There are a variety of services offered via cloud computing. Cloud computing will undoubtedly benefit your organization in many ways. However, you must choose the right service level for you in the cloud if you wish to maintain maximum efficiency. Cloud computing can be used to build and manage your IT infrastructure at different service levels.

A cloud computing service can be classified into four types. There are four types of cloud computing services : Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Desktop as a Service (DaaS). Many businesses have moved away from on-premise IT solutions to software, infrastructure, and platforms. How do those service models work in practice, and what are the differences? Understanding IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS will help create your ideal cloud computing environment. We will also examine the benefits and disadvantages of as-a-service options. This article helps you in picking the right choice by analyzing IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS.

Detailed View of IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS

Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS)

IaaS offers computing, storage, and networking resources on-demand. Payment is usually made on a per-use basis. Businesses can purchase on-demand resources rather than buy the hardware outright. You can access servers, disks, networks, and IP addresses in a virtualized environment. Your responsibility is still to manage the operating system, data, applications, middleware, and runtimes. A dashboard or an API provides control over the entire infrastructure.

You can scale up or down your computing needs according to your needs with IaaS. You can migrate your on-premises application to the cloud using IaaS. During the cloud migration, you will only have to make a few changes. Due to its speed of deployment, IaaS is a reliable method for setting up and removing development environments quickly. Many companies provide IaaS services, including Rackspace, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Compute Engine (GCE), and Joyent.

IaaS Examples

Advantages of IaaS 

Physical hardware can be expensive and labor-intensive to maintain on-premise IT infrastructure. Maintaining the hardware and keeping it up-to-date will likely require external IT contractors.

When you use IaaS, you can purchase what you need based on your business needs. With IaaS, you can replace your initial investment anytime without losing any money. Taking control of your infrastructure is another advantage of IaaS. As a result, IaaS products can be accessed by you without the need for a contractor.

Disadvantages of IaaS

  • Since the service provider controls the infrastructure, outages in that infrastructure can affect the clients.
  • Cloud service providers’ infrastructure is not completely visible to IaaS customers, making troubleshooting more difficult.
  • It can incur much higher costs than expected if peak usage is high.
  • Instance sprawl can occur if administrators fail to remove instances created due to their ease of creation.
  • Multiple clients may use shared infrastructure, increasing security risks for industries with strict regulations.

When To Use IaaS?

The benefits of IaaS extend to businesses of all sizes and shapes. With this solution, you can manage your infrastructure completely on an as-a-go basis, making it suitable for most budgets. A majority of IaaS platforms provide ongoing support as well as scalability. As a result, IaaS can help your business remain competitive in the future.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) 

PaaS enables the development and deployment of applications. Cloud-based development stacks (such as AWS Beanstalk and Google App Engine) are available online and do not require installation or download.

As a result of PaaS, developers need not worry about updates and operating systems. Platforms come with hardware and software components, including runtime libraries, application tools, email servers, and HTTP servers. In this way, programmers can create, run, and manage their applications without building or maintaining the infrastructure.

PaaS applications make use of cloud capabilities to be highly scalable and available. Services include AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Engine Yard, Red Hat OpenShift, Heroku, Appfog, Azure App Service, and Google App Engine. You may benefit from PaaS when you deploy applications quickly or where workflows need to be streamlined between developers.

PaaS Examples

  • Google App Engine
  • Red Hat Openshift
  • Heroku
  • Apprenda

Advantages of PaaS

  • PaaS mainly caters to and offers services to software developers.
  • With a PaaS solution, developers can easily develop unique, scalable applications without writing extensive code from scratch. Businesses seeking to create unique applications at a cost-effective rate can use PaaS. 
  • It is possible to collaborate with other developers to develop one app.
  • A developer can easily update and customize apps without worrying about software maintenance.
  • PaaS platforms offer great flexibility and scalability when the app grows in adoption and usage.

Drawbacks of PaaS

  • Apps can only be controlled by their code and not their infrastructure. Firms in the small to medium size range should use it. 
  • As a result of the PaaS organization storing your data, your app’s users may be at risk for security breaches. 
  • PaaS terms of service may limit your customization options.
  • Whenever there is an outage at a PaaS vendor, customers must wait for it to be resolved.

When To Use PaaS?

