This allows the IT department to pay a specialist to run software remotely so it can concentrate on core business applications. The growing interest in application hosting has raised questions about how these services will affect IT departments and the benefits they can offer.
Debate continues about which applications are most suited to being outsourced.
Simple applications that do not need much integration are also candidates for ASP services but as they offer providers limited opportunity to add value they may only be offered as loss leaders. Issues such as the IT skills shortage and the increased volume of applications that need managing are making the ASP model more appealing. What currently prevents most IT managers from adopting this model is their unease over issues such as loss of control, security, availability and disaster recovery. Providers still have a lot of work to do to allay these concerns. All rights reserved.