What is this thing called ASP?

Get this: almost 40 per cent of European IT Directors/Managers don't know what 'ASP' means (and no, we're not talking Active Server Page). Let's rephrase this - they haven't even heard of the term..

Perhaps we can help here: ASP or Application Service Provider is an old-fashioned bureau service/leasing concept, wrapped up in new-fashioned togs. Most companies which say they are ASPs - aren't. Any telco, for instance, which tells you it is an ASP is almost certainly lying - it's got bandwidth it wants to sell you and will tell you anything it thinks that will make you close the deal. Most other "ASPs" are old-time computer firms touting new-style pricing models... to IT directors who are very dubious about the whole concept.

OK, so they're crusty buffers - but it does not sound like ASP is an idea who's time has yet come, judging from a survey of IT directors and managers in Germany, France and the UK conducted by Rhetorik.

Concerns over security are hampering the uptake of Application Service Providers (ASPs), While companies have no problems renting software - albeit mostly low-end - they do express much more caution about using other ASP services. They cite "lack of reliability, availability and security" for declining to play the ASP game.

Of the 306 respondents, 54.9 per cent had concerns about the ASP's ability to deliver a wholly reliable service, while 50.4 per cent doubted their level of availability, and 68.3 per cent felt security would be an issue. ®