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Software as a service

Also known as SaaS

Subscribing to software the vendor runs entirely, accessed through a browser or app.

Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and most modern business applications are SaaS. The vendor runs everything and you configure your slice of it.

Your responsibilities do not disappear: access control, configuration, and in most cases the data itself remain yours. Vendors generally guarantee their service is available, not that your data is recoverable after you delete it.

Where this comes up

Software as a service sits inside our microsoft 365 and cloud work. If you are trying to work out what this means for your own environment rather than in the abstract, that is the page worth reading next, and a short call will get you a straight answer faster than either.

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Related terms

SaaS backup Independent backup of data held in cloud applications such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Salesforce. Shared responsibility model The division of security duties between a cloud provider and its customer, which shifts depending on the service type. Shadow IT Software and services staff adopt on their own, without IT approval or oversight. Infrastructure as a service Renting virtual servers, storage, and networking from a cloud provider while retaining responsibility for the operating system upward.

More in microsoft 365 and cloud

300-seat capBYODCloud migrationCloud Solution ProviderData loss preventioneDiscoveryExchange OnlineInsider Risk Management

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