Development • Project management • Scriptcase IaaS, PaaS and SaaS: understanding Cloud Computing types.

Cloud Computing is a factor that has been responsible for causing several important transformations in the digital sphere which increasingly gives recognition to its value. Despite being a well-known subject in the routine of many, it continues to have a multitude of topics and sub-topics that are essential to understand.

I believe that the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Cloud Computing are the famous acronyms IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. Although it is usual they are still sources of several doubts in both technology professionals and for people who are not used to the universe of IT.

It was ponding exactly on these doubts that we decided to write about this topic, so that together we can objectively reflect on the applications of Cloud Computing, their models and main queries related to them.

Conceptually speaking, Cloud Computing is a technology that allows the use of IT resources that are stored and available in remote services. To bring this concept closer to reality, we must understand some of its applications.

Cloud Computing Applications:

• Virtual Servers

You can invest in server on the cloud instead of having to buy physical servers.

• Software

Leaving a little of the limitation of having a license for a certain software and using it on a specific workstation, in the cloud it is totally possible to pay only for the service offered at the same time that you can access it on any computer.

• Storage

Basically, it is the possibility of having files and data stored in the cloud which can be accessible from any device that is connected to the internet.

Software Development

Here we arrive at an important moment and specifically in the purpose of this post, we are going to understand how and why software development services are divided into 3 different categories: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.

• IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service 

With this model the company proposes to hire a certain hardware capacity corresponding to memory, processing, etc. Everything is provided by a data center with virtual servers, and the customer is responsible for paying only for what he needs to use.

If we stop to reflect on this service logic, the important advantage is the scalability of costs, so the user can adjust his needs according to his demands.

Therefore, it is highly recommended for those emerging companies who do not have their own infrastructure capable of keeping up with the demands, as well as for those that have volatile needs.

• PaaS — Platform as a Service

PaaS is a solution for companies that need a platform that provides a specific service that the contracted solution does not offer. As its name suggests, it creates hosts and takes care of applications.

In this specific cloud model, a complete development environment is hired to work within the cloud infrastructure, so the entire team has a whole structure without the need of large investments for it.

An advantage worth to point out is that the team can direct its efforts into the activities that are really necessary, since maintenance and management of the software is properly under the responsibility of the technology provider.

• SaaS — Software as a Service

Finally, SaaS is a model that everyone knows even if you think that you don’t. I follow this because many companies work in this model, companies like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, OneDrive, Google Docs, among others. In it, the customer can have access to a certain technology without actually having purchased a license, simply through cloud computing, usually with certain limitations of functionality.

However, there are also companies that offer payment plans with fees that can be fixed or not, including many ERP’s working in the SaaS system.

Among the various elements that make this model interesting, one that I highlight is the practicality of use, considering that processes such as the purchase and implementation are eliminated.

It is widely used by small businesses that cannot target large investments for their software purchases, as well as for those jobs that are for a short-time.

Another point worth mentioning is that IaaS and PaaS are also subdivided into three other categories of the cloud: public (where everything is available on the web and is shared with several users in a standardized way), private (has practically the same functionalities as the public, but within a private company) and hybrid (as the name already suggests, here it represents the junction of the two previous types, it means that it is possible to share data and applications between this two kind of clouds).

Well, in the end cloud computing offers several considerable advantages for both the technology area in general and for the competitiveness factor of companies. In addition to choosing it, the client can see a clear reduction in costs, practicality and ease the activities carried out by the team, constant safely updates, among several other advantages.

What about you? Do you already use any of these cloud services? How has your experience been? What positive and negative points would you highlight? Please share with us in the comments! 🙂

Read too: Cloud Computing and its trends for 2020