Which of the following service models the hardware is virtualized in the cloud Naas PaaS CAAS IaaS?

By 2025, Gartner predicts that cloud-native platforms will serve as the foundation for more than 95% of new digital workloads, up from less than 30% in 2021.1

One of the greatest benefits of cloud computing is automation. Companies are eager to adopt the cloud to remove layers of management. You won’t be responsible for the physical data centers, operating systems, and hardware.

By removing these layers, your organization can cut costs and minimize the time spent on mundane IT tasks. Instead of maintaining hardware, you can focus on innovation and scale your applications on demand. More enterprises are turning to cloud to reinvent their applications and take advantage of new deployment strategies.

But cloud may mean something different to your enterprise compared to the enterprise down the street. Deploying the right model or hybrid model for your needs is key.

What are the three common cloud service models?

There is confusion about the three main categories of cloud service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Let’s define each cloud service model.

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a self-service model for managing remote data center infrastructures. IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the Internet hosted by a third party such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google.

Instead of an organization purchasing hardware, companies purchase IaaS based on a consumption model. It is like buying electricity. You only pay for what you use. This model enables companies to add, delete or reconfigure IT infrastructure on-demand.

Many IT organizations rely on IaaS because they are more familiar with IaaS, especially if they have years of experience with virtual environments or strict security and regulatory requirements that can only be met through IaaS.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Platform as a Service (PaaS) allows organizations to build, run and manage applications without the IT infrastructure. This makes it easier and faster to develop, test and deploy applications.

Developers can focus on writing code and create applications without worrying about time-consuming IT infrastructure activities such as provisioning servers, storage, and backup.

PaaS brings more value to cloud. It can reduce your management overhead and lower your costs. PaaS also makes it easier for you to innovate and scale your services on demand.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a service (SaaS) replaces the traditional on-device software with software that is licensed on a subscription basis. It is centrally hosted in the cloud. A good example is Salesforce.com.

Most SaaS applications can be accessed directly from a web browser without any downloads or installations required. However, some SaaS applications require plugins.

Find the right model for the right business outcome

A successful move to cloud isn’t about IaaS vs. PaaS vs. SaaS. The trick for any organization is knowing which model to choose based on what it needs to accomplish. In many situations, it is likely to use all three models to cover various business needs and perhaps a few of the other service models listed below.

Other cloud service models you may want to consider:

• Network as a service (NaaS)
• Backup as a service (BaaS)
• Database as a service (DBaaS)
• Communications as a service (CAAS)
• Storage as a service (STaaS)

Working with a trusted solutions advisor can help you assess your organizations need and develop the right hybrid cloud solution. With a solid strategy, cloud foundation and governance plan, you can achieve more value from cloud.

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Iaas is also known as Hardware as a Service (HaaS). It is one of the layers of the cloud computing platform. It allows customers to outsource their IT infrastructures such as servers, networking, processing, storage, virtual machines, and other resources. Customers access these resources on the Internet using a pay-as-per use model.

In traditional hosting services, IT infrastructure was rented out for a specific period of time, with pre-determined hardware configuration. The client paid for the configuration and time, regardless of the actual use. With the help of the IaaS cloud computing platform layer, clients can dynamically scale the configuration to meet changing requirements and are billed only for the services actually used.

IaaS cloud computing platform layer eliminates the need for every organization to maintain the IT infrastructure.

IaaS is offered in three models: public, private, and hybrid cloud. The private cloud implies that the infrastructure resides at the customer-premise. In the case of public cloud, it is located at the cloud computing platform vendor's data center, and the hybrid cloud is a combination of the two in which the customer selects the best of both public cloud or private cloud.

IaaS provider provides the following services -

1. Compute: Computing as a Service includes virtual central processing units and virtual main memory for the Vms that is provisioned to the end- users.
2. Storage: IaaS provider provides back-end storage for storing files.
3. Network: Network as a Service (NaaS) provides networking components such as routers, switches, and bridges for the Vms.
4. Load balancers: It provides load balancing capability at the infrastructure layer.

Advantages of IaaS cloud computing layer

There are the following advantages of IaaS computing layer -

1. Shared infrastructure

IaaS allows multiple users to share the same physical infrastructure.

2. Web access to the resources

Iaas allows IT users to access resources over the internet.

3. Pay-as-per-use model

IaaS providers provide services based on the pay-as-per-use basis. The users are required to pay for what they have used.

4. Focus on the core business

IaaS providers focus on the organization's core business rather than on IT infrastructure.

5. On-demand scalability

On-demand scalability is one of the biggest advantages of IaaS. Using IaaS, users do not worry about to upgrade software and troubleshoot the issues related to hardware components.

Disadvantages of IaaS cloud computing layer

1. Security

Security is one of the biggest issues in IaaS. Most of the IaaS providers are not able to provide 100% security.

2. Maintenance & Upgrade

Although IaaS service providers maintain the software, but they do not upgrade the software for some organizations.

3. Interoperability issues

It is difficult to migrate VM from one IaaS provider to the other, so the customers might face problem related to vendor lock-in.

Some important point about IaaS cloud computing layer

IaaS cloud computing platform cannot replace the traditional hosting method, but it provides more than that, and each resource which are used are predictable as per the usage.

IaaS cloud computing platform may not eliminate the need for an in-house IT department. It will be needed to monitor or control the IaaS setup. IT salary expenditure might not reduce significantly, but other IT expenses can be reduced.

Breakdowns at the IaaS cloud computing platform vendor's can bring your business to the halt stage. Assess the IaaS cloud computing platform vendor's stability and finances. Make sure that SLAs (i.e., Service Level Agreement) provide backups for data, hardware, network, and application failures. Image portability and third-party support is a plus point.

The IaaS cloud computing platform vendor can get access to your sensitive data. So, engage with credible companies or organizations. Study their security policies and precautions.

Top Iaas Providers who are providing IaaS cloud computing platform

Next TopicPlatform as a Service

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