SaaS or Software as a Service is a method of providing applications remotely while allowing users to access them over a private network or over the internet. Also referred to as 'Software on Demand' this is the most flexible and scalable system to date.

A real life example would be Hotmail or Gmail. The whole infrastructure is hosted remotely at Microsoft's or Google's site, while users access them via the web. This allows any user to utilize the system regardless of technical knowledge or geographic location. The prevalence of both Hotmail and Gmail in the sector is testament to the success of this system.

From a customer viewpoint SaaS is a very cost-effective way of using software. All of the hardware and support of the product is handled by Archive Compliance, meaning a much lower IT footprint. This saves time, money and building space as the customer doesn't need hardware or the support staff to maintain their applications.

The hosted software will have resiliency and will always be up to date. This means much less downtime for users, either scheduled or otherwise, while still ensuring you will always be using the latest version of the software. The applications can also be accessed from anywhere in the world, allowing freedom of movement for you and your staff.

In essence, the customer absolves themselves of all responsibility for maintaining the product and passes it to Archive Compliance. Hosted applications allow customers to concentrate on their business without the unwanted distractions technology can provide.