CDA
Software has been providing software solutions to the service
industry for over 20 years. We have been asked many time if
there are plans to make the CDA Service Manager program a Web Based
Application. For some types of businesses, web applications
have become very popular and provide some very attractive advantages
over desktop programs such as the ability to access it from any
computer that has internet access and no maintenance or updates to
install on all of your workstations. However, we determined
that a web based application for the businesses requiring our type
of software has many disadvantages that you should be very concern
about. For the reasons outlined below, we will continue to
provide desktop software. 1.
Increased
Security Risks
There are always risks involved when dealing
with working online, regardless of how secure a host might say a web
application is, the fact of the matter stands that the security
risk of running an application on the Internet is more significant
than when running an application on a desktop computer.
Some applications require more security than others. Playing games
on a web application would cause little concern, but dealing with
sensitive corporate data, financial information, revenue,
customer information and other
crucial material in a web environment may be determined very risky.
In addition, since your data resides on the host's server, you have
no control over it and no matter what guarantees are provided to
secure it, you will never know if it is being accessed in ways that
you would not approve. Everything there is to know about your
business and your customers will reside on a server that you don't
control.
2.
Cost and
Ownership
The
application software belongs to the host and you are just paying for
the right to use it. Since you do not have to purchase
software, the initial cost to start up on a web based application is
much less. However, the monthly subscription fees that you
will pay for each user's login account will soon overcome the cost
of a desktop application and you still don't own it. In
addition, if you don't renew your subscription you will not be
able to access your data. You will become dependent on your
hosting company to run your business. If, for any reason, the
hosting company goes out of business or discontinues the service,
you are left with nothing. With a desktop application, since
you own the application and data, your business will never be
interrupted.
3.
Connectivity
Web
applications rely on persistent and unmanaged connectivity. If you
lose an Internet connection or if your host loses
Internet connectivity you cannot access the information. Critical
applications or businesses that are time sensitive cannot risk
denial of service attacks or power outages to interrupt their
operations and access data that is sensitive. We have all
experienced internet problems at times and this problem will bring
down your business.
4.
Performance
Web applications that rely on the
Internet to transfer data rather than a computer's local hard drive,
will operate slower. The speed will also vary based on the number of
users accessing the application. During times of heavy
traffic, screen changes and data requests can become very
frustrating.
5.
Personalized Services
Over the years, we have been able
to work with our users on a one-to-one bases in providing
modifications, custom programming, import and export routines to
merge data to and from other desktop applications, and many other
special requests that personalizes their software to their business.
Many service centers have discovered that being able to work closely
with a software company has been a major asset to their business.
This type of personalized service can only be provided in a local
environment.
Conclusion:
Although web based applications
are becoming popular, it is our conclusion that because of the type
of processing, data control, and security needed for our customers,
the desktop application is still the best choice for now.
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