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Web-/Internet-based systems (a.k.a. “on-line databases”) have some benefits. However, before you spend thousands of dollars on one of these systems, please read the following in making a more educated decision:
In the beginning on-line database systems came about due to the lack of high-speed internet lines and in an attempt to give remote access capability in a “speed to market” fashion. The other “selling points” were the fact that the vendor hosting your database and your software application could provide backing up of your data as well as any updates made to the system. Software developers took desktop database systems and removed 80% (or more) of the features and tracking fields to allow for a "streamlined" (and much less capability-rich package). This massive decrease in capability was required to allow for the application to run over the internet while at the same time giving decent performance on slow internet dial up lines (i.e. 33.6 Kbs modems).
The obvious problem is that while these applications could now run over the internet with nominal performance, they were so lacking in capability that they were many times not even worth using even if they were provided at no cost! The reason for this is simple... Developing a web-based application requires approximately ten times the development time and effort when compared to a desktop application. What this means to the consumer is a web-based application will cost ten times more than an equivalent desktop application. OR the web-based vendor will have to remove more than ten times the capability and features to create the same development time table and thus equal the overhead of the competing desk-top-based vendor. However, it is also important to keep in mind that with a higher cost or less capabilities, less units will be sold which means the web-based vendor must sell their product at a much higher cost to stay in business.
Over the past few years, there has been an unbelievable increase in telecommunications technology: 1) An enormous increase in the availability of high-speed internet lines; 2) availability of high speed internet lines at much more affordable rates, 3) Automated downloading of updates from desk-top vendors which require little if any technological knowledge for the end user to perform, 4) the ease of use and increased availability of low-cost desk-top-based backup systems which are much more reliable than any other backup systems available and 5) Dozens of remote-access applications which can be purchased and/or subscribed to for either web-based access or direct PC to PC access. What this all means is that within the next 2 or so years, the Internet-based/on-line Database systems could very well be completely obsolete. Let me now explain why this is agreed upon by so many experts in the software development industry.
Internet/Web-based Database systems are just too lacking in capability and too expensive (as stated above; with development taking ten times longer and thus overhead being ten times greater, the web-based vendor, to stay in business, must sell their application at ten times the cost of an equivalent desk-top application OR develop their web-based system ten times fasted by removing capabilities and features). Plus, your data is being held in a machine off-site. There are two problems/issues with this fact:
1) For you to be HIPAA-compliant any data regarding a client’s or prospect’s personal information (i.e. SSN, Date of Birth, Medical Information, etc.) MUST be held in a “secure” environment and not transmitted electronically unless that transmission of data is done via an encrypted AND secure connection. Many “web-based”/on-line systems cannot guarantee nor promise a 100% secure and encrypted connection as any data you enter into the on-line system’s database is done so via the internet.
2) What would happen (or will happen) if/when the company with YOUR data goes out of business? Are you guaranteed to get your data back? If so, how could they make that promise? Its a gamble that one must hope will pay off but unfortunately as we feel at GBS, Inc. and as many of our competitors feel, it is a gamble with very long odds.
In the many conversations I have had with my colleagues of the competing software vendors in this industry, database web versions are, in the vast majority of cases, a losing proposition. Point of fact: Many of our competitors have on-line applications/web versions and have admitted that they "wasted their development" in creating the “web-based” version now that they have seen what has happened with the aforementioned high speed availability and the new HIPAA-compliance law and regulations (which if not held to can result in a fine of more than $25,000 to the agent/agency who is not HIPAA-compliant).
With the information you have just read in mind, the clear cut solution for those of you that need remote access to your database is running a cost effective desktop system over the internet via a remote-access product such as PC Anywhere, gotomypc.com, Eblvd.com or any of the dozens if not hundreds of internet solutions that are now available at anywhere from a few dollars a month to something like Eblvd.com at approx. $15/user/month. You are able to run your desktop database and thus get all the capability you require at a cost you can afford. Better yet, you will have the remote access capabilities you require (should the need arise) at a very affordable cost. If you are in need of a more robust package you may want to consider Microsoft’s “Remote Desktop” (a.k.a. Windows Terminal Services) which gives a higher level of scalability and thus a higher level of performance for larger databases or databases that will have a larger number of remote users accessing the database simultaneously. When it comes to updating your desk-top application, the majority of vendors (if not all) are now providing automated downloading of updates which require only a single click of a mouse to perform. Finally, your database backups can now be easily perfomed on-site via the use of a simple backup application with only a few clicks of your mouse which will obviously give you a greater level of security and peace of mind.
The web-based system may, at one time, have been an option that had some positives. However, much like the tele-type, BetaMax and the 8-track tape, its time may have already come and gone.
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