How To Choose The Right Cloud Service
Cloud computing is all the rage now with tech titans like Microsoft and Google advocating for the technology. So it’s no wonder that an increasing number of companies prefer outsourcing their storage to cloud providers.
Cloud computing is all the rage now, with tech titans like Microsoft and Google advocating for the technology. So it’s no wonder that an increasing number of companies prefer outsourcing their storage to cloud providers. One provider that businesses can consider is Verticomm, a provider of cloud computing and managed IT services that offers a range of cloud solutions.
- By 2022, the market is expected to reach an estimated $397 billion.
- Cloud infrastructure comprised around 3% of overall IT infrastructure in 2019.
- This year, the IP traffic in Cloud services is projected to hit up to 19.5 zettabytes.
However, with the proliferation of cloud technologies, business owners often struggle to understand the variety of “as a service” offers. This article aims at solving the dilemma of iaas vs paas and also unravels other popular cloud models.
What Is SaaS?
SaaS or Software as a Service is a cloud technology that allows you to use software online without installing it on your computer. Thus, the product is hosted completely by a service provider. We can compare it with a rental house.
You get a furnished apartment with other comforts for any length of time. You live there, while the owner shoulders the maintenance and repairs.
The SaaS Approach: Advantages
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SaaS augurs flexibility, easy access, and affordability, hence companies can avail of complicated software and tech components at affordable costs. That is why Software-as-a-Service use cases include a gamut of essential business tools like Hubspot and Hubspot. Let’s go over the benefits of SaaS at a more granular level.
- Cost-effectiveness. Subscribing to the software costs much less than investing in hardware.
- Low risk of data loss. In SaaS, data is saved immediately as it is entered.
- Accessibility. You can use the cloud via an internet browser 24/7 from any device.
- Regular updates. Cloud products are constantly updated by a team of specialists with no effort on the part of users.
- Reduced load on the user’s gadgets and equipment. There is no need to use memory or powerful hardware to install zillion programs.
- Analytics. You can get valuable insights from data reporting and intelligence tools
SaaS Use Cases
The Software as a Service model has become so widespread today that you must be bumping into it every single day.
Tech gurus, CIOs, and business users from SMEs to enterprises take advantage of the SaaS applications to support must-have technology setups such as:
- Text, graphic, and video editors (GoogleDocs, Figma, Adobe);
- Social networks (Facebook, Linkedin).
- Video and audio hosting sites (YouTube).
- CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce).
- E-commerce systems (BigCommerce, Shopify).
- Enterprise management systems (1C: ERP, SAP Business One).
The PaaS Cloud Model
PaaS or Platform as a Service operates on a shared hosting basis. Cloud providers usually offer a system for managing any kind of application. In the meantime, the provider handles the operating system.
Under this model, you receive a base for your specific needs. Since you don’t have to manage the operating system or hardware, the PaaS solution comes complete with all the functional elements as well.
PaaS boasts a rapid time to market since it allows companies to build applications more quickly. In this case, developers get access to an all-inclusive software development environment with sample code and pre-made components.
PaaS is more cost-friendly than supporting an internal development platform. Besides, you don’t have to pay during downtime. It also allows for dynamic scalability as it lets users add capacity in peak times and scale down on demand.
Examples of Platform as a Service
Google App Engine is the most popular example in this category. This is a fully managed, serverless platform that allows app developers to power scalable web and mobile back-ends in any programming language. Google App Engine offers a full suite of services and ensures an improved time to market. On top of it, it is compatible with a large and diverse set of APIs.
Behind The IaaS Cloud Model
IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service and offers essential compute, storage, and networking resources. Customers can choose among data storage, virtual server, operating system, and some other resources. IaaS is particularly popular among those who don’t want or have the capacity to support on-premise data centers.
Buying their own server hardware is also not needed, as the customer leases it from the IaaS provider and obtains it virtually through cloud servers. Therefore, the whole infrastructure is offered to users while being fully managed by the provider.
