Application Service Providers (asps): A Manager's Guide

Application Service Providers (ASPs) lease hosted software applications over broadband networks to companies of all sizes as a faster, less expensive, and simpler alternative to installed applications. ASPs especially benefit small-to-mid-size businesses (SMBs) because, until these services existed, most of these organizations could not afford enterprise applications. While the ASP industry is still young, experts predict that it will soon become amulti-billion dollar industry fueled largely by the explosion of SMBs looking to cash in on the Internet-driven global "e-conomy."

ASPs free your company's IT, training, technical support, and customer service staff from the onerous chore of installing, upgrading, and managing traditional in-house applications. As an executive or manager responsible forgetting the most competitive bang for your technology buck, you'll find this ground-breaking guidebook invaluable for short-listing, evaluating, and selecting the best ASP match for your company's business and IT requirements.

"Application Service Providers (ASPs): A Manager's Guide" defines the ASP business model, explains the components of the "virtual" ASP technology platform, and differentiates between the various types of ASPs. This book also covers important topics such as:

Ensuring your data is secure with an ASPDefining a service level agreement with an ASPChoosing an ASP with the best pricing model for your businessComparing ASP customer service and technical support programsSelecting value-added technologies, such as wireless access, from an ASPEvaluating ASP supporting players known as xSPs

This book also discusses future key developments that could affect your company: ASPs' impact on the traditional reseller channel, emerging technologies and trends that will further improve how ASPs deliver hosted applications, and winning ASP survival strategies.

Finally, "Application Service Providers" features informative appendices listing selected ASPs by type, vertical markets served, and applications hosted. The author, leading you through the ASP evaluation process, includes comprehensive checklists of questions that you should ask ASP candidates before signing a contract.
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Maximize the benefits of ASP relationships -- and minimize the risks

-- Up-to-the-minute coverage for navigating an ASP industry that's changing rapidly.

-- Evaluating ROI, reliability, security, performance, risk factors, and much more.

The benefits of working with Application Service Providers (ASPs) can be compelling -- faster rollouts, lower costs, less time spent on implementation and maintenance, and a greater opportunity to focus on your organization's core competencies. Unfortunately, the risks of ASP relationships are far from insignificant. In this book, the President of ASPWatch shows IT managers exactly how to navigate the risks, and use ASPs for maximum competitive advantage. John Harney presents a complete roadmap for any IT decision-maker considering outsourcing to ASPs. He offers expert guidance for answering questions like: What costs are involved? How secure and viable is your ASP? How do you choose the right ASP? You'll learn practical criteria for identifying possible ASP partners; choosing amongst ostensibly similar ASPs; evaluating services, performance, and ROI; and negotiating service level agreements that meet your business requirements. For everyone considering or using Application Service Providers, including IT executives and managers, line-of-business managers, Web and e-business professionals, and consultants.