The concept of using an outside service to host and manage Internet applications is relatively new but according to most industry analysts, it represents the future of computing. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems was quoted as saying “A few years from now, savvy managers won’t be buying many, if any, computers. They won’t buy or build as much software either. They’ll just rent resources from an applications service provider.” The applications service provisioning industry is expected to generate revenues of over $21 billion by the end of 2001.

Many educators and administrators may be resistant to outsourcing certain applications, but outsourcing can provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional hardware and software needs. Internet applications by their very nature are expensive to develop and tend to require more administrative support than other networking programs. While schools and colleges can usually find the budget for capital items like hardware and software, there typically aren’t funds available for ongoing necessities like support, training and system maintenance. In addition, most developers target a specific platform for development, database and server software. If the network at your institution isn’t compatible with the developer’s platform, you would either have to acquire additional hardware and software or find another vendor.

Additional benefits of outsourcing Internet applications include:
1. Reduces personnel costs for system administration. The service provider handles hardware and software implementations, connectivity issues, security and upgrades.
2. Broadens network availability. Hosted applications can be accessed via a Web browser from any Internet-connected device.
3. Saves on capital outlays for hardware, software, software upgrades and the network
4. Provides flexibility. If another vendor introduces a better application, it is easy to switch.
5. Allows district or institution to remain focused on education, not computing.
6. Simplifies the budgeting process with predictable, periodic service fees.

Application Service Providers stake their reputations on their ability to deliver service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The latest technologies, along with redundant servers, power grids, communication links and experienced network specialists make that possible.

In summary, outsourcing Internet applications is the future and if the applications and the application service provider are carefully chosen, faculty, administration and students at all levels will enjoy the benefits of Internet accessible applications at a lower cost.