MediaClay is most widely deployed as an Application Service Provider (ASP) modeled solution, understandably because of the many benefits inherent in a service-based approach. However, to address the needs of organizations whose specific business requirements are not well suited to an ASP approach, we have outlined a series of alternate deployment models, in addition to the ASP approach, below.

Deployment Models

Note: The MediaClay deployment process is always tailored to individual client needs, and the deployment model selected can be upgraded to an alternate model at any time.

What is an ASP?
ASP stands for Application Service Provider. Software, like MediaClay, that is deployed using an ASP approach is remotely hosted, managed, and maintained by the software vendor. ASP clients pay a monthly fee to access the application remotely, most commonly over the Internet.

What are the Benefits?
With its low TCO, rapid deployment, instant system updates and upgrades, round-the-clock support, and increased security, an ASP is a truly formidable option for managing your company's content. There are a number of benefits to the ASP approach.

Reduces Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Most obviously, an ASP eliminates the time and cost associated with installing, administrating and supporting applications. Since the application is hosted remotely and supported by the developer (Comspec), there will never be any hardware or software to purchase. Neither will you have to maintain databases or install upgrades as they become available. The total maintenance of your application is handled round-the-clock by Comspec.

Enables Rapid Deployment
It's not hard to see how an ASP solution can be up and running well before an installed solution can be set-up, and long before a homemade solution can even get off the ground. There is nothing to install, no hardware to configure, and certainly no application to develop and test. The time-consuming and resource-intensive process of distributing, installing, and meticulously configuring an application on many computers becomes a thing of the past. An ASP can start being used by your employees literally within days, if not hours. Compare that to weeks or months for alternative solutions.

Accelerates the Development Cycle
With an ASP, there's no more waiting around for software patches or critical upgrades. Even better, there's no need to find the time to install them, since all upgrades are performed instantly and seamlessly by Comspec, over the Internet. And who better to handle those critical -- or just incredibly useful -- upgrades than the people who developed the application in the first place?

Worldwide Access
ASP solutions delivered over the Internet are, naturally, accessible round-the-clock from any Internet-enabled computer on earth. This means that your content management system is at your users' fingertips no matter where they are, and no matter what time it is. Content can be added or updated immediately, when it needs to be.

What About Security?
All data communicated to MediaClay from your computer, over the Internet, and vice versa, is fully encrypted through an industry standard SSL (secure socket layer) enabled connection at all times.

All users accessing the MediaClay system have a named login with their own password. When entering passwords, the data is always encrypted over the Internet to ensure passwords aren't "sniffed" by hackers.

Your application is guaranteed to be available 24/7/365. You never again have to worry about your IT professionals falling sick, going on vacation, or jumping ship, thereby rendering content management impossible.

Your relationship with your ASP does not end once the deal is finalized. You subscribe to ongoing support and service, and you are guaranteed to receive it. In this way, you remain in much closer contact to your ASP, and therefore in better control of your Content Management System than customers of traditional, out-of-the-box solution vendors.

Many companies already outsource the hosting of their website, and for good reasons: increased security, ensured uptime, and expert support. The same reasons apply to outsourcing your content management system. Outsourcing your content management system to a third party provides you and your data with an extra level of security. It only makes sense. After all, who better to manage the application that manages your content than the company who developed it?