The cloud is a popular topic for everyone from small companies to multinational corporations, but it’s also a large term that covers a lot of online ground. It’s more crucial than ever to appreciate the differences and benefits of the different cloud providers when you consider moving your company to the cloud, whether for application or infrastructure deployment.
Despite the fact that the number of as-a-service options is increasing by the day, there are usually three cloud service models to analyze:
- SaaS (Software as a Service)
- IaaS (Infrastucuture as a Service)
- PaaS (Platform as a Service)
Basically put, SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS are terminology that explains how cloud computing is used in business. We’ll look at the definition, advantages, and differences with each of these. We’ll also explain the main differences between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS so you can pick the right one for your business.
Typical Examples of Saas, IaaS, and PaaS
Third-party access to software through the Internet is made possible by SaaS. PaaS is a service that makes resources and platforms accessible over the internet. Storage, payments, networking, and virtualization are among the cloud services offered by IaaS. Here are the typical examples of as a service for each
SaaS Software as a Service
The facilities, platform, and all support for the apps and their data are moved to a third-party hosting provider in SaaS applications. IT staff is no longer required to manage the network, infrastructure, hardware and software, operating system, backups, and security. Instead, the hosting provider is in charge of all of these tasks. The SaaS user can use the application via the internet, which usually only requires the use of a regular browser. Entrepreneurship security, automated data backups, and distributed servers ensure high availability in SaaS implementations.
SaaS Software as a Service Examples
- Dropbox
- Google Workspace
- MailChimp
- Salesforce
- GoToMeeting
- Concur
- Cisco WebEx
Pros of SaaS
- There’s no need to download anything since it’s already working on your browser. All you have to do now is sign up for an account. There are also applications for mobile devices.
- You can use the application on any laptop, and all you have to do is log into your account.
- The app will be accessible to any of your employees or associates without the need to update it. All employees will have access to the app and will be able to sign in.
Cons of SaaS
- You don’t have any leverage over the software’s architecture. You’re reliant on it if there’s a system failure.
IaaS Infrastructure as a Service
Instead of purchasing computer hardware, storage devices, and networking services directly, IaaS allows you to rent them from a 3rd party. After that, you can configure the operating systems and applications you want, and scale the infrastructure up or down based on their processing and storage requirements. This helps users to maintain cost-effective control of their computing platform.
IaaS Infrastructure as a Service Examples
- DigitalOcean
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk
- Windows Azure
- Heroku
- Force.com
- Google App Engine
- Apache Stratos
- OpenShift
Pros of IaaS
- Hardware infrastructure costs are low or zero, including servers, storage, networking services, and other related systems. As a startup, you won’t need to invest in costly infrastructure.
- Scalability is excellent. This is especially true of cloud-based solutions, which give you access to more tools to help you scale your apps.
Cons of IaaS
- IaaS does not always have the lowest overall cost of ownership (TCO), and the team would be responsible for the size of the IT management.
- The cost of IaaS is difficult to estimate. IaaS is appealing because of its scalability but assumes higher-than-average costs. Users can forget to switch off instances, resulting in higher costs.
PaaS Platform as a Service
PaaS is a platform that allows software developers to create applications. PaaS providers control infrastructure, operating systems, software upgrades, and storage requirements for developers, saving them time. Without requiring comprehensive system administration expertise, PaaS provides high availability, scalability, and ease of use.
PaaS Platform as a Service Examples
- DigitalOcean
- Google Cloud Platform
- Linode
- Rackspace
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Cisco Metapod, Microsoft Azure
- Google App Engine
Pros of PaaS
- It enables administrators a great deal of control over the platform software and the applications created with it.
- These cloud platforms also support and enable multiple programming languages, allowing developers to work on a variety of projects.
Cons of PaaS
- You just have control of what is installed on the platform, and if there is a system failure, the program will be lost.
- There may be unpredictably high charges, especially as the service develops.
- You have less leverage over the customers and less versatility.
- To get the most out of PaaS, you might need some basic coding skills.
Wrap Up
Finally, each company should think about their specific requirements and make an informed decision. Before deciding on the service you need, you should think about the company’s business goals. The following are some of the most common business objectives addressed by cloud services:
- SaaS is the best option for businesses that need out-of-the-box services such as CRM, email, and collaboration tools.
- If you need a forum for developing software products, PaaS is the way to go.
- If you need a virtual machine, IaaS is the way to go.