IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and XaaS are models of cloud services provided to the user for rent; the difference between them lies in the level of solved tasks.
As part of the IaaS model, the client receives the computing power of the cloud. Software solutions are built taking into account this infrastructure. PaaS is a model that provides cloud resources and a set of installed tools. The SaaS user receives a ready-made solution that remains only to be applied. Most likely, you have encountered SaaS services many times in your everyday life. These models somehow meet the definition of XaaS, that is, everything as a service.
What is SaaS?
SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) – the software as a service involves the client’s use of applications deployed on the provider’s platform. SaaS is a simple thing that you most likely use in your everyday life. Clients of the SaaS service model often become end users, for example, e-mail services, online cinemas, and cloud storage of small files. You can learn more about this from the messenger link: https://devoxsoftware.com/services/saas-development-company/. Social networks also operate on the SaaS model.
Corporate clients of SaaS providers use video conferencing programs, ERP and CRM systems, business process automation systems, project management and time management programs, e-mail services, etc. You will probably be familiar with many examples of SaaS solutions: Gmail, Jira, Bitrix, WordPress, Citrix, etc.
SaaS is an excellent choice if the service provided solves the tasks because all you have to do is apply ready-made solutions.
What is IaaS?
IaaS is a cloud computing model that includes all the basics: server infrastructure, communications, storage, etc. Instead of maintaining your own IT infrastructure, you rent the cloud, and the provider takes care of the maintenance.
What are the Advantages of IaaS:
- Savings of the budget due to the transfer of infrastructure expenses to the provider;
- Data is placed in the data center of the provider, where it is protected by security systems at the physical and software level;
- Easily scale as your company grows.
IaaS is the basis on which the company’s software solutions are built. The IaaS provider provides fewer services than the following models. Depending on the needs of the company, this can be a plus. If you have your strategy for developing IT solutions, this model will provide the greatest freedom for its implementation. Based on IaaS, both individual programs and all IT tools of the company are deployed – ERP systems, terminal servers, remote offices, databases, etc.
What is PaaS?
PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) is a service model in which the provider offers a platform for developing and deploying applications with established settings. For example, the platform can be a mail server, a database management system, a web server, a development and testing environment, a backup server, etc.
Advantages of PaaS solutions:
- The client does not need to invest in equipment and software – everything necessary is provided by the provider;
- Platform deployment flexibility: The development, testing, and deployment infrastructure is fully managed by the PaaS provider.
An important advantage of the PaaS model is a standardized toolkit for developers. For example, it can make the work of a team working on a single project much easier.
Examples of PaaS solutions: Google App Engine, VMWare Cloud Foundry, IBM Bluemix, etc.
PaaS provides less freedom than IaaS but, at the same time, eliminates the need to deal with tasks that have already been decided by the provider. The choice between IaaS and PaaS is a question of whether these solutions meet the needs of the business.
Which Service Model to Choose?
Choosing a model of cloud services is not a difficult task if you understand the capabilities and needs of the company.
IaaS is a solution for deploying systems and applications “from scratch,” so this solution will be interesting for corporate customers.
PaaS provides cloud resources and a set of development tools. A pre-configured platform is a convenient solution if the company needs to solve a specific task and the provider has all the necessary tools.
After all, SaaS is an off-the-shelf product that is developed, hosted, and maintained by a provider. Consumers of such solutions are private users and corporate clients. As part of the SaaS model, both messengers and CRM systems are provided.
Conclusion
Choosing a service model is a question of how well these add-ons solve the company’s tasks. If your task is already solved by the provider’s service package, choose SaaS. If the provider does not have a ready-made solution but the necessary tools are available, it is worth renting a PaaS. If a company needs bare computing power to deploy its solutions, IaaS is a good choice.
