This whitepaper has been created to assist a vast number of SMBs, who do not have much experience with SaaS, but will be looking to adopt SaaS solutions soon. Considering recent studies, 2009 will be the tipping point for SaaS, with a vast majority of companies will adopt SaaS this year (9 out of 10 SMBs will adopt SaaS in 2009, according to Microsoft). 

But in spite of its much lauded wonders, the SaaS route is not without its perils. More used to decades old on premise software, most SMBs have little or no experience handling SaaS solutions [1]. The rules for old on premise software analysis and purchase certainly don't apply, as the vendor-customer relationship for SaaS is fundamentally different. In the case of on premise software, the vendor closes the sale, and makes a quick exit. But the SaaS relationship only begins with the sale. The customer entrusts the vendor with sensitive business data and is dependent on the vendor on an ongoing basis for the smooth running of systems, innovation, support and training.

This dictates that new rigorous criteria be applied while assessing different SaaS solutions for our business problems. That is where the current white paper comes in. This white paper titled "SaaS Vendor Selection [2]" is a result of the authors' extensive experience in the "SaaS for SMBs" arena, and lays down a comprehensive set of criteria that any SMB must consider while analyzing any SaaS solution.