IS APPLICATION HOSTING RIGHT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Today, many associations are investigating application hosting
to determine whether it is a good fit for the organization. With application
hosting, you access your software over the Internet; the hosting provider
maintains the software applications, as well as all the hardware, IT
infrastructure, and support systems needed to run the application.
If you are considering application hosting for your organization,
here are some questions to help determine whether application hosting is a good fit for you.
1. Do you want to avoid high initial startup costs?
Purchasing in-house software and hardware systems can be very expensive. When
your application is hosted, the hosting provider takes responsibility for providing the
infrastructure, so your startup costs are reduced—and you should be able to cut your overall
expenditures for hardware and software by 30 to 60 percent.
2. Is it difficult to hire and retain highly qualified,
experienced IT personnel?
Application hosting providers can afford to invest in a staff of highly qualified IT experts because the
expense is spread across many customers. As a result, you can tap into SQL
expertise whenever you need it, for example, without keeping a SQL guru on staff
full-time.
3. Are you frustrated by the cost of continually upgrading
your hardware and software?
It's a cliché—by the time your system is installed, it's already out of date.
Much of your IT staff's time is spent upgrading systems. By having a hosting company take
care of your IT infrastructure, you can maintain an up-to-date technology
infrastructure without bearing the expense. The burden on your IT staff is
reduced and you can better predict your IT costs.
4. Does your association operate in more than one location?
An association that has offices in different locations may find it difficult to
share consistent and accurate data, and to obtain a clear picture of members'
dealings with the organization. When your application is hosted, you have a central member database that is continually being updated in real time. Wherever they are, employees work with
the same data.
5. Do employees travel extensively or need to work from home?
Most of your employees probably have a home computer, which can tap into the
system if your security permits. This makes telecommuting easier and allows
employees to be productive on snow days, when they're on business trips or at
other times when they can't make it in to the office. All they need is a Web
browser—key applications are available anytime, anywhere.
6. Do you need to protect valuable data?
Application hosting providers take responsibility for backing up your data and providing redundant
systems in case a problem occurs. They also maintain firewalls, encryption and
virus protection to ensure the safety of your data. In case of disaster, using
application hosting makes it easier to get back up and running quickly.
7. Do you have a backlog of IT projects?
If your IT staff is overburdened, turning over responsibility for day-to-day
maintenance of applications to a hosting company can free time for more important projects.
8. Do you need to make IT costs more predictable?
You can control costs more effectively and avoid budget overruns when your software is hosted.
You know how much you'll be spending each month. Upgrades, support, and
maintenance are all included.
9. Do you need to roll out Web initiatives faster?
Implementing new software is faster and easier when the application is hosted.
Your up-front investment is minimized, and the time to launch is reduced.
10. Would you like to dedicate more resources to your core
mission?
Your ultimate goal is to serve members and add value to their membership.
Information technology helps you do that; it is not an end unto itself. If hosting your software
allows your staff to focus more on your members and less on your software,
it's something you should definitely consider.
|
