Over the past two decades, managed services have increasingly shaped how organizations deploy and operate enterprise software.
As cloud adoption, regulatory expectations and data volumes have increased, companies have leaned on partners to help them scale securely while maintaining performance and compliance.
SAS® Managed Cloud Services (MCS) has evolved to meet customers' changing needs. From shifting hosting models, expanding cloud provider options and refining internal processes. While today’s operations look different from 20 years ago, they rest on a strong foundation that supports customer success well into the future.
It’s a testament to being customer-first, adapting quickly, and building world-class operations that deliver trust and resilience.
Shifting from a regional to a global focus
In the early years, MCS was primarily focused on supporting US-based customers. Hosting was centralized and engagements were regional in scope. The model worked well for early adopters, but as SAS grew internationally, customers demanded global reach, localized compliance and 24/7 support.
That shift began with major international projects. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, SAS pivoted rapidly to support emergency programs such as furlough schemes while keeping long-term deliverables on track. In a time of uncertainty, SAS was at its finest, building cross-functional teams to adapt to unprecedented circumstances while maintaining service excellence.
As organizations expanded, operational scale and regulatory complexity grew alongside them. Supporting customers across regions required not just infrastructure but coordinated expertise in compliance, security, and service delivery.
Today, SAS supports more than 650 customers across industries, including financial services, public sector, health and life sciences, retail and utilities, with teams providing around-the-clock secure operations and compliance with strict data sovereignty laws. Our global footprint includes more than 500 delivery staff strategically placed worldwide to ensure customers receive expert support wherever they operate.
Reynolds Community College uses SAS® Viya®, deployed with SAS Managed Cloud Services on Microsoft Azure, to increase enrollment and retention with AI.
Read more.
Moving from on-premises to cloud-native architecture
Originally known as SAS Services on Demand (SSOD), the organization evolved and formally became SAS Managed Cloud Services in 2019.
Over time, as cloud adoption accelerated, SAS transformed its architecture to meet modern demands. The introduction of SAS Viya 4, our cloud-native data and AI platform, marked a turning point. This helped customers deliver scalability, resilience and advanced AI capabilities.
Transitioning to Viya enabled hyperscaler security and performance while embedding AI-driven features, like copilots, to enhance customer experiences.
Key milestones include:
- Multi-cloud flexibility: Azure, AWS and Azure Government.
- Integration of Boemska’s Enterprise Session Monitor (ESM) in 2021, enabling real-time workload visibility and optimization for mission-critical environments. Learn more about ESM.
This evolution meant customers could scale faster, meet compliance requirements and take advantage of cutting-edge analytics without the burden of managing infrastructure.
Looking ahead: AI-driven operations
The future for SAS MCS is proactive monitoring and optimization powered by AI. We’ve already embedded automation into service delivery through tools like SAS Engage, reducing downtime and improving customer experience. These AI-infused operations will enable us to predict issues before they occur and continuously optimize performance. Trustworthy AI principles guide our roadmap with embedded safeguards to drive efficiency and resilience.
From regional beginnings to global reach. From remote support of on-prem implementations to cloud-native architecture. And now toward AI-driven operations, SAS MCS continues to evolve while staying true to our mission: delivering secure, reliable and customer-focused solutions.
