Everything To Know About SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS

A QUICK GUIDE TO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SAAS, PAAS, AND IAAS CLOUD SERVICES.

Today, cloud computing is a critical part of nearly every aspect of our society, especially in business. Whether you run a commercial-sized business or just manage a small operation, the cloud can have a monumental effect on your company.

The cloud plays a pivotal role in a world that revolves around mobile technology, software applications, and smart computer devices. It supports the various needs of computer users and expands working environments to more flexible settings. Additionally, it can provide an extra layer of security to your infrastructure, which helps keep your most valuable information safe and easily recoverable.

All these benefits have led to an explosion in the so-called “as a service” offerings for anything from hardware and software to infrastructure and unified communications. Essentially, when you see an acronym that ends in “aaS” it means that the product you previously would have purchased has been converted to a monthly subscription – think Microsoft Office vs. Office 365. You install and run Microsoft Office on your hard drive but run Office 365 exclusively from the cloud (i.e. as a service).

There are currently more than a dozen “aaS” offerings, but here are three main categories of cloud computing solutions that currently dominate the world as we know it: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.

SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SAAS):

What Is It?

A software license hosted on the virtual cloud. This web-based model allows network data to be accessed from any device with an Internet connection and web browser. SaaS is responsible for helping companies build and manage growing data sets.

Pros:

• Cost savings
• Reliability and accessibility
• Easy to upgrade
• Easily scalable
• Minimal downtime

Cons:

• Less secure than other cloud services
• Vendor-specific only
• Limited integration features

Notable Examples:

• Salesforce
• Dropbox
• JIRA

PLATFORM AS A SERVICE (PAAS):

What Is It?

An service provided by third-party vendors that allows users to develop, run, and manage custom applications. This is a cloud-enabled model that gives users the ability to create their own software over the internet.

Pros:

• Automatic updates
• Reduced overall costs
• Compatible with other forms of firmware
• Improves collaboration efforts

Cons:

• Limited scalability
• Vendor-specific commitments

Notable Examples:

• OpenShift
• Google App Engine

INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE (IAAS):

What Is It?

This is a cloud-based resource that is supported by virtualized technology. IaaS gives users the ability to control their own data infrastructure without having to physically manage it on-site. All data is stored on a virtual server that can be accessed online.

Pros:

• Greater levels of security
• More storage capacity
• Flexible and agile controls
• Scalability

Cons:

• Limited geographic expansions
• More expensive than some physical infrastructures

Notable Examples:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure

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Give us a call today so you can start taking advantage of the best IT services that the Bay area has to offer. Set up a free consultation with one of our certified technicians so you can refine a more optimal IT strategy.