Gartner defines independent TPSS for IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP software as a lower-cost alternative to the maintenance, support and consulting service fees charged by these four megavendors. Providers in this market are not authorized channel partners. They offer independent support. Independent TPSS providers have no relationship with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or independent software vendor (ISV). As a result, they cannot access intellectual property, software updates, firmware updates or security advisories, or obtain OEM/ISV Level 3 or backline support. TPSS is typically delivered via cloud-based professional services.