SaaS, PaaS or IaaS? (2024)

FAQs

How do I choose between IaaS PaaS and SaaS? ›

IaaS provides you the most freedom of control as it lets you manage your applications, data, middleware, and operating system. On the other hand, PaaS allows you to manage your data and applications only, and with SaaS, everything is managed by your service provider.

The most distinct difference between IaaS and PaaS is that IaaS offers administrators more direct control over operating systems, and PaaS offers users greater flexibility and ease of operation. IaaS builds the infrastructure of cloud-based technology.

These services fall into three categories: IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). Each term refers to a resource made available to users as an on-demand model. This means users do not need to invest heavily in infrastructure to host and use their services.

Netflix is considered a SaaS by many people because it lives in the cloud, is delivered through the browser, and has a paid subscription model. However, the service Netflix provides is content and not software. It is more of a "Movies-as-a-Service" than a SaaS.

Microsoft 365, (formerly Office 365) on the other hand, is a Software as a Service (SaaS). It provides users access to office productivity apps for email, collaboration, communication, file storage, and more that they can either install on their desktops or access on a web browser.

Advantages of IaaS

Other advantages may include the following: Pay for What You Use: Fees are computed via usage-based metrics. Reduce Capital Expenditures: IaaS is typically a monthly operational expense. Dynamically Scale: Rapidly add capacity in peak times and scale down as needed.

Challenges may include the following: Vendor Dependency: Very dependent upon the vendor's capabilities. Risk of Lock-In: Customers may get locked into a language, interface or program they no longer need. Compatibility: Difficulties may arise if PaaS is used in conjunction with existing development platforms.

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is a comprehensive, evolving cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. It includes a mixture of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and packaged software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings.

What is an SaaS example? ›

SaaS uses the Internet to deliver subscription software services, which are managed by a third-party vendor. Well-known SaaS examples include Dropbox, Google Workspace, and Salesforce.

Platform as a service (PaaS) is a cloud computing platform where a third party offers the necessary software and hardware resources. These offerings enable clients to develop, run, and manage business applications without maintaining the infrastructure required for such software development processes.

IaaS clients can still access their servers and storage directly, but it is all outsourced through a “virtual data center” in the cloud. As opposed to SaaS or PaaS, IaaS clients are responsible for managing aspects such as applications, runtime, operating systems, middleware, and data.

PaaS security risks

It's a great solution, so it's one level up from IaaS. In this model, the user must secure user access, data and applications while securing both the OS and the infrastructure becomes the CSP's responsibility. In PaaS, security concerns boil down to data protection issues.

Some disadvantages of IaaS are. You're mostly responsible for being technologically secure. You have to ensure that your apps and operating systems are running properly. As you have most of its control, you must also configure most of it.

To compare features and services of IaaS providers, consider these factors: Range and Quality: Evaluate the compute, storage, and networking options. Compatibility: Ensure resources work with your current systems and tools. Scalability and Elasticity: Check if resources can scale with your demands.

What is the key difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS? Iaas provides virtualized computing resources. Pass provides a platform for developers to build and deploy applications. SaaS provides access to software applications over the internet.