Post by chrisscheels on Feb 10, 2010 10:34:53 GMT -5
SaaS is a powerful SMB tool, but i think the budget needs to be looked at wholistically including telecom. it may be worth the extra expense to SaaS the ACS or it might be better to use the extra expense to run it on an IaaS service (hosted server in the cloud), with full server support and never have to worry about spending $10,000 on a new server, OS, software, etc).
local storage these days is super cheap (1TB drive for $70) and put it in a raid5. online backup solutions are reasonable and eliminate user error (tape swapping, hard drive swapping).
all of these "aaS" services require a re-evaluation of bandwidth consumption and usage.
HaaS - hardware as a service- never have a capital outlay for new hardware.
Help Desk as a service- never pay $100-$150 per hour for user support (i cant print, i cant email).
IaaS- Infrastructure as a Service- never have to buy a new server or OS, or Exchange licensing.
Server Mgmt- never worry about antivirus subscriptions or licenses or updates, or M$ patches, or exchange breaking, etc.
there are so many new options out there just in the last few years.
Doug had an excellent point that user adoption of the new system, training, etc needs to be a consideration.
What are the budetary constraints within which we need to work? What are the overall goals or issues trying to be addressed?
Off the top of my head:
monthly recurring charges (telecom, ACS, all covered, ISP, maintenance)
telecom (often an overlooked source of savings)- Integrated Access can offer substantial savings on local, ld and internet.
ISP
IT support
web hosting
support and helpdesk
hardware maintenance and warranty
software maintanance
hardware capex needs
software capex neeeds
consumables (toner, paper, backup tapes, etc)
hardware vendors
printer support, maintance, vendors
software / application vendor support (ACS, quickbooks)
proactive maintenance
How old is the equipment, warranty agreements? Is additional software licesing needed? are there any impending capex needs?
local storage these days is super cheap (1TB drive for $70) and put it in a raid5. online backup solutions are reasonable and eliminate user error (tape swapping, hard drive swapping).
all of these "aaS" services require a re-evaluation of bandwidth consumption and usage.
HaaS - hardware as a service- never have a capital outlay for new hardware.
Help Desk as a service- never pay $100-$150 per hour for user support (i cant print, i cant email).
IaaS- Infrastructure as a Service- never have to buy a new server or OS, or Exchange licensing.
Server Mgmt- never worry about antivirus subscriptions or licenses or updates, or M$ patches, or exchange breaking, etc.
there are so many new options out there just in the last few years.
Doug had an excellent point that user adoption of the new system, training, etc needs to be a consideration.
What are the budetary constraints within which we need to work? What are the overall goals or issues trying to be addressed?
Off the top of my head:
monthly recurring charges (telecom, ACS, all covered, ISP, maintenance)
telecom (often an overlooked source of savings)- Integrated Access can offer substantial savings on local, ld and internet.
ISP
IT support
web hosting
support and helpdesk
hardware maintenance and warranty
software maintanance
hardware capex needs
software capex neeeds
consumables (toner, paper, backup tapes, etc)
hardware vendors
printer support, maintance, vendors
software / application vendor support (ACS, quickbooks)
proactive maintenance
How old is the equipment, warranty agreements? Is additional software licesing needed? are there any impending capex needs?