So, what exactly is ASP and a hosted network solution?

Have you ever read a technology article or listened to a technology show and heard the term ASP? Did this trigger the thought, what the heck is ASP? ASP stands for a number of things; however for the purpose of this blog I am using the translation Application Service Provider.

Now you know what the abbreviation stands for, but what exactly is an ASP? An ASP is any company in the business of hosting or leasing software applications. These Applications run on servers not owned by the company utilizing the services of the ASP Company, but rather running on servers that the ASP Company owns. These servers are often times located in a DATA center which houses numerous servers and utilizes multiple layers of security measures which protect the equipment as well as the software itself. Some of the security measures an ASP company may have protecting the entry into the DATA center are... biometric entry protection, password protected entry alarm system, voice recognition entry, dual entry keys, and numerous security methods. The client (users who use the ASP Company) could decide how to access the applications being hosted. The first step in accessing the applications is to have a fast, reliable internet connection. Since you, the client will be logging in over the internet the fastest connection at the price you are willing to pay would be recommended. Secondly, now it's time to choose how you access the applications via remote virtual desktop or by utilizing Citrix. Citrix is a solution that allows you to access applications without utilizing a virtual desktop or a web browser. Although, the option to utilize a web browser to access applications can still be setup with the use of Citrix.

The virtual desktop environment is just that, a desktop that "opens" on top of the operating systems desktop. That sounds confusing but really it isn’t. Think of it this way, it's like opening up a web browser that looks and acts like a desktop on an operating system. This allows for easy opening of the applications being hosted by the ASP Company. You can open your applications, folders, and files just as though you were working on your local workstation. Once you save your work and log off of the virtual desktop, you will be taken back to your local machine's desktop and applications. Also note that while utilizing a virtual desktop environment you can minimize the virtual desktop and work on the local machine while the virtual desktop is running in the background.

So, now that we have established what an ASP is we can move on to a hosted network solution. A hosted network solution, in my terms is an ASP on steroids. Essentially, a hosted network solution is utilizing a company to host all of the functions of an in-house network solution and reducing the headache associated with such a solution. In other words, host the applications your company is utilizing, handling the security over your DATA/files/applications by providing firewall protection and other security measures, host the e-mail for your company by using an e-mail server, providing e-mail anti-spam and virus protection, providing backup services to backup your DATA/files/e-mail/Etc., allowing remote access to your applications/files/DATA/Etc., and allowing your employees access rights to the DATA/Applications/files/Etc. which are determined by you the client, and anything else related to having an in-house IT solution. Many times a hosted network solution reduces the cost associated with having an in-house IT solution by allowing the client to not purchase any hardware associated with a traditional vertical network solution. This in turn eliminates the need to hire an IT staff or contract an IT firm to maintain the servers, firewalls, anti-spam appliances, and switches, hubs, or routers. A hosted network solution also extends the life of companies workstations since the applications, files, and DATA are being accessed from servers and not the local machine's hard drive.

A misconception regarding a hosted network solution is a loss of control of your businesses network. In actuality you are gaining more control over your network in the sense that you now have a complete IT helpdesk to handle any issues that may arise with your hosted network solution, with a simple e-mail or phone call you can have a user restricted from certain applications/files/e-mail/etc., and the fee for services grows with your company. For instance, with a hosted network solution when you terminate an employee, the fee for service is reduced. With a typical network solution should you terminate an employee, you will still maintain a contract or pay staff wages per the terms agreed with each of these conditions, nothing changes.

The question I leave you with is this… Now that you know what ASP and a hosted network solution are, does this change the way you look at your current IT solution?