Cloud computing is the
umbrella term for various information technology related service which are
provided on demand using consumption model.
The most
common Cloud computing models are
SaaS:
Software as a Service
PaaS:
Platform as a Service
IaaS:
Infrastructure as a Service
Each of
these models has its own intricacies and hybrid cloud models also exists, but
today I am going to help you develop an understanding of the high-level
differences between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.
SaaS: Software as a Service
Email
systems like Gmail and Web based Cloud hosted apps like Workday, Salesforce or
Concur are examples of SaaS. Basically,
anything that is considered as on-demand software which you can run without elaborate
installation or setup is SaaS. In some ways, SaaS is like the well-known
thin-client software model. In thin-client model, software sits in the server
and web browser is used to access the software in the server. In case of SaaS the
software sits in Cloud and accessed via internet/internet using browser or another
interface.
While most SaaS can be run without any installation, some require installation of plugin or interface.
SaaS Examples:
Gmail, Quickbooks online, Salesforce, Dropbox, Google Apps, Salesforce
etc.
PaaS: Platform as a Service
PaaS functions at deeper level than SaaS and provides a
platform on which software can be developed and deployed. PaaS providers enable
the developers by providing a framework in which they can build or customize
applications.
PaaS makes the development, testing and deployment of applications quick, simple and cost-effective.
PaaS
Examples: Google App Engine, Red Hat’s Openshift, Apprenda etc.
IaaS : Infrastructure as a service
As we move
down the stack as per the below image we see IaaS, Infrastructure as a Service.
These are the fundamental building blocks of the cloud services.
IaaS contains
highly automated and scalable computer resources which are coupled with cloud services
and network capability. These resources can be self-provisioned, metered and
are available on demand for the users.
Instead of buying hardware outright, users can buy IaaS based on consumption, like electricity, gas or other utilities.
IaaS
Examples: Amazon
Web Services (AWS), Cisco Metapod, Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine (GCE)
etc.
The right
model to choose:
Choosing the
right model depends on the requirement. In case of SaaS there is nothing to
setup, users simply access the software / application hosted in the cloud. Also,
you have no or very less control over cloud infrastructure. On the other hand,
with PaaS, user needs to do some configuration or setup on the provided
platform. PaaS provides a little more
control in the predefined environment such as .NET or SQL server. Or the maximum control over the server
resources and other basic building blocks of the application development and
hosting IaaS is the right fit.
However, with more control in IaaS, users also need to take more responsibility.They must take care of major responsibilities such as patching the server as and when needed.
While one
may be able to setup applications via SaaS without any IT or software
consultant support, it is often dangerous as many fails to implement the
security and other critical aspects of the application. It is vital to work
with the right consultant who can help with proper model and configurations per
the needs. Thanks for stopping by and Have a great day!
Srivatsan Aravamudan
| General Enquiries | : | info@psibertech.com.sg |
| Sales Enquiries | : | sales@psibertech.com.sg |
| Telephone | : | +65 62689551 |
| Fax | : | +65 62689858 |
Business Analyst - Snr Software Consultant.
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