Software as a Service (SaaS) are applications that are run from a network or cloud instead of being installed on a local computer. Beyond a web browser and operating system, the user does not install anything on their computer. SaaS allows the developer to seamlessly update the application on a continuous basis without the need for user-installed updates.
Whether it’s checking email, office tools like word processing, customer relationship management, or project coordination, the Software as a Service model enjoys increasingly wide adoption in both enterprise and personal computing. While some applications have migrated to SaaS (like Microsoft Outlook), still others (such as Salesforce) have been cloud-based since their inception.