A developer can create a unique application much more quickly and cost-effectively using PaaS.

In contrast to managing software updates or security patches, the PaaS allows developers to concentrate on creating apps rather than working on them. Consequently, they can spend more time and energy developing, testing, and deploying the application.

Software as a service (SaaS) 

Saas enables users to access the software through a web browser. Using SaaS software requires no knowledge of the software’s location, operating system, or language. You can access SaaS software from any device if you have internet access. The SaaS model eliminates the need for capital expenditures such as the purchase of servers and software. 

The service provider handles software maintenance, and a console dashboard or API is all you need to access the SaaS application. These services include Microsoft Office 365, Intuit, Salesforce CRM, ZoomInfo, Dropbox, and Google Apps. You don’t have to download these applications locally because they run on the cloud. In the early days of SaaS, webmail programs such as Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo were available. Using a SaaS solution allows you to concentrate on your core business. It is a service that can benefit those without the bandwidth or staff to install and update the software independently.

SaaS Examples

  • Hubspot
  • JIRA
  • Dropbox
  • Docusign
benefits_of_SaaS

Advantages of SaaS 

Using SaaS products is the most convenient way to set up and begin using them. 

  • The software doesn’t need to be managed or upgraded. SaaS subscriptions usually include this service or purchase.
  • Your local resources are not used, such as your physical server.
  • The process of finding and purchasing a SaaS product is extremely easy.
  • SaaS products do not require maintenance from your IT team.
  • Organizations that emphasize speed-to-market are most likely to use this method.
  • A multi-tenant environment makes these products easy to use and provides cost savings.

Disadvantages of SaaS

  • Customization is limited, and updates are out of control.
  • Data may need to be stored in specific locations due to regulatory requirements. If the provider cannot guarantee this, you shouldn’t choose SaaS.
  • An agreement with a SaaS provider that locks in the service.
  • Some SaaS tools may be incompatible with your existing tools.
  • It is impossible to patch an integration yourself since providers typically do integrations.

When To Use SaaS?

Platforms that provide SaaS services are ideal for applications where you want minimal involvement and maximum efficiency. Let’s take your email server as an example. To send and receive emails without worrying about updating your email settings. How would you feel if your email server crashed because you forgot to update it? Unfortunately, market conditions today make that impossible.

You have a minimal chance of something going wrong if you use SaaS applications for your email. However, in that case, your SaaS provider would be responsible for finding a solution. You are not only paying for SaaS products/applications but also for peace of mind.

IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS Explained 

IaaS vs PaaS

Infrastructure-as-a-Service lets you control your operating systems from a central location. A cloud computing environment relies on it as its foundation. With Platform-as-a-Service, you don’t need to host apps on-premise, but you lose a little control in the process.

It would help if you chose the service model based on your enterprise needs. For instance, IaaS solutions like Amazon Web Services can host websites and their applications. When it comes to adding custom functionality, a platform as a service such as Google App Engine allows developers to build custom applications.

 SaaS vs PaaS

Platform-as-a-Service helps you develop new products based on existing networks. Nevertheless, Software-as-a-Service moves a step further. The vendor manages all aspects of the SaaS product, and your team can use it immediately.

What are the advantages of a PaaS product over a SaaS product? When you want to develop a payroll app specifically for your HR needs, Platform-as-a-Service provides you with all the tools you’ll need. You can consider your product a SaaS once it is complete. A payroll app like Quickbooks is a better choice if you prefer easy-to-use features out of the box.

IaaS vs SaaS

With a SaaS, you receive the best software management and maintenance services from a third party. With IaaS, the provider only manages the core components, like servers and storage.

Choosing the right model for your business heavily depends on your goals. Cloud computing is an excellent option if you require maximum control over your data without compromising its functionality or security, so IaaS is your best choice. On the other hand, SaaS solutions are more suitable for small businesses that don’t require much flexibility.

Conclusion

Thus hosting custom-built apps and providing general data storage is what IaaS offers you when it comes to maximum flexibility. SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS have become increasingly popular in recent years, reducing the need to host on-premises. As technology and business merge, organizations looking for innovation must migrate to the cloud. Compared to on-premise hosting, cloud hosting offers a more significant number of options, flexibility, and freedom and this IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS article helps to find out which suitable for your Business.