Leading provider of innovative software for the insuranceindustry, Vertafore introduced today a Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)offering that helps insurance agencies migrate and manage theirinsurance business in the cloud.

Designed to eliminate the high cost of maintaining existing PCsand desktops, as well as alleviate IT challenges associated withonline premises hardware, the new DaaS offering empowers agencieswith a comprehensive, cloud-based PC management solution. ThroughVertafore's DaaS solution, customers can now access cloud-baseddesktops and programs from virtually any computer, browser, ordevice, including tablets and smartphones.

Around the globe, businesses struggle with aging desktopinfrastructure, which can be a major hindrance in acceleratingbusiness growth. As a result, the global hosted virtual desktopmarket is estimated to grow a CAGR of 63.7% from 2013-2018,according to a Research and Markets study. Similarly, a recentAlberdeen report found that 34% of respondents cite the cost ofsupporting traditional desktop solutions is becoming to expensiveto maintain, and as a result, the burdens of employing a dedicatedIt staff to manage PC maintenance, replacement, repair, patchingand security, among other services, are increasingly pushinginsurers towards virtual desktops or DaaS solutions.

“Provisioning a user with a virtual desktop throughVertafore was a seamless experience for us. With a singlerequest to a Vertafore DaaS specialist, the provisioning wascompleted perfectly the first time around and in the required time”says Carl Gerson, agency principal at Declaration Brokerage. “With Vertafore's DaaS offering, I am able to forecast to thedollar amount—the cost of provisioning desktop and applicationresources to bring a user on board with all the associatedtechnology that accompanies our agency growth. Startup costsand ongoing costs are very affordable and predictable to a per-userlevel.“

“Having our PCs and Servers proactively backed up as part ofVertafore's DaaS Managed Service offering provides us with peace ofmind. We no longer have to worry about disaster readinessand reactively managing servers, and can rest easy knowingthat our agency is on a cost-efficient solution that helps us focus on productivity and selling insurance” says Andrew Maceda,Jr., a lead systems administrator at The Coughlin Group.

The new offering from Vertafore enables agents to retain theirown personal desktop operation system and application experience,while under the security and management of Vertafore's specialistson the Amazon cloud. As agencies opt to move from their desktops tothe cloud for various purposes, DaaS is helping agencies maintainand update any and all hosted desktop requirements, includingsoftware updates, configuration and password management.

Best suited for independent agencies at their threshold withdesktop and hardware capital expenses, or for those considering atechnology upgrade, Vertafore asserts that the service would helpreduce the ample resources devoted to technology management,freeing up both time and money for agencies, allowing them to focuson business growth.

The solution is offered to all agencies, regardless of whatagency management system they use.

“The cost of DaaS technology is now less than buying a PC.Modern agencies have an opportunity to reallocate significant fundsto enhance more critical agency operations,” said Steven Finch,vice president of Strategic Solutions. “We provide a comprehensiveportfolio of cloud services to help agencies and other insurancebusinesses easily transition their desktops or other businesscritical software to the cloud. Vertafore's DaaS offering is asimple, secure and effective step in embracing cloud technologies,and allows agencies to free themselves from the grips of the PCstronghold.”