Paying upfront has its place in life, but what about things that are costly? The model of leasing (cars, electronics, etc.) has been around for a while. Now, leasing has made its way into the IT services world. Customers can pay as they go for almost every aspect of technology. Paying as you go for hardware is known as hardware as a service (HaaS).
What exactly is HaaS?
HaaS is part of the “as a service” family. With this model, you pay a monthly fee for a piece of technology instead of paying for everything all at once. For example, software as a service (SaaS) provides the latest version for a monthly fee. Thus, the company does not have to worry about upgrade costs or maintenance. They simply pay the fee and the IT service company takes care of the rest.
The same concept applies to HaaS, except it is for computer hardware. This can include servers, desktops, firewalls and more. It may be easier to picture HaaS the same way as a car lease. In other words, when the car has problems, it is all covered by the dealer without cost to the customer. With a car lease, you have to wait until the contract ends or negotiate a new contract for a newer model. With HaaS, the hardware is upgraded at no cost when it is time.
Traditional leasing versus HaaS
The downside to traditional leasing is there is no equipment at the end of the lease, and the payments are more costly in the end. With HaaS, everything is included in the one monthly payment. Therefore, customers have the option to negotiate many of the important services into their contracts.
HaaS IT services, benefits and barriers
Common services in the HaaS model include:
- Parts replacement.
- IT support for the leased hardware.
- Hardware monitoring for issues.
- Software deployment.
- Traditional service desk support such as password resets.
Many of these services contribute to some of the primary benefits small businesses find with HaaS:
- Less work for IT teams.
- Support for hardware.
- Reduced cost.
Despite the benefits, however, some companies are still wary of transitioning to HaaS due to the following:
- Some businesses are comfortable with their current model.
- Others don’t want to lose control of their computer ownership and management.
- Other companies do not see a benefit over their current setup.
Haas buyer perceptions
Many small businesses see HaaS as giving time to their IT staff to focus on other areas. While outsourcing any IT service comes with risks, the right MSP can significantly drive down costs and help organizations grow. As a result, while the HaaS model may not be a fit for every company, it’s increasingly adopted by lean organizations as they move to agile operational models.
Transition to HaaS with SecureTech
SecureTech has been providing IT services in San Antonio, TX for many years. So, we can help you figure out what you need and how our team can benefit you. If you want to find out if moving to HaaS is right for you, contact SecureTech today for a free consultation.