Often referred to as a stack or spectrum of a broad range of services put up on one another, cloud computing is of great value to virtually all types of businesses and industries. However, since its collection of services is really huge, organizations need to identify all of them and embrace components they need the most.
The three major types of cloud computing solutions are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Although each has its own significance, your choice of the best option may vary depending upon what products or services you’re dealing in.
Here is how they all function:
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS is the basic and most important form of cloud services that represents the largest portion of the cloud market. It uses the web to distribute applications that are hosted and run by third-party vendors. However, there are no third-party resources or developments for end users to deal with.
As a client, you can run SaaS applications directly via a web browser without having to download or install anything. You may require some small plugins in some cases though. Google Docs is the best example of SaaS.
Characteristics of SaaS
- Access to commercial software on the web
- Centralized software management
- One-to-Many software delivery model
- Managed software upgrades and integration of different software parts with help of APIs
Platform as a Service(PaaS)
The second important segment of the cloud, PaaS is majorly used for application development. It allows developers to use proprietary Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to build applications that can be run within a specific environment.
PaaS is without doubt the best and easiest way to make application development and deployment cost-effective.
PaaS Characteristics
- Develop, test and deploy software and applications
- Multi-tenant design that allows users to employ the same development application
- Built-in scalability for load balancing and failover
- Web-based tools for the creation, modification and flawless deployment of User Interfaces
- Enables collaboration of development teams with help of communication tools and project planning solutions
- Tools for hassle-free handling of subscription management and billing
Infrastructure as a Service(IaaS)
IaaS is the last and most fundamental segment of cloud computing services. It is the most inclusive cloud platform mainly used by big enterprise customers and professional developers. IaaS provides you with infrastructure for smooth development, testing and utilization of application within the cloud environment.
Google Computer Engine (GCE) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are the best examples.
Characteristics of IaaS
- Distribution of resources as a service
- Designed for dynamic scaling
- Utility pricing model and variable costs,
- Allows multiple users to work on a single set of hardware
