If you have done any research on cloud hosting services at all, you’ve probably seen a lot of weird abbreviations floating around — like IaaS, SaaS and PaaS. But what do all those things stand for, and how do these different things affect the cloud solutions you ultimately purchase>?
Luckily, understanding these abbreviations and the differences between them is easier than you may think.
Here’s the only guide you’ll ever need to understand the differences between IaaS, SaaS and PaaS cloud computing solutions:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Infrastructure as a Service is essentially the cloud solutions provider-owned server that is stored remotely and paid for by a company. It allows the company to benefit from server space without the costs of running a server onsite, and often offers heightened security advantages.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software as a Service is probably the most common type of cloud computing, and is used to power a number of services and applications you are likely familiar with. Netflix, along with Google apps like GMail and another of other similar applications, are driven by Software as a Service that allows the end user to access the software from any computer without needing to download any software.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Platform as a Service is somewhat of a hybrid of SaaS and IaaS. A Platform as a Service cloud solution features both a virtual cloud server and an operating system, allowing companies to completely self-manage their cloud operations at every level. Many companies prefer this self-managing style of operating on the cloud.
Which cloud computing option has worked best for your company? Or do you want to learn more about all the different cloud solutions available? Share with us and feel free to ask any questions about cloud computing solutions by leaving a comment below! References.
