It has been some time that an argument has been doing rounds about the replacement of desktop application by web applications in the business software category. Although, web applications are more versatile and flexible, desktop software and applications are not easily replaced considering the issues of security and replacement of legacy systems that have been in place for some time now. The shift if it ever happens is not only a technical issue but also a marketing and business issue.Working online has its own set of risks like hacking and virus threats. The risk is higher compared to a desktop computer, since a malfunction of the desktop can result in loss of partial data. The crash of a web server can result in consequences beyond the control of a business.

Web application in comparison to desktop application run slower due to transfer of data through the internet. The speed of connectivity and bandwidth usage may be major factors.The reliability of web applications is based on connectivity, although they can be used from anywhere across the world, connectivity speeds and bandwidth regulation may render it useless in some areas. Failure of internet connection from the business end or the web server end can cause unwarranted delays. Critical applications may suffer as a result of these interruptions in service.