Today, the IaaS cloud service is considered to be the most universal, since:
- Fresh businesses and small-scale organizations leverage IaaS to drive down or eliminate costs linked with software and hardware.
- Mid- and big-scale companies take advantage of this cloud model to keep tabs on the infrastructure while maintaining their daily business activities.
One of the more well-known benefits of IaaS involves increased performance and easy scalability. With IaaS, you don’t have to cover onsite infrastructure setup expenditures. Instead, cloud-based services allow your company to quickly and easily expand data storage and networking access on demand. Among the most prominent examples of Infrastructure as a Service are Amazon EC2, Windows Azure, and Google Compute Engine.
What Is DBaaS?
Last but not least goes DBaaS or Databases as a Service. This model refers to a cloud-based approach to storing and managing structured data. This is one of the most in-demand technologies in the field of information resource management. The essence of the DBaaS concept is that the user does not need to install and maintain a database and physical hardware. In this case, it is enough to make a request and obtain a database.
Here’s how DBaaS operates:
- Based on the service, the DBaaS model can be in the form of a managed front-end SaaS service or a part of an IaaS stack.
- The database is installed and configured on the virtual machine.
- A database manager processes data within the database and grants access via an API.
- Users can enter the database system via an on-demand querying interface or a software system.
Within this type of service, the provider handles most of the additional tasks from periodic upgrades to backups. This allows the user to focus solely on using the service. In this sense, Databases as a service belong to the SaaS approach, but with a data-based twist.
The benefits of DBaaS differentiate it from other cloud-enabled services since its functionality is on par with conventional relational databases. Other advantages include:
- It’s a cost-effective option compared to on-site database maintenance.
- DBaaS is always reachable via a diverse, interactive dashboard.
- Outsourcing your database frees up your server space.
- DBaaS allows for on-demand scalability.
Examples of DBaaS
Examples of DBaaS include:
- Oracle Database
- Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS)
- Amazon DynamoDB
- Amazon Aurora
- MongoDB Atlas
- Microsoft Azure SQL
SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS: The Final Comparison
| Features | Examples | Use Cases | |
| SaaS (Software as a Service) | Delivers applications over the InternetHosted on a remote serverNo hardware or software to buyCommon infrastructure that is centrally maintained | AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Heroku,Magento Commerce Cloud. | Short-run projects that need rapid, cost-effective, and easy collaborationApplications that are used once in a while such as tax softwareSimultaneous web and mobile access |
| PaaS (Platform as a Service) | Simplifies web application developmentComplete development and deployment environment in the cloudCan be accessed over any internet connectionIncludes development tools, middleware, operating systems, database management, and infrastructure | Windows Azure,Force.com,Google App Engine, OpenShift. | When a team of developers is working on a project to streamline the development processWhen you need to build a bespoke solutionWhen you need a cost-friendly option to build an application |
| IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) | Provides essential compute, storage, and networking resourcesPay-as-you-go pricing modelUsers don’t need an on-premise datacenterCompanies have complete control over the infrastructure | RackspaceAmazon Web Services (AWS)Cisco Metacloud.Microsoft Azure. | When you’re getting the business off the ground to save costsWhen you need to stay in control of your products |
The Bottom Line
What cloud models can you leverage to amplify your business processes? And how do they differ?
- IaaS is the best option if we’re talking about flexibility and scalability when hosting custom-built apps. It can also be used as a central data center for data storage.
- PaaS enables you to concentrate your efforts on app development instead of infrastructure management. This cloud model is often a component of IaaS.
- SaaS offers ready-to-use, tailor-made software that targets your unique business needs. SaaS systems are typically paid within a subscription model.
- DBaaS allows you to operate and scale databases in the cloud instead of investing in a local RDBMS.
Companies can both avail of one cloud computing service model or face a demand for all of them. The choice comes down to the size and complexity of the niche.
