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ASP
Model
If
you want to beat an IT professional at his/her own game,
throw an acronym at him/her that has two distinct meanings.
ASP is perfect for this, because programmers will absolutely
know that this means Active Server Pages, while
network technicians are equally certain that it means
Application Service Provider. According to Webopedia,
both would be right. Here are their definitions:
Active
Server Pages - a specification for a dynamically
created Web page with a .ASP extension that utilizes ActiveX
scripting -- usually VB Script or Jscript code
Application
Service Provider - a third-party entity that manages
and distributes software-based services and solutions
to customers across a wide area network from a central
data center
For
purposes of this article, ASP means Application Service
Provider. We’ve been getting lots of questions lately
about this kind of technology (whether or not the people
asking have ever heard the term ASP). ASPs are not new.
The technology has been trying to find a home since the
late nineties and it is slowly doing just that. Many companies
are now utilizing the ASP model on a limited basis. For
example, it is now common to outsource database servers.
SalesForce.com®, for example, operates as an ASP for
its database software. In most cases, the database resides
in the vendor’s server rack out in Internet land
somewhere and they serve you the web pages which allow
you to work with the database.
Of
course it goes beyond web applications. Large firms with
multiple locations have long shared servers in a central
office. Citrix Server and Terminal Services make these
types of connections possible. Bandwidth has usually been
the stumbling block for smaller companies. Due to cost
constraints, T1 and higher Internet connections have not
been available to small companies until recently. However,
as the price comes down on the bandwidth, new doors are
opening for ASP services.
Some
of the advantages of ASPs include sharing servers and
associated costs with other small companies around the
globe. Maintenance of servers is usually the responsibility
of the ASP. While these two advantages alone, seem like
a dream come true, keep in mind that there are also disadvantages.
In most cases, you’ll probably decide to keep some
of your mission-critical files onsite. This means that
you’ll be maintaining two systems. Another potential
problem is that you are relying on your Internet connection
for productivity. It would be a good idea to have a backup
Internet connection, which will also add costs. At this
stage, ASP fees are generally a little higher than maintaining
a system internally. This difference is sometimes seen
as acceptable rather than having to deal with day-to-day
network headaches.
While
the ASP model is not a master solution to all of your
computer network problems, it may offer some new approaches
to your old problems. Please call us at 317-733-2388 if
you have questions about how the ASP model might work
for your business. |
