well as recommendations for overcoming challenges and minimizing risks related to migrating to Office 365.