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Keystone offers a service of hosting your KLAS database. This service provides you with access to KLAS running on servers that we provide and maintain in our datacenter. With this, you no longer need to purchase servers for the database and WebOpac online catalog, nor budget for maintenance and upgrades of servers. You simplify your operations, and gain the reliability and enhanced services offered by Keystone hosting.

Keystone Hosting Services

A full range of IT services and KLAS-specific services are provided, including:

Keystone Facilities for Disaster Preparedness

Keystone's datacenter is fully supported by a natural gas power generator and multiple UPSs in a secure concrete/brick building in a well-protected area of Raleigh, NC. Keystone always maintains excess capacity, to allow for quick recovery in the event of server failure, the loss of a node in our SAN (storage area network), or loss of some network infrastructure. Our redundant capacities for disaster preparedness include:

Backups and Data Protection

Keystone works to protect your data by maintaining a series of backups of your data, and the configuration of the server environment. Backups are achieved in multiple levels in various forms.

Software as a Service

Keystone offers three different operations options for acquiring, operating, and supporting KLAS. By adopting KLAS in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, libraries are able to find accessible software that meets their workflow needs, while eliminating many of their budgetary and IT barriers. Because it is delivered in a SaaS model, Keystone provides support for the KLAS software including daily technical operations, housing, and maintenance of server and network hardware. This allows libraries to use funds previously allocated for technology staff and maintenance for other critical areas of the library.

PROs of KLAS SaaS:

Operations Options

Keystone provides three options for acquiring, operating, and supporting KLAS:

  1. KLAS SaaS (software as a service) and Keystone hosting services.
  2. Purchase of perpetual KLAS licenses with Keystone hosting services.
  3. Purchase of perpetual KLAS licenses and the customer hosting the operation in computer facilities owned and operated by the customer.

A Comparison of Operations Options:




Software as a Service (SaaS) Keystone Hosted Self-Hosted
Up-front Licensing Costs None YES YES
Location of Server Keystone
(Connect to database
over Internet)
Keystone
(Connect to database over Internet)
Customer's site
Server Maintenance Costs Included Included Local IT
Disaster Recovery YES YES YES
Database Secure
(Multiple Firewalls & VPN Connection)
YES YES ?
Very High Bandwidth
(T3 Fiber Connections between database and Internet)
YES YES ?
Easy Management of Growth
(Manage and Insure Excess Capacity on Servers)
YES YES ?
Upgrades to KLAS and Progress Applied by Keystone Applied by Keystone Applied by
Local IT
Need IT / Database Administrator Onsite None Needed None Needed YES

 

Summary of Options

Option 1: SaaS (Software as a Service) and Keystone Hosting

KLAS SaaS is based on paying a monthly fee for using the software as a service and having the databases hosted at Keystone Systems offices. This option has the lowest upfront cost as there is no licensing of software or purchase of a server. Keystone staff will provide hosting services as described in the "Keystone Hosting Services" document.

Option 2: Perpetual License with Keystone Hosting

The library purchases the software licenses and pays a monthly fee to Keystone for hosting the database and providing services as described in the "Keystone Hosting Services" document. With this option, the library will not need to purchase a server, nor budget for maintenance or upgrades of the server. This provides the stability offered by the perpetual license option and the reliability and enhanced services offered by Keystone hosting.

Option 3: Perpetual License and Self-Hosting

Self-hosting is based on paying a one-time fee to license the application software and having the databases operate on servers at your site. Your library will be responsible for providing appropriate servers and ensuring their proper operation. Your staff will connect to the databases over your internal network.

This option requires a more significant up-front cost, but lower on-going operations fees. With this you purchase, KLAS licenses, a server, and budget for IT staff to implement and maintain the server. You will also need to plan to replace and/or upgrade the server every 3-5 years.