What does S mean in UNCLASSIFIED

A SaaS application is one that can be accessed over the internet, as opposed to being installed on a local machine. The user does not need to manage any infrastructure or worry about upgrades and updates, as these are taken care of by the software provider automatically.

The main advantage of using a SaaS offering is that it requires less capital investment from the user. There is no need to purchase hardware or an expensive license upfront and only a subscription fee is required to access the application. Additionally, users are able to scale their usage up or down depending on their needs, making it more cost effective than traditional software solutions.

Since all data processing and storage occurs in the cloud, users may experience slower speeds compared to traditional software applications. Furthermore, some companies may have concerns about storing sensitive data in an external environment where they have limited control over security measures.

Companies typically advertise their SaaS offering prominently on their website or product page. The terms “cloud”, “subscription” and “Software-as-a-Service” will often be used if a company offers this type of solution.

Typically, smaller companies with limited IT staffs that don't want the burden of managing their own software systems are well suited for utilizing SaaS offerings. However, large enterprises with complex IT needs can also benefit from having access to specialized cloud-based solutions that they may not have had available before adopting this model.