The Difference Between Managed Services and SaaS

Learn about the difference between managed services & SaaS applications - what they offer & how they can help your business.

The Difference Between Managed Services and SaaS

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer businesses the ability to access software in the cloud with all the benefits that come with it. SaaS applications are used daily by many companies, such as Dropbox for online cloud storage services, Adobe Creative Cloud for illustration, design and photo editing, and Slack for collaboration and business communication. Managed services, on the other hand, go one step further than SaaS and offer additional support by addressing network and hardware requirements. Managed services are more expensive than SaaS, but they provide more flexibility.

With managed services, you get access to real people who can help you modify the software or platform you are using to fit your needs. This is not possible with SaaS, as you only have access to the software itself. Managed services are perfect for addressing an organization's futuristic needs in terms of technology, IT problem management, network maintenance and monitoring. Organizations that already have an existing IT infrastructure will benefit most from SaaS.

Managed service providers (MSPs) collaborate with their customers and provide IT expertise and pre-built IT infrastructure. Remote IT service providers can also fully maintain and control their customers' IT operations, allowing them to focus on more critical projects and business processes. HashRoot is a great example of a managed service provider that offers a range of managed services for SaaS applications under one roof. They also provide IT security solutions to help organizations overcome the costs and complications of managing their IT systems and using traditional application bundles.

Managed services include remote monitoring and management of servers, desktops, and mobile devices. The people who serve you through managed services are often experts in their field, rather than people looking for work through a temporary agency. They can bring all data together in a single security dashboard, providing protection and adding value at the same time. Managed services also include taking care of all your hardware and networking needs (dealing with multiple vendors, so you don't have to).

When an organization's IT infrastructure becomes more complicated due to technological advances, there is a high probability that the organization will consider integrating managed IT services or SaaS solution. A popular option is managed security services, as companies demand IT security support from their remote service providers. With remote IT services, an organization doesn't have to worry about changing focus as it grows, because a managed service provider is already configured to do so seamlessly. Ultimately, it's up to each organization to decide which option is best for them – SaaS or managed services – depending on their needs.

Oscar Collari
Oscar Collari

Hipster-friendly music expert. Amateur beer scholar. Infuriatingly humble sushi trailblazer. Avid webaholic. Certified social media practitioner.