Service Providers

 

Service Providers

A service provider (SP) provides organizations with consulting, legal, real estate, communications, storage, processing. Although a service provider can be an organizational sub-unit, it is usually a third party or outsourced supplier, including telecommunications service providers (TSPs), application service providers (ASPs), storage service providers (SSPs), and internet service providers (ISPs). 

Traditional term is service bureau (esp. 1960s to 1980s).

Types of service providers

• Application service provider (ASP)
• Cloud service provider (CSP) - Software, platform, infrastructure service provider in cloud computing
• Network service provider (NSP)
• Internet service provider (ISP)
• Telecommunications service provider (TSP)
• Managed Internet service provider (MISP)
• Online service provider (OSP)
• Application software service provider in a service-oriented architecture (ASSP)

An application service provider (ASP) is a business providing computer-based services to customers over a network; such as access to a particular software application (such as customer relationship management) using a standard protocol (such as HTTP).

The need for ASPs has evolved from the increasing costs of specialized software that have far exceeded the price range of small to medium-sized businesses. As well, the growing complexities of software have led to huge costs in distributing the software to end-users. Through ASPs, the complexities and costs of such software can be cut down. In addition, the issues of upgrading have been eliminated from the end-firm by placing the onus on the ASP to maintain up-to-date services, 24 x 7 technical support, physical and electronic security and in-built support for business continuity and flexible working.