Frequently asked questions about
Plus4Site and more...
The short answer to this question is No.
Plus4Site operates entirely online, so this means that
you are not tied to using a particular computer - you can work at a time
and place convenient to you, at work or at home - and you always have access
to the most up to date data. The system will work with virtually any internet
connection speed, but broadband certainly improves the user experience if
you have a lot of information to process.
This is a simple question, but there are many aspects to
defining 'secure', such as where are the computers physically located and
who is guarding access to them, what steps are taken to safeguard and backup
data, who controls when and by whom that data can be accessed, as well as
perhaps the more obvious concerns about computer hackers.
At Plus4Group we take the safeguarding of your data extremely
seriously and have designed applications like Plus4Site to the highest
standards. We continue to monitor best practice in this area and respond
to changes in potential threats on a continuous basis.
Refer to other FAQs for more specific answers.
The Software market is experiencing a major evolution. The
on-site delivery models (where you insert a CD in the computer and pray)
are becoming things of yesterday as they are being replaced by Software
as a Service, SaaS solutions. SaaS solutions are delivered on-demand via
website connections as fully managed services.
Many major companies are moving in this direction, including
Microsoft, SAP and pioneers like Salesforce.com because freeing users from
installation and maintenance headaches makes it easier for customers to
use their products. SaaS appeared high on many analysts' top 10 trends lists
for 2006 and beyond with Gartner predicting that by 2010 30% of new software
will be delivered via the SaaS model. "The SaaS market reached $4.2
billion in 2004 and will grow at an annual compound rate of 21% until it
reaches $10.7 billion in 2009" according to IDC research.
SaaS is so appealing due to the flexibility it gives customers
and the ability to access business functions remotely with usage based pricing
rather than a large up front capital outlay plus the associated risk. It
is initially most prevalent in HR and payroll, CRM and Financial Markets.
Plus4Group are one of the leading exponents of this way
of working in the education sector.