Glossary A–ZLetter C
Cloud (SaaS)
With cloud or software as a service (SaaS), the management software runs on a provider’s servers and is used over the internet, usually in a browser and for an ongoing fee.
The operator does not install or maintain a server of its own. The provider takes care of updates, backups and operation.
The players connect to the service over the internet, fetch schedules and content and report their status. For branch networks this is convenient, because each site only needs an internet connection and no access into the company network has to be opened. New features become available without any effort on the operator’s part, and the management software can be reached from anywhere.
In return, operators give up control: over where the data is stored, over when changes happen and over availability. The points to clarify are therefore server location, the data processing agreement, the promised availability and how the data can be retrieved when switching provider or at the end of the contract. If the service fails, well-built players keep playing their stored content, but no changes can be made.