Top Five Advantages of Hardware-as-a-Service
Technology trends are changing at the speed of light. While it is extremely beneficial for businesses to adapt to these changes, many find it challenging to keep up. To complicate matters even further, the high cost of investing in new hardware can influence some companies into hanging on to obsolete technology, even at the cost of affecting their business.
Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem called Hardware-as-a-Service, which allows companies to keep their technology up to date without sacrificing their cash flow.
What is Hardware-as-a-Service?
Per TechAdvisory.org, Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) takes care of all the hardware-related issues for businesses, including upgrades, maintenance, and management, for a reasonable subscription fee. It is a relatively new licensing model and is very similar to Software-as-a-Service.
HaaS is gaining popularity among Small-to-Medium sized businesses, and is utilized by many Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to lease out hardware which is then installed at customer sites. In most situations, the provider is mainly responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the hardware, while customers pay a monthly subscription fee or a mutually agreed-upon fee structure. This provides a seamless setup for businesses lacking the time, resources, or IT staff to manage the incumbent hardware.
HaaS provides many advantages and benefits. In this article we will shine some light on five advantages business can gain from using Hardware-as-a-Service.
Increased Cashflow
Saving money is always at the top of the list for businesses. As mentioned earlier, with Hardware-as-a-Service, businesses can significantly reduce hardware acquisition costs. The notion of investing tens of thousands of dollars on hardware and network equipment can be overwhelming. With HaaS, businesses can stay up to date with technology while saving on the upfront cost. This provides them with the cash flow needed to remain competitive and focus on increasing business, instead of worrying about a hefty price tag.
Hassle-Free Maintenance and Support
Running a network infrastructure for a business requires a lot of upkeep and support. Many businesses are not equipped to handle major hardware upgrades and maintenance issues, or might not have the proper IT staff on board. Even a tiny glitch in the equipment can cause major disruptions for a business and throw them out of the loop. With the proactive model offered by most Hardware-as-a-Service providers, these issues can be resolved. Depending on the SLA Agreement, the provider can perform all support and upgrades, freeing the business from those tasks.
Cutting Edge Technology
Technology trends are shifting rapidly and according to research, most technology becomes obsolete anywhere from three to five years on average. Many organizations cannot upgrade or refresh their hardware every few years given the exorbitant costs and maintenance involved. However, the Hardware-as-a-Service option provides the peace of mind that no matter where a business stands, their hardware will always be upgraded and up to par with current technology trends. Most SLA’s have hardware refresh timelines that providers must honor. This ensures a business will always have the latest hardware technology without the headache of managing or upgrading it.
Most managed Hardware-as-a-Service providers even offer server storage, security, backup, and cloud solutions as part of their package to ensure a seamless experience for end-users. By utilizing Hardware-as-a-Service, businesses can bid farewell to obsolete technology for good.
Greater Flexibility and Scalability
Business needs and requirements can change from time to time. For example, a small business might not stay so small in the next five to ten years. As businesses expand, they may need to scale their resources. On the other hand, during a downturn they might need to reduce resources. Hardware-as-a-Service provides both scalability and flexibility, allowing a company to scale its resources up or down based on changing business needs.
In contrast, if a company hosts in its own hardware, investing in new equipment to scale up its resources will not only end up being costly but time-consuming as well. With Hardware-as-a-Service, it falls on the provider to ensure that the hardware always meets the existing needs of the business. Most providers offer pay-as-you-go models where a business only pays for what they use – no more or no less.
Security and Performance
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and it is becoming more difficult to keep malicious threats at bay. In terms of security, many businesses employ measures to protect their software, with little to no attention paid towards hardware upgrades that can influence security. For example, some older hardware may have vulnerabilities that cyber attackers can compromise. Two examples are the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities which can allow hackers to gain access to passwords and other sensitive data.
Businesses who invest in the Hardware-as-a-Service model are usually provided with regular and timely firmware and hardware updates to ensure data integrity and security. Businesses lacking the funds to buy more up to date hardware can rely on the Hardware-as-a-Service model to keep their business free of security vulnerabilities.
The Bottom Line
Hardware-as-a-Service is a trending concept that allows businesses to rent or lease hardware through a vendor or a managed service provider instead of buying and managing their own IT infrastructure. It not only saves on upfront costs, but allows businesses to gain greater flexibility, hassle-free maintenance, increased cashflow, and better cybersecurity.
Regardless of how well-maintained and up to date a company’s hardware equipment is, it will not last forever. Aging hardware can slow down performance and cause security leaks and bottlenecks that negatively impact a growing business. At Outsource IT, our Hardware-as-a-Service model can eradicate these worries, and allow you to focus on improving your business. Contact an Outsource IT account manager to learn more.