Which of These 3 CRM Platform Options Has the Best Security and Flexibility?
CRM software is a hugely important factor for business success, but without the infrastructure to support the software your company invests in, your CRM could end up almost entirely useless. Your company’s software provider should have the flexibility to provide your company with not only a platform that remains state-of-the-art through consistent updates, but also the kind of individual attention you might expect from a startup. However, this CRM solution also needs to have the security measures in place to ensure that your data (and your customers’ data) is protected at all times. What are your CRM options?
On-Premise – A server-based system that requires you to download, install, and run specialized software in order to gain access to it. An on-premise CRM solution must also host its physical server at your company’s own data center. Many resources have to be poured into each implementation and upgrade, and data security is dependent on your company’s own security procedures.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) – This web-based CRM runs on a server that you access on the Internet with a login and password. The vendor hosts the solution on its own server, taking on full responsibility for hosting, management, and data security. The system is designed to support multi-tenant architecture, securely allowing multiple customers to use the same web-based CRM. Through this single instance of the application, a Software-as-a-Service vendor can provide upgrades to all of its customers without interrupting their service, and implementations don’t require an abundance of time or resources.
Hosted – Like SaaS CRM systems, a hosted solution is also a web-based CRM because it runs on a server that you access on the Internet with a login and a password. However, hosted solutions lack multi-tenant architecture, so a different server is required for each customer that uses a hosted CRM. Like on-premise solutions, hosted solutions require a great deal of time and money for implementations and upgrades because they must be performed individually for each customer.
Making sure that your company invests in the flexibility and security of a SaaS web-based CRM provider is an important step when selecting software. But there are numerous additional factors to consider. Download The CRM Buyer’s Guide for Humans for a comprehensive report on the necessary features and functionalities of a top-flight CRM.
