Understanding the Difference: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS

Cloud computing has become a significant factor for business developers and workers because it provides tools and web applications to store information on external servers. Nowadays, many Cloud computing providers exist, such as Google Apps, Zoho, Microsoft, and Amazon. These providers offer three important services: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a service) offers an infrastructure of resources, usually as a Virtual machine. PaaS (Platform as a Service) provides an environment aligned to software application development, testing, and deployment. SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) offers a set of applications that install and run over the Internet. Let’s compare them one by one to understand their benefits better:

SaaS (Software-as-a-Service):

SaaS is the most important and basic form of cloud computing. It follows a multitenant architecture in which all users share a common infrastructure.  Examples of SaaS providers include Zoho, AtTask Inc., NetSuite, Bloomfire Inc., Smartsheet, SalesForce, and Google Apps.

• It eliminates the need to install and run the application separately on the customer’s PC, enabling access to these applications through various networks.
• SaaS application development offers very limited customization. Users may have slight access to changing the application’s interface, and the cloud service provider is responsible for customizing the SaaS application that the end-users use.
• It offers automated services; users just need devices to make them accessible.
• SaaS development services are highly scalable, elastic, and cost-effective. The end user can easily scale up or down the SaaS development services, limiting them according to their requirements.
• It is comparatively cheaper, as many clients can retrieve the same application through the browser, so there is no need to spend more on the server or software licensing.
• The user is not required to arrange the data systematically or own the resources. Service providers can select the location freely according to their requirements and expenses.
• It requires zero installation of the SaaS software and hardware structures and can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
• It is usually billed based on usage and is a multitenant environment.
• It does not require client installation; it only requires a browser, device, and network connectivity.
• SaaS offers already-created applications running on cloud infrastructure, such as Web-based email, and alternatives to typical office applications.

PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service):

PaaS is a cloud-based application development platform that developers and deployers use. It is a software layer that serves as a service and base to create higher-level services. The platform is one of the basic needs and demands of any developer.

• It has a highly scalable multitier architecture, e.g., Azure and Salesforce.com.
• IaaS only hosts completed cloud applications, whereas PaaS offers a development platform for completed and in-progress cloud applications.
• PaaS offers an environment where developers can create and deploy applications without necessarily knowing how much memory and processors their applications will need.
• The PaaS model offers a higher level of abstraction. The consumer can create software using tools and or libraries from the provider.
• It also allows the consumer to control software deployment and configuration settings.
• PaaS reduces the cost and complexity of application deployment by eliminating the necessity of buying and managing the underlying hardware and software.
• PaaS uses paid services for per-user clients.
• It allows developers to use the platform on demand and on a pay-per-use basis.

IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service):

IaaS is a comprehensive platform that large-scale enterprise customers use to get access to infrastructure components (storage, firewall, network, etc.). Its providers include Amazon E2C, Flexiscale, GoGrid, Joyent, Rackspace, and Arsys.

• It offers a service to get a virtual server in a few minutes and pay only for the resources they use.
• It allows accessibility of infrastructure using Internet technology consisting of servers, storage, and other peripherals devices.
• IaaS, as a service provider, offers a virtual server containing one or more choices of operating systems.
• It is a standardized offering that allows the service provider to own the computing resources on demand.
• Customers can set up and manage their infrastructure independently, which provides an IT operations management console for the system.
• IaaS provides developers with infrastructure like unlimited storage and computing power without requiring any physical hardware on-site.
• It is the base layer for cloud computing, which deals with several resources on demand.
• It allows the management of computing resources, such as storage, processing capacity, and running applications.

Conclusion:

Understanding the differences between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS is crucial for businesses these days to compete with the ever-changing market demands. Each service serves a unique purpose: SaaS simplifies software access, PaaS refines development, and IaaS provides fundamental infrastructure. By understanding them specifically, one can make informed decisions and fully harness the power of the Internet.

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