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Cloud Computing Models Compared
The cloud services market owed its success from the flexibility of cloud computing. This flexibility allowed the distinctive types of cloud computing models to create. These benefit models rapidly assume different major parts in organizations nowadays. And their parts helped these organizations grow.
Due to this flexibility, cloud computing has grown into a billion-dollar industry. In 2018, Gartner estimated that the global public cloud services market grew up to $182.4 billion!
So, let us compare these different cloud computing models.
Types of Cloud Computing Models
There are three main types of cloud computing models: Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service. They are also simply referred to as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS respectively .
IaaS is the service model where infrastructure features are offered through the cloud. These infrastructure features include a data center, server and network. These are used to be exclusive in on-premise environments. But infrastructure in on-premise environments is expensive to build and maintain. Updates are also a hassle in on-premise infrastructures.
Cloud computing makes the infrastructure flexible and cheap to maintain in IaaS. This is because clients don’t have to bother with the maintenance of the infrastructure. Maintenance is now the job of the service provider. Amazon Web Services is one such example of IaaS.
In Platform as a Service or PaaS, the service provider gives tools for application development to clients. These tools are software delivered through the Internet. Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure are examples of PaaS cloud.
SaaS has the biggest market among cloud computing models. This is the service model where software is offered through the Internet. Google Apps or G Suite is one such example of SaaS. People who are familiar with MailChimp will also find this platform as an example of SaaS.
Things to Consider in Comparing Cloud Computing Models
Cloud computing models do not just differ in their definitions, they also differ in how much of their features are managed by the client and the service provider. These features in cloud computing models include applications, data, runtime, middleware, and virtualization. Servers, storage, and network are also features of these cloud computing models. An operating system is also included.
We will compare how much of these features are controlled by the service provider in each model. We will also see how much of the features from these cloud computing models is managed by clients. In on-premise platforms, these features are all managed by the client.
This comparison between cloud computing models is important. This is because these features define their type.
Cloud Computing Models Compared to IaaS
As with all cloud computing models, IaaS has its virtualization controlled by provider. Its server, storage, and network is also controlled by the service provider. The same goes with PaaS and SaaS.
But, IaaS also has features that differentiates from the other cloud computing models. For example, IaaS has its operating system controlled by the client. But, in PaaS and SaaS, the operating system is controlled by the provider.
Runtime and Middleware is also controlled by the client in IaaS. Whereas, in the other two cloud computing models, they are managed by the provider.
But, IaaS has a common denominator with PaaS. Both of their Applications and data are controlled by the client. These features are controlled by the provider in SaaS.
Cloud Computing Models Compared to PaaS
The PaaS cloud has four features it shares with the other two cloud computing models. Their virtualization, servers, storage, and networking are all controlled by the provider.
SaaS is the most identical to PaaS among the cloud computing models. They both had their runtime, middleware, and operating system managed by the provider.
But PaaS has its applications and data controlled by the client like in IaaS. Whereas, the provider manages these features in SaaS.
Cloud Computing Models Compared to Saas
SaaS is probably the most unique among cloud computing models. The other cloud computing models have their features divided between client and provider. But, the features of the SaaS model are all managed by the provider.
This makes the SaaS model the most perfect cloud among cloud computing models. Software as a Service model is the direct contrast of the on-premise platform.
In SaaS model, applications, data, runtime, and middleware are managed by the provider. Of course, the operating system and virtualization are up to the provider as well. Providers also manage the servers, storage, and networking.
As all these features are controlled by the provider, the client merely uses them.
With cloud computing models compared, see what model fits your business well. Do you want your business to control all the data? Then SaaS may not be for you.
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