What is one of the roles of Software as a Service (SaaS)?

One of the key roles of Software as a Service (SaaS) is to avoid ongoing software maintenance. In a SaaS model, the software applications are hosted in the cloud and managed by the service provider. This means that the provider is responsible for maintenance tasks such as software updates, security patches, and infrastructure management. This alleviates the burden from the end-users or businesses, allowing them to focus on using the application rather than managing it.

By utilizing SaaS, organizations benefit from automatic updates and maintenance that are typically handled regularly by the vendor. This model not only reduces costs associated with maintaining software but also ensures that users always have access to the latest features and security enhancements without needing manual intervention.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the nature of SaaS. Regular manual updates are characteristic of traditional software installed locally, physical servers are not provided as part of SaaS because it operates entirely in the cloud, and limitations on application accessibility would contradict the flexibility and accessibility that SaaS is designed to offer, as it is typically accessible from various devices and locations via the internet.