Who says that theater is dead? In the IT world, companies are the stage and SaaS vendors the ushers: putting a premium on efficiency, organization and order. This means customers can be discriminating critics when selecting the SaaS vendor that's right for them. But once you've decided on a SaaS solution, the biggest challenge lies in figuring out what to look for in a SaaS vendor.

SaaS migration may be the most efficiency-driven move that a small or mid-size business (SMB) makes, but it will only pay dividends if you choose the solution that sticks to modern SaaS principles. It's easy to stumble and fall in this SaaS theater because some vendors still use methods that keep SMBs tethered. You can pick the best fit for your SaaS needs with simple research and by following these ten suggestions:

1. Dynamic Billing -- You should only be billed for what you use. Your company is dynamic: some months business goes up and some months it goes down. If your usage fluctuates, then your SaaS bills should follow suit. This is especially important in seasonal industries like retail or hospitality. Also, never agree to "software maintenance fees" or to pre-established "user licenses" because it defeats one of the primary goals of switching to a SaaS model.

2. Security -- Security is paramount: most companies simply ask if the SaaS vendor uses SSL, but security is so much more than that. Ask your potential SaaS vendor:

• Does the data center that is housing the servers have physical security 24/7?
• Is the perimeter of the data center secured (do guards walk the perimeter at least once per 24 hours)?
• Who has permission to the access these servers (only internal employees or do contractors also have access)?
• Is there a log that captures who came in and when they left? If so how often are those logs audited?
• Does the application use industry standard 128-bit encryption?
• If multiple customers are housed on the same server then are they logically/physically separated to ensure your data is not viewed by unauthorized eyes?
• Has the staff of the SaaS vendor who has access to your data gone through a criminal background check? It's important to know whether or not convicted felons have access to your sensitive personal data.
• Does the vendor have a formal BCP (Business Continuity Plan)? Is the vendor willing to share it with you and does it satisfy your concerns?

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