What is ASP?
Technical definition
Application Service Provider – a delivery model where the supplier hosts the application centrally and the customer accesses it over a network. The predecessor of today’s SaaS, and still common in the facility world for hosted SCADA, BMS and MES solutions.
In brief
With ASP/SaaS you rent the function instead of owning the system. Convenient – until you want to change supplier and discover who actually controls your data.
The Challenge
Hosted solutions lower the threshold: no own servers, no upgrades, quick start. But technical facilities add questions consumer SaaS never has to answer: Where is process data stored and for how long? What happens during a network outage – does production stop? How does the alarm chain reach the operator? And most importantly: do you own your history, your tags and your configurations – or are you renting access to them?
HubMind’s Methodology
We are not against hosted solutions – we are against unclear ownership. Before contracts are signed, we help you set requirements: data export in open formats, documented APIs, defined SLAs for operations and support, and an exit plan tested before it is needed. Master data ownership stays with you regardless of where the application runs.
For process-near functions we always evaluate latency and availability requirements: what must work when the internet does not should run locally – the rest can be hosted centrally or via cloud services.
Warnings & Pitfalls
Locked-in data: If history and configuration only exist at the supplier, the price of switching is effectively infinite – vendor lock-in in its purest form.
SLA without teeth: “99.9% availability” without defined measuring points, penalties and support hours is marketing, not a contract.
Process dependency in the cloud: Functions production needs in real time must not depend on an internet link.
💡Our Recommendation
Require exit in the contract: Data export in open formats, documented and tested – before you sign.
Keep master data ownership: Tags, identities and history are yours – regardless of hosting model.
Classify the functions: Real-time critical runs locally; analytics and reporting can be hosted centrally.
Review the security: Remote access to OT environments must follow IEC 62443 – even when the supplier hosts.
FAQ
What is the difference between ASP and SaaS? Historically, ASP hosted a dedicated instance per customer while SaaS is multi-tenant cloud services. In practice the terms are used interchangeably today – your requirements are the same either way.
Are hosted solutions suitable for SCADA/BMS? For monitoring, analytics and reporting: often yes. For real-time control: only with local fallback and carefully evaluated latency.
What must always be in the contract? Data ownership, export formats, SLA with penalties, support chain, security requirements and exit process.
HubMind’s related pages:
Considering a hosted solution for your facility?
HubMind helps you set requirements for data ownership, security and exit – before the contract locks you in.