Hewlett-Packard has announced a program that aims to help Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) transform into fully-fledged Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers.

Called ‘ISV2SaaS’, the initiative helps ISVs adopt a new business model while staying compliant with local security and data sovereignty rules.

HP doesn’t run its own public cloud service outside the US, instead promoting a network of local cloud service providers that build and manage their infrastructure using its OpenStack distribution called Helion.

Up and away

SaaS is rapidly gaining popularity as a means to easily procure, deploy and retire business applications. Some of the larger software vendors are going as far as abandoning traditional software distribution methods altogether - for example, in 2013 Adobe stopped developing its Creative Suite, choosing to completely focus on the Creative Cloud.

HP’s ISV2SaaS is meant to deliver a similar transition for smaller companies. It offers services that help migrate, transform and run traditional software applications in the cloud.

The company says it can help software vendors maximize their income by adopting the pay-as-you-go model, without the need to invest in or manage complex infrastructure. They can simply choose out of a list of standardized services and ready-made contracts.

“The demand for data sovereignty has slowed down some ISVs in their journeys to the cloud,” said Gilles Thiebaut, vice president of enterprise group for indirect sales EMEA, HP. “With ready-to-go, standardized services and predefined contracts, HP ISV2SaaS will enable ISVs to change their financials from one-time license sales to ongoing pay-per-use revenue.”

The program follows the strategy HP set out for the Helion platform – empowering smaller service providers to build their own, feature-rich clouds using local expertise.

HP is currently engaged in the STORM Clouds project, a European Commission effort which will set up frameworks for the provision of cloud-based services for regional governments.