Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management

    ASP Support System

    By
    Jim Rapoza
    -
    May 28, 2001
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      In Shakespeares “Antony and Cleopatra,” Cleopatra commits suicide by holding a poisonous asp to her breast. After the recent collapse of many service providers, companies that decided to embrace an ASP know exactly how she felt.

      The bite of many fallen application service providers caused, if not death, at least a lot of pain, especially for companies that relied on ASPs to provide core services such as ERP (enterprise resource planning) or human resources. Some ASPs proved to be deadly to themselves, choosing to offer applications such as office apps or data management that businesses werent interested in outsourcing. On the other hand, service models that provide management and diagnostics while supplementing other systems may have what it takes to stand the test of time.

      So how does an e-business gain ASP advantage without getting bitten? In eWeek Labs experience, several factors need to be considered when looking at a service provider. These include the viability of the provider, the importance of the task being outsourced, whether vital data needs to be transmitted outside a company network, and the actual cost of keeping the task in-house. (For more on what to do when your ASP goes sour, go to www.eweek.com/links.)

      What has and hasnt worked using the ASP model? Well, one of the first and most successful examples is Web hosting. Hosting a Web site at a provider saves a business from worrying about maintaining and securing a site while sacrificing very little of the manageability of the site.

      More recently, the MSP (management service provider) model has proved itself to e-businesses. MSPs often supplement internal IT systems, such as security and network management, by fulfilling functions including remote vulnerability assessment and performance monitoring.

      Some of the biggest ASP failures were the providers that took the “application” in ASP too seriously. Just because it was possible to outsource traditional office and productivity applications didnt mean anyone wanted to. Its easier to provide these applications in-house.

      So how should a business evaluate the viability of a service provider? This can be tough. If the provider isnt IBM or one of the handful of providers that look like theyll be around for some time, companies should probably avoid outsourcing core business apps such as ERP or human resources. Figure out how much it will hurt if the ASP fails. While losing security scanning or performance monitoring can be inconvenient, for example, its not a life-or-death situation for your business.

      Its also important to ensure service agreements will protect your investments. Is there protection for your company if the ASP goes under? Also, if the service must be available 24-by-7, can the provider include technology assurances such as redundancy, as well as contractual protection if the service becomes unavailable due to server crashes or other problems?

      In addition, some of the best services mainly supplement internal systems. A company may have firewalls and intrusion detection running internally but will outsource vulnerability scanning. Internal network management systems control and monitor servers and other hardware, while an external service adds real-world Internet data to the equation.

      Some of the oldest ASP advice still stands true. Security has always been a concern when outsourcing (even when the outsourcing of security has proved successful). Anything providing core business functionality should be tied to the outside world only via secure connections, such as a virtual private network.

      In addition, many companies have no problem outsourcing the intensive work of analyzing the huge log files that e-business sites generate. But if this data can be of use to competitors, outsourcing it should be considered only if the provider can provide guarantees that data will stay secure throughout the process.

      Jim Rapoza
      Jim Rapoza, Chief Technology Analyst, eWEEK.For nearly fifteen years, Jim Rapoza has evaluated products and technologies in almost every technology category for eWEEK. Mr Rapoza's current technology focus is on all categories of emerging information technology though he continues to focus on core technology areas that include: content management systems, portal applications, Web publishing tools and security. Mr. Rapoza has coordinated several evaluations at enterprise organizations, including USA Today and The Prudential, to measure the capability of products and services under real-world conditions and against real-world criteria. Jim Rapoza's award-winning weekly column, Tech Directions, delves into all areas of technologies and the challenges of managing and deploying technology today.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×