SaaS Definition

SaaS is described as software deployed as a hosted service and accessed over the Internet. This can include IIS or Apache software, collaboration software, and line-of-business applications. SaaS provides a new way for hosting providers, ISVs, and customers to interact in a way that will drive additional demand for software applications.

Hosting Providers

As a hosting provider, you are already delivering SaaS to your customers and are well positioned to take advantage of this growing trend. Parallels delivers a SaaS platform to help you offer applications that will increase your average revenue per customer and attract new customers. Parallels provides hosting providers with a platform so you can offer a variety of rich end user applications (such as inventory management, HR portals, logistics, business admin, collaboration) in addition to existing infrastructure services (shared web hosting, email hosting, database hosting, VPS, etc.) so you can better serve your clients.

ISVs

SaaS offers ISVs the opportunity to sell existing software applications to new markets. Small and medium businesses which do not have the expertise or capital budget to purchase, install, and manage your application, may be willing to purchase licenses to a hosted service. ISVs can penetrate large enterprises by selling them a few hosted seats before they commit to a full software deployment.

How can Parallels Help?

Parallels delivers standards, automation software, and virtualization software to help you deliver SaaS profitably.

• Standards. The Application Packaging Standard (APS) allows Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to package their applications so that they can be rapidly deployed using control panels such as Plesk and Parallels System Automation. This helps service providers deploy a large variety of applications and helps ISVs get their applications to market through the valuable HSP channel.
• Virtualization. Parallels Virtuozzo Containers provide an isolated environment so single instance applications can be deployed without using the resources of an entire server. Virtuozzo Containers provide minimal overhead to maximize the number of customers that can be deployed on a single server.
• Automation. Parallels Plesk Control Panel (Plesk) and business operations systems (Parallels System Automation) can automate the delivery of SaaS applications. Without automation, the time spent provisioning applications, adding users, configuring applications, and billing customers will reduce profitability.

How do I get started?

Parallels provides the tools that you need to offer SaaS solutions.

ISVs: Click here to learn more about APS - the application packaging standard.
Hosting Providers: Click here to contact the Parallels SaaS Team to learn more about implementing SaaS.