The Advantages of a Hosted Solution

At Mojo Media Labs, we are big advocates of hosted solutions. This philosophy of outsourcing hosting and software is also sometimes called "Cloud Computing" or "Software as a Service" (SaaS). Despite the current trends and data that support the wisdom of a hosted solution, I still frequently encounter resistance from some business owners and, more frequently, IT people.

So why the resistance? I can't figure it out. The advantages of an outsourced hosting and software infrastructure are so compelling that it can sometimes be difficult to understand why it's not considered more often.

So what are the advantages of outsourcing your hosting and software? Here are a few:

1. Reliability and Security. Is your office designed to store and protect mission-critical web servers? Do you have fire protection, biometric security, 24/7 monitoring, and redundant Internet connections? What happens in the event of theft, tornado, power blackout, fire, water damage, and Internet connection problems? Wouldn't your website be safer in a location designed to protect your data?

2. Maintenance. Who is maintaining your server and software? Do you have a full-time systems administrator that keeps up on the latest software patches and upgrades your systems on a continuous basis?

3. Cost. Purchasing, maintaining, and upgrading your own hardware and software can be very expensive. Compare that to the cost of a low monthly subscription and it quickly becomes apparent that a hosted solution is much less expensive.

If you're an IT professional, these are points that you should be prepared to talk about with your vendors and your employer. More and more organizations are realizing the benefits of a hosted solution. Embracing this trend rather than fighting it can actually make your job easier. Be a hero and go home early. Outsource your hosting and software and save your company time and money.