What is SaaS? — UK Software Development Guide

4 min readJune 2025ClickMasters Technical TeamReviewed by Reviewed by James Whitmore, CTO
what is saassoftware as a service meaning

Direct Answer

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a software distribution model where applications are hosted centrally and delivered to customers via the internet, typically on a subscription basis. Unlike traditional software that users install on their own machines, SaaS products are accessed via a web browser — with the software company responsible for hosting, security, updates, and availability.

SAAS in the UK

The UK SaaS market is one of the most mature in Europe. UK SaaS products are subject to UK GDPR as data processors for their customers (who are typically data controllers). Article 28 UK GDPR requires a written Data Processing Agreement between the SaaS provider and each customer. UK SaaS providers should use AWS eu-west-2 or Azure UK South to maintain UK data residency for UK customers' personal data.

Get Expert Advice on SAAS

Get Expert Advice on SaaS ClickMasters engineers apply SaaS principles in every project. Free consultation. → clickmasterssoftwaredevelopmentcompany.co.uk/contact/