SaaS Case Study: Security and Google Apps | Business 2 Community

Google is one of the largest companies in the world, but also has a very trustworthy image. One of the reasons for this is due to Google?s transparency. It can be hard to find examples of SaaS, or Software as a Service, from reputable companies that are willing to be forthcoming about one of the biggest issues businesses face when considering a cloud based software solution: security.

Google isn?t shy when it comes to facing security questions; in fact, it?s the exact opposite. Google Apps wants you to know how your data will be stored, because they know that if businesses aren?t confident in their service, then it won?t sell. So let?s take a look at Google Apps to see how this major player addresses SaaS security.

Google Apps uses data centers designed and built specifically for their applications. Because they don?t include unnecessary hardware or software, Google Apps isn?t exposed to potential vulnerabilities. They also guarantee a 99.9% uptime, so no matter what goes on in the world (or your office) your data is accessible and secure. And just in case something does go wrong, Google Apps includes a built-in disaster recovery system.

By offering an extra layer of security with a two-factor authentication, Google Apps takes as many precautions as possible to protect the safety of usernames and passwords. Similarly, all browser sessions are automatically encrypted with SSL for Google Apps, ensuring data security during transfer without the need for slow and expensive VPNs.

Security has always been of utmost importance to Google; with a large security team constantly monitoring global data centers, Google Apps is protected by info-security thought leaders. Exceeding the toughest international and government audits, Google Apps is constantly innovating to protect user security.

As Lee House, Vice President of enterprise business solutions provider I.B.I.S.Inc., stated in a recent article, ?Putting faith into a cloud CRM or marketing solution, which is the backbone of your business can be scary, especially when you think about how much money you could lose if the cloud solution goes down.? Simply put, backup is imperative for any business. But with Google Apps backup is automatic, which means that as you work, your data is saved; so if something happens, a computer crash or hardware theft, you can be back to work in no time. Another question people frequently ask is about ownership. When your data is stored on a server in-house, you know that you own that data; but when it?s stored on the cloud? Google Apps is very clear ? your data belongs to you, cloud access simply gives you tools to control and share it.

A business solution that allows organizations to forgo traditional work and data set ups in favor of a SaaS approach, Google Apps offers employees a functional and familiar interface while saving organizations time and money in infrastructure and IT costs. Look for examples of SaaS being applied to businesses to become more common in the coming years. With faster internet connections, more flexible work arrangements, and the need to keep employees engaged with the right tools, SaaS isn?t going anywhere. And with a clear focus on security, Google Apps is dedicated to providing users with safe and reliable data access using SaaS.

Image source: Mashable.com

Source: http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/saas-case-study-security-and-google-apps-0234175

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