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IaaS vs. SaaS vs. PaaS – Which One to Choose?

Posted on Friday, May 6, 2022 and filed under

Cloud-based computing technology has taken the world of online and modern businesses by storm. Today, thousands of businesses are opting for cloud computing services to get competitive and more productive in their business activities. It is a relatively broad concept that covers a major part of online activities today. Did you know that even small-scale businesses are now making a huge move towards cloud computing like global firms and multinationals? Well, if you are not familiar with the concept, this short post covers everything you need to know.

However, before opting for cloud-based computing, you should learn about the various services available presently. Cloud computing “as-a-service” is becoming more and more popular every day. For one, there are three main cloud models that you can deploy to support your business activities:

  • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
  • SaaS (Software as a Service)
  • PaaS (Platform as a Service)

Understanding IaaS

The infrastructure as a service comprises highly automated and scalable computing resources that are readily available through efficient deployment to all users. It is an entirely self-service strategy that helps businesses access, monitor, network, store, and perform other activities with their business data without a massive computing infrastructure in their business. This mode of cloud computing service pertains to buying the resources only when the business requires them rather than directly buying the hardware resources. Here are some advantages of IaaS:

  • Greater scalability
  • On-need resources purchases
  • Customers own major control over the infrastructure
  • Convenient networking, storage, processing, and server power deployment
  • Flexible cloud computing models for clients

What Does It Offer?

Here are the characteristics of IaaS:

  • A single hardware resource allows multiple users to connect
  • As-a-service resources
  • Consumption-based costs
  • Scalable services
  • Clients have more control over the infrastructure

Understanding SaaS

In cloud computing, Software as a Service is the major form of cloud application service that many businesses are using. Software as a Service refers to a third-party application provider offering their application services to clients over the network. The main thing about SaaS is that the applications will run directly from your web browser. This eliminates the need for any installations or downloads on your organization’s system. Here are the advantages of the SaaS cloud applications:

  • Doesn’t require downloads and installations
  • Clients don’t have to maintain and upgrade the service software
  • Lesser time to benefit from app development
  • Multiple open resources due to the lack of maintenance and updates of the software

What Does It Offer?

Take a look at the characteristics of SaaS:

  • Remote server hosting
  • Clients can access over the internet
  • A central location management
  • Clients don’t have to spend time making software or hardware updates

Understanding PaaS

PaaS is useful for many applications. It stands for Platform as a Service and offers various cloud application components for numerous software. It mainly offers a framework to developers that they can use to create useful applications and update the existing ones. The role of developers when using this mode of cloud computing services is to manage their applications. Meanwhile, the third-party vendors and enterprises will take care of the storage, networking, and server issues.

There are multiple advantages of PaaS for developers and other clients.

  • Scalability and availability
  • Application development without the need to maintain the software
  • Business policy automation features
  • Cost-effective application development resources
  • Convenient hybrid model migration

What Does It Offer?

Here are some of the main characteristics of PaaS cloud services:

  • Higher scalability due to the use of virtualization technology
  • Database and web service integration
  • A wide range of services for testing, deployment, and development of applications
  • Using the same application, multiple users can access the services

So, keep in mind that every cloud model offers varying functionalities, benefits, characteristics, uses, and more. You have to take your organization and its objectives into account to find the one that suits your needs. More importantly, learn the differences between each cloud model carefully to make a sound decision. Whatever your choice is, cloud-based computing resources and applications are becoming the future of business activities.