Cloud Computing, that’s the IT buzzword of the moment, but what does it mean for you? How does it affect Enlighten.Net, Inc. and our software offerings? As with any buzzword, this one has grown from the original idea and morphed into a more generic term. Commercials show home users, accessing cloud-based software to do everything from edit photos, to file sharing, to remote controlling your home PC. These are actually examples of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), a buzzword from a few years ago. Although technically incorrect, “Cloud” sounds better than “SaaS”, which in turn sounds better than “Hosted Solution” — the previous term used.
Regardless of what it is called, this new service allows companies to subscribe to the software applications they need over the internet rather than purchasing and installing the software on a server of their own. The vendor takes responsibility for the server including applying updates and fixes to the software, interoperability with other software installed on the server, backing up the data and application, and more. By taking on these responsibilities, the software vendor allows users to focus on their core business.
A few months ago, Enlighten.Net, Inc. started offering cloud based versions of Net.DFM and Enlighten.Net. This doesn’t have to affect our existing customers, but if you are sick of purchasing new server hardware every 3-4 years (no, you shouldn’t just wait 7 years), or of worrying about how updates to one application will affect the other applications on your server, then contact our sales department at: 860-269-8005.