Cloud

What is IaaS? Infrastructure-as-a-service explained


Cloud computing isn’t one monolithic type of offering, but an assortment of services aimed at meeting the various IT needs of an organization.

One such service provided via the cloud is infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), which delivers virtualized computing resources to organizations typically via the internet. IaaS is one of main types of cloud services, along with software-as-a-service (SaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS).

In the IaaS model, third-party service providers host hardware equipment, operating systems and other software, servers, storage systems, and various other IT components for customers in a highly automated delivery model. In some cases, IaaS providers also handle tasks such as ongoing systems maintenance, data backup, and business continuity.

Organizations that use IaaS can self-provision the infrastructure services and pay for them on a per-use basis. Fees are typically paid by the hour, week, or month, depending on the service contract. In some cases, providers charge clients for infrastructure services based on the amount of virtual machine (VM) capacity they’re using over a period of time.

IaaS vs. PaaS vs. SaaS

Similar to other cloud computing services, IaaS provides access to IT resources in a virtualized environment, across a public connection that’s typically the internet. But with IaaS, you are provided access to virtualized components so that you can create your own IT platforms on it—rather than in your own data center.

IaaS is not to be confused with PaaS, a cloud-based offering in which service providers deliver platforms to clients that allow them to develop, run, and manage business applications without the need to build and maintain the infrastructure such software development processes typically require.



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