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What is a Master Service Agreement?

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A Master Service Agreement (MSA) is a contract between two parties, in this case the software provider and the buyer, outlining the terms and conditions of the agreement. It will typically cover pricing, payment terms, service levels, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, liability, termination, and dispute resolution.

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Unlike a service level agreement (SLA) which outlines the specific performance metrics and criteria for the delivery of a particular service, for example uptime guarantees and support response times, an MSA covers the broader terms of the business relationship.

What is meant by data storage?

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In the context of cloud computing, data storage refers to the process of storing and managing digital information in either a remote server or a data center provided by a cloud service provider such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure.

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The cloud ultimately provides a versatile platform for storing various types of data, whether that be documents, media files, application data, machine learning data or structured data.

What is meant by outsourced SaaS procurement?

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Outsourced procurement in SaaS refers to the process of hiring a third-party vendor to manage some or all aspects of a company’s procurement process. This can involve negotiating with vendors on your behalf to secure the best possible price and terms on any SaaS contract, while also refining, implementing and enforcing procurement processes that ultimately protect your business.

What is Cloud Cost Optimization?

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Cloud cost optimization refers to the process of reducing and optimizing cloud spending, while ensuring optimal resource utilization and maintaining desired performance levels. It ultimately involves managing cloud costs without compromising business objectives or user experience.

What is a SaaS agreement?

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A SaaS agreement, or contract, details the terms of your purchase from a SaaS vendor.

What are price uplifts?

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In the context of SaaS, price uplifts refer to an increase in the price of a software subscription. While many software providers will implement price uplifts on an annual basis, typically at the point of renewal, others may review and amend their pricing more frequently, for example on a quarterly basis. It is recommended that buyers negotiate a price uplift cap during the initial contract negotiation stage, placing a limit on the maximum amount the subscription can be increased by within a specified time period.