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SaaS Applications Level the Information Sharing Field

NCJ Number
222218
Journal
Law EnforcementTechnology Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 48.50-53
Author(s)
Dennis Duval
Date Published
2008
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the benefits and future of Software as a Service (SaaS) in law enforcement.
Abstract
Hosted software solutions, or SaaS, are changing the paradigm for how software is purchased and used. SaaS is a software applications delivery model where a vendor develops a Web-native application and hosts and operates the application for use by its customers over the Internet. Customers pay for using the software rather than owning it. The main benefit is that while internally operated software requires a huge initial investment for installation and usually involves a level of complexity which demands extensive IT support, SaaS models allow the users to pay as they go without installation or maintenance responsibilities. SaaS applications offer a range of sophisticated enterprise tools that allow for an unprecedented level of data capture, management, and sharing. SaaS applications render installation time, costs, and learning curves obsolete because the third-party vendor that hosts the software application is responsible for maintaining and updating the system. The adoption of SaaS applications by law enforcement has huge potential benefits for small-and medium-sized agencies. Not only do existing SaaS applications offer agencies with limited budgets sophisticated and affordable field-reporting solutions, but they aid inter-agency information sharing efforts by creating a standard for the information flow within the network. The benefits and future of SaaS in law enforcement are detailed.