An application service provider (ASP) is a business providing
application software
Application software is any computer program that is intended for end-user use not operating, administering or programming the computer. An application (app, application program, software application) is any program that can be categorized as ...
generally through the
.
ASPs that specialize in a particular application (such as a medical billing program) may be referred to as providing
software as a service
Software as a service (SaaS ) is a cloud computing service model where the provider offers use of application software to a client and manages all needed physical and software resources. SaaS is usually accessed via a web application. Unlike o ...
.
The ASP model
The application software resides on the
vendor's system and is accessed by users through a
communication protocol
A communication protocol is a system of rules that allows two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any variation of a physical quantity. The protocol defines the rules, syntax, semantics (computer science), sem ...
. Alternatively, the vendor may provide special purpose client software. Client software may interface with these systems through an
application programming interface
An application programming interface (API) is a connection between computers or between computer programs. It is a type of software Interface (computing), interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that des ...
.
ASP characteristics include:
* ASP hosts the application
* ASP owns, operates and maintains the servers that support the application
* ASP delivers the application to customers via the
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
or a
thin client
In computer networking, a thin client, sometimes called slim client or lean client, is a simple (low-Computer performance, performance) computer that has been Program optimization, optimized for Remote desktop, establishing a remote connectio ...
* ASP may bill on a per-use basis (
on-demand outsourcing), a monthly/annual fee, or a per-labor hour basis
The advantages to this approach include:
* Application costs are scaled over multiple customers
* ASP may provide more application experience than the customer's staff
* ASP may provide application customization for the customer
* Application's version is likely to be kept up to date
* Experts manage the application for performance
* Experts research the application for new features
The disadvantages include:
* The customer must rely on the ASP for a critical business function, including security and performance
* The customer may have to accept the application as provided
* The customer may have to adapt to possible application changes
* Integration with other applications may be problematic
See also
*
Application server
An application server is a server that hosts applications or software that delivers a business application through a communication protocol. For a typical web application, the application server sits behind the web servers.
An application ser ...
*
Business service provider
*
Communication as a service
*
Hosted service provider
*
Multitenancy
*
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is a business practice in which companies use external providers to carry out business processes that would otherwise be handled internally. Outsourcing sometimes involves transferring employees and assets from one firm to another ...
*
Service level agreement
A service-level agreement (SLA) is an agreement between a service provider and a customer. Particular aspects of the service – quality, availability, responsibilities – are agreed between the service provider and the service user.
T ...
*
Utility computing
*
Web application
A web application (or web app) is application software that is created with web technologies and runs via a web browser. Web applications emerged during the late 1990s and allowed for the server to dynamically build a response to the request, ...
References
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IT service management
Customer relationship management