What is an "Application Service Provider"?

An Application Service Provider provides access to software applications over the internet. Instead of buying software to install on your computers, you pay a monthly fee  to use the programs. Nothing needs to be installed on your computers. You always have the latest versions, you never worry about installation, upgrading or licensing. The software runs on high end servers providing higher reliability and improved performance. Because the software and your data reside in a controlled datacenter environment it is protected from viruses, hackers, misuse, theft, and all of the other common causes of computer grief.
 

I just spent a bundle on new software...
No problem, we can honor the licenses you just bought, and reduce your subscription cost accordingly. In our environment we can also provide applications that would cost far too much for the typical small business to purchase on their own.
 

But my staff are used to specific programs...
Great! We will make those same programs available to them in our hosted offering. While we are primarily a Microsoft shop, we can also provide most other vendors' applications as well. Nothing changes for your staff other than they must log into the datacenter to run the programs.
 

What do I need to provide at my end?
Client access points and printers that can be the same devices  that you have today. They need no software installed on them at all, and they can be Windows, Linux, or Mac devices. Even a 5 year old PC still works great as a client device. We can assist in reconfiguring your existing devices more reliably, or provide you with new, much smaller, more reliable terminal devices. You will also require a connection to the internet (high speed such as ADSL or Cable is recommended for multiple devices). If you prefer, we can assume responsibility for your onsite devices as well.
 

Why are your systems more reliable than mine?
All of our servers and network equipment is installed in a fully redundant configuration. This means that if any one piece of equipment fails, it has at least one twin that will automatically take over. Every server has multiple processors, ECC (error correcting) RAM, and redundant hard drives. Data is stored in redundant EMC fiber channel disk arrays using RAID technologies that ensure that a hard drive failure does not interrupt availability of the data. Enterprise virus scanning software ensures that no malicious code can ever get into the environment. The Windows desktop environment that we provide to users is very secure. Users have access to everything they need, but nothing they don't. It is impossible for a user to make a change to Windows that could adversely affect themselves. Service packs and security updates are applied automatically as they are released.  Finally, all of our systems are proactively monitored around the clock to identify and correct issues before they become a problem.

How much does it cost?
Compared to what you're spending today, surprisingly little. Every business has unique needs and we will ensure that you pay only for what you need to meet those needs. Billing is per user, per month. A typical user environment that includes Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, corporate website hosting, Exchange Server email system, and all of the remote access and protected datacenter benefits is about $85.