From the May 2006 INC magazine:

1. Reliability
Systems have a way of crashing, so make sure vendors offer backup plans and 24-7 customer service. Ask them to agree to pay penalties for failing to perform–including a clause that allows you to break your contract if you’re consistently disappointed.
2. Security
Software providers may boast of extra-tough security, but there’s no reason to take them at their word. Negotiate the right to perform your own periodic security audits. Demand to be notified any time the system is breached–even if your own data remains untouched.
3. Pricing
Most on-demand software providers set prices based on the number of users, and there’s often more wiggle room than you might think. Negotiate those rates up-front so that as you add more users, you pay less for each one.
4. Customization
No two businesses are the same, so before signing a contract make sure your vendor’s product is flexible enough to be integrated into your existing applications and databases. If a vendor agrees to add some customized features, make sure it’s willing to provide the same levels of customer service.
See it for yourself at:
INC Magazine
Naturally, I thought of this list in context of Wiredrive, to see how it stacks up to these four pillars of on demand software quality.
1. Reliability: Wiredrive has a large client base, that grows monthly, something that could not happen if we didn’t consistently battle test our system, and make sure that it can handle the intensity of the production environment. Plus, our support staff is just an e-mail or call away, and I can speak from experience, that whenever there is a question, issue, or bug, it is addressed immediately. Our network administrator is on call at all hours of the day, and our support staff can jump into an issue at the drop of a hat, because we know that a lot of people rely on Wiredrive.
2. Security: Wiredrive features 128-bit SSL encryption to give peace of mind to even the most security conscious companies from the Fortune 500, to the Major Television Networks & Movie Studios. We know that your work is important, and we aren’t going to let anyone see it that you don’t want to. Wiredrive also features password protection, and different privilege levels on both suites, which allows administrators to assign the project teams and users to only what they need to see.
3. Pricing: Unlike this article suggests, Wiredrive offers the same pricing structure regardless of how many people are using the system. Our pay by the GB pay plans offer a great deal of flexibility for companies and projects of all sizes, and the level you choose is the level you pay for. Whether there is only one person or one hundred people working on your masterpiece, our pricing plan will give you the bang for the buck that you need without sucking the production budget dry.
4. Customization: How does your companies logo on your Wiredrive system sound? What about a customizable address bar? Customized e-mails to clients? Good, we thought you’d think that these were a good thing, which is why these features are included with every Wiredrive system that we set up. It’s not our system, it’s yours, and we want every aspect of it to remind you of this. The entire reels suite is based on efficient customization, since you and only you know what best represents your body of work.