SaaS in corporate ICT - consequences, changes, opportunities

This thesis is focused on analyzing the current state of SaaS (Software as a Service) and impact of SaaS on corporate's ICT as a whole. The aim is to explain the concepts and implications of modern forms of providing services, to describe and to evaluate their benefits and risks and to assess future developments in this area. The attention will be paid on specifics of the environment of Czech companies. The first part of this work deals with the current SaaS solutions and related technologies. Emphasis is placed on acquainting the reader with currently available (or introduced by mid-2011) technologies and their mutual relationships. This section also summarizes the current level of knowledge of the field and on this basis provides definitions of areas and technologies. The next part of the thesis focuses on a particular cloud and SaaS solutions available on nowadays market. The next part of this section is based on a specific case study of a small company, which considers the move to SaaS solutions. This section is focused on the practical application of the preceding conclusions. Last section aims at the prediction of development of ICT business in the upcoming years, with an emphasis on SaaS and related technologies. The second part is trying to find answers to the questions "Whether," "When" and "How" will SaaS affect the market of information technologies, their deployment and business models of future anticipated expansion model of Software as a Service. SaaS maturity model is also discussed as well as specificity of the Czech market