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Application Service Providers (ASPs): A Manager's Guide
John Harney

ISBN-10: 0201726599
ISBN-13:  9780201726596

Publisher:  Addison-Wesley Professional
Copyright:  2002
Format:  Paper; 336 pp
Published:  11/19/2001
Status: Available on Demand   What's this?


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Description


Features


Table of Contents



Preface.


Acknowledgments.


1. The Tangled Roots of the ASP Phenomenon.

New Technology.

New Network.

New Implementation Model.

New Network Outsourcing Model.

New Competition.

New Mergers and Acquisitions.

New Alliances.

New Value Proposition.

New Industry.

Key Concepts.



2. The ASP Coalition-No Single Vendor Can Do It All.

The ASP Hardware.

The Hardware Platform Components.

The Key Characteristics of ASP Hardware.

Types of ASP Hardware Providers.

The ASP Network.

The Network Platform Components.

The Key Characteristics of an ASP Network.

Types of ASP Network Providers.

The ASP Software.

The ASP Software Components.

The Key Characteristics of ASP Software.

Types of ASP Software Providers.

ASP Market and Application Expertise.

Infrastructure Service Providers.

ASP-Enabling Software Platforms.

Value-Added Services.

Key Concepts.



3. The ASP Hardware Platform.

Hardware Components.

Hardware Provisioning.

Server Clustering.

Load Balancing.

Web Server Caching.

Characteristics of ASP Servers.

Key Concepts.



4. The Data Center.

Availability.

Data Backup.

Natural Disasters.

Responsiveness.

Updating and Testing Disaster Recovery Plans.

ASP Partner and Alternate Site Backup.

Environmental Control.

Key Concepts.



5. The ASP Network.

The ASP Network-An Overview.

Access-ASP to Broadband WAN.

The Broadband WAN.

Frame Relay.

ATM.

ATM and Frame Relay Interworking.

WDM.

Access-Broadband WAN to Customer.

The Local Loop-ISDN, xDSL, and Cable Modems.

Wireless.

IP.

Key Concepts.



6. Varieties of ASP.

Pure-Play ASPs.

FSPs.

VAR ASPs.

Service Bureau ASPs.

SI ASPs.

ISV ASPs.

Related Service Providers.

Key Concepts.



7. Security Issues for ASPs.

Determining Your Security Risks.

Types of Security Risk.

Security Techniques.

Authentication.

Encryption.

Access Control.

Integrity.

Confidentiality.

Audit and Accounting.

Security Equipment.

Routers.

Firewalls.

Proxy Servers.

Customer Requirements and ASP Strategy.

Appropriate Security.

Prioritizing Security Threats.

Security Tiers.

Security Policies.

Different Rules for Different Users.

Types of Confidentiality.

Security Audits.

Physical Security.

Key Concepts.



8. ASP Service-Level Agreements.

The Network SLA.

Network Availability.

Network Throughput.

Network Redundancy.

Network Equipment.

Network Scalability.

Network Peering Arrangements.

Network Delay.

Network Service-Level Corroboration.

Network Reporting.

Network Provisioning.

Network Support.

Planned Network Outages.

Unplanned Network Outages.

The Application SLA.

Application Availability.

Application Performance.

Application Redundancy.

Application Platform.

Application Scalability.

Application Security.

Customer Application Administration.

Application Monitoring.

Application Service-Level Corroboration.

Application Reporting.

Application Provisioning.

Application Support.

Planned Application Outages.

Unplanned Application Outages.

General Practices.

Key Concepts.



9. ASP Pricing Models.

The Major Types of Pricing Models.

Other Fees.

Real-World Examples of ASP Pricing Models.

Key Concepts.



10. ASP Customer Service and Technical Support.

Up-Front Customer Service.

Hosted Application Implementation.

Client Preparation.

Customization.

User Policies.

Data Conversion.

Testing and Quality Assurance.

Training.

Going Live.

Routine Maintenance and Upgrades.

Technical Support.

Monitoring and Reporting.

Call Centers.

Billing and Mediation.

General Expectations.

Key Concepts.



11. Enabling Technologies for ASPs.

Virtual Private Networks.

Different Types of VPNs.

Value-Added Characteristics of Different Providers' VPNs.

Networked Storage.

Storage Area Networks.

SANs' Value Proposition.

Network Attached Storage.

SAN + NAS + HSM.

Why Lease Networked Storage from an ASP?

Enterprise Portal Interfaces.

Wireless.

M-commerce.

WASPs.

Key Concepts.



12. The ASP Channel.

The Double Channel.

SI ASP Strategies.

Hardware Vendor ASP Strategies.

ISV ASP Strategies.

Rebranding and the Value-Added Channel.

ASP Channel Winners and Losers.

Key Concepts.



13. What's Ahead for ASPs?

The Data Center of the Future.

Wide Area Storage.

The Coming Value-Added Internet.

The Microsoft Factor.

Tribal Commerce within ASP Conglomerate Communities.

Winning and Losing ASP Strategies.

The Human Factor.

Key Concepts.



Appendix A: Guide to Location of ASP Case Studies in Different Chapters.


Appendix B: xSPs (ASP-Enabling Companies).


Appendix C: Selected ASPs in Major Vertical Markets.


Appendix D: Selected ASPs Offering Major Types of Hosted Applications.


Appendix E: Defining Your Low-Level ASP Requirements.


Appendix F: ASP Organizations and Publications.


Bibliography.


Glossary.


Index. 0201726599T10242001



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Author Bios

John Harney is President of ASPWatch, Inc., a consultancy that delivers market, partner, and technology strategy for ASPs and companies launching ASP services. He specializes in evaluating ASP services, as well as developing marketing campaigns and feature articles for ASPs in major IT magazines. As the editor of four computer publications, he has reported on the IT industry since 1986.



0201726599AB10182001


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Application Service Providers (ASPs) lease hosted software applications over broadband networks to companies of all sizes as a faster, less expensive, and simpler alternative to installed applications. ASPs especially benefit small-to-mid-size businesses (SMBs) because, until these services existed, most of these organizations could not afford enterprise applications. While the ASP industry is still young, experts predict that it will soon become amulti-billion dollar industry fueled largely by the explosion of SMBs looking to cash in on the Internet-driven global “e-conomy.”

ASPs free your company’s IT, training, technical support, and customer service staff from the onerous chore of installing, upgrading, and managing traditional in-house applications. As an executive or manager responsible forgetting the most competitive bang for your technology buck, you’ll find this ground-breaking guidebook invaluable for short-listing, evaluating, and selecting the best ASP match for your company’s business and IT requirements.

Application Service Providers (ASPs): A Manager’s Guide defines the ASP business model, explains the components of the “virtual” ASP technology platform, and differentiates between the various types of ASPs. This book also covers important topics such as:

  • Ensuring your data is secure with an ASP
  • Defining a service level agreement with an ASP
  • Choosing an ASP with the best pricing model for your business
  • Comparing ASP customer service and technical support programs
  • Selecting value-added technologies, such as wireless access, from an ASP
  • Evaluating ASP supporting players known as xSPs

    • This book also discusses future key developments that could affect your company:ASPs’ impact on the traditional reseller channel, emerging technologies and trends that will further improve how ASPs deliver hosted applications, and winning ASP survival strategies.

    Finally, Application Service Providers features informative appendices listing selected ASPs by type, vertical markets served, and applications hosted. The author, leading you through the ASP evaluation process, includes comprehensive checklists of questions that you should ask ASP candidates before signing a contract.



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