Understanding the cloud computing stack: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaSLast updated on: 2020-04-01 Show
Authored by: Rackspace Support Cloud computing is a broad term that describes a wide range of services. As with other significant developments in technology, many vendors have seized the term cloud and are using it for products that are outside of the common definition. Because the cloud is a broad collection of services, organizations can choose where, when, and how they use cloud computing. This article explains the different types of cloud computing services commonly referred to as software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). It also provides some guidance on situations where particular flavors of cloud computing are (or aren’t) the best option for an organization. The cloud computing stackCloud computing, often described as a stack, has a broad range of services built on top of one another under the name cloud. The accepted definition of cloud computing comes from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The NIST definition runs to several hundred words but begins as follows:
This information means that end users can quickly acquire and use parts of bulk resources. NIST also describes several characteristics as essential to consider a service to be cloud:
To maximize the benefits of cloud computing, a solution must show these particular characteristics. In recent years, some traditional software vendors have marketed solutions as cloud computing that don’t fall within this definition, a practice known as cloud-washing. This article describes all three cloud computing services in detail. The following list is a simplified way of differentiating them:
Software as a serviceSoftware as a service (SaaS) is software deployed over the Internet. A provider licenses a SaaS app to customers as an on-demand service, either through a subscription or through a pay-as-you-go model. SaaS can be offered at no charge when there is an opportunity to generate revenue from streams other than the user, such as from advertisement. SaaS has become commonplace within most organizations, so it’s important that buyers and users of technology understand what SaaS is and where it’s suitable. Characteristics of SaaSFollowing are some defining characteristics of SaaS:
When to use SaaSCloud computing and SaaS, in particular, are rapidly growing methods of delivering technology. Organizations moving to the cloud need to consider which applications they need to move to SaaS. The following are solutions that are prime candidates for an initial move to SaaS:
The Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) product was the first SaaS product made available to the business world. As one of the earliest entrants, CRM remains the most popular SaaS app area, but email, financial management, customer service, and expense management have also become popular SaaS applications. When not to use SaaSAlthough SaaS is a valuable tool, it’s not the best option for software delivery in certain situations. The following are examples where SaaS might not be appropriate:
Platform as a servicePlatform as a service (PaaS) brings the benefits to the software development world that SaaS brought for applications. PaaS is defined as a computing platform that enables the quick and easy creation of web applications without the necessity of buying and maintaining the software and infrastructure underneath it. PaaS is similar to SaaS except that, rather than being software delivered over the web, it is a platform for the creation of software delivered over the web. Characteristics of PaaSFollowing are some basic characteristics of PaaS:
PaaS, while similar in many ways to infrastructure as a service (IaaS), is different from IaaS by the addition of value-added services and comes in two distinct flavors:
When to use PaaSPaaS is especially useful when multiple developers are working on a development project or when other external parties need to interact with the development process. PaaS is invaluable for those who have an existing data source and want to create applications that leverage that data. PaaS is also useful when developers want to automate testing and deployment services. The popularity of agile software development is increasing the adoption of PaaS because it eases the difficulties around rapid development and iteration of software. When not to use PaaSThe ability to automate processes, use predefined components and building blocks, and deploy automatically to production creates value that makes PaaS highly attractive. However, PaaS might not be ideal in the following situations:
A PaaS development environment enables quicker creation of apps. In some examples, in the absence of PaaS, the cost of developing the app would have been prohibitive. Infrastructure as a serviceInfrastructure as a service (IaaS) delivers cloud computing infrastructure—servers, storage, network, and operating systems as an on-demand service. Rather than purchasing servers, software, data-center space, or network equipment, clients instead buy those resources as a fully outsourced on-demand service. You can obtain IaaS as public or private infrastructure, or a combination of the two.
Characteristics of IaaSThe following core characteristics describe IaaS:
When to use IaaSThe following situations are particularly suitable for cloud infrastructure:
When not to use IaaSAlthough IaaS has advantages when scalability and quick provisioning are beneficial, the following is a situation in which its limitations might be problematic:
ConclusionCloud computing doesn’t describe a single thing. Instead, it’s a general term that describes a variety of services, from IaaS at the base, through PaaS as a development tool, to SaaS replacing on-premises applications. Understanding these differences is critical for an organization considering moving to the cloud to ensure the cost and performance align with organizational goals. Which is not true about SaaS application?SaaS software is not customizable.
Which of the following is a characteristic of the SaaS application Mcq?Which of the following is a SaaS characteristic? Explanation: There may be executable client-side code, but the user isn't responsible for maintaining that code or its interaction with the service.
What's the meaning of SaaS?What is SaaS (Software as a Service)? Software as a service (SaaS) is a cloud-based software delivery model in which the cloud provider develops and maintains cloud application software, provides automatic software updates, and makes software available to its customers via the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Which of the following is the correct full form of SaaS Mcq?Software as a service (or SaaS) is a way of delivering applications over the Internet—as a service.
|