Small businesses in IT are being tossed a lifeline by a number of software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers by giving them invaluable IT support through high-end technology, it is said.

Product strategy and development director at Genesis Communications Mark Seemann explained that a large number of vendors are able to outsource a number of solutions to consumers which would usually be unable to pay for in-house systems and expensive software packages up-front.

He said that along with the software itself, there are a number of additional benefits such as "highly sophisticated security" with advanced detection of any intruders, meaning networks will remain safe using this option.

Mr Seemann added: "In addition to advanced security, financing scalability and redundancy or high availability are also beyond the finances of most businesses - these come as standard with SaaS."

According to a recent study by Ardent Solutions, it was found that 41 per cent said that IT budget limitations could lead to deterioration in system reliability or increased downtime.

In a recent survey of SMEs for Connect, the two most important benefits of outsourcing were guaranteed response times and allowing in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic issues.