Cloud computing service models
1. Cloud computing service models
The world of cloud computing has a diverse set of computing service models to choose from, depending on customer requirements. You might have heard of terms like IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. These terms represent the different cloud computing models provided “as a service” by cloud providers. “As a service” refers to the way IT resources are consumed in these models and is a key difference between cloud computing and traditional IT. In traditional IT, an organization consumes resources such as hardware, software, and development tools by purchasing, installing, managing, and maintaining them in its own on-premises or self-managed data center. Organizations are responsible for all of their IT infrastructure when it's completely on-premises. In cloud computing, the cloud service provider owns, manages, and maintains the resources. The customer consumes those resources, which are provided on a subscription or pay-as-you-go basis. All you need is an internet connection. Cloud computing allows a third party to be responsible for some part of the infrastructure. This means that organizations then have more time to focus on their core business. Coming up, we're going to explore three different cloud computing service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which offers infrastructure resources such as compute and storage; Platform as a Service (PaaS), which offers a develop-and-deploy environment to build cloud apps; and Software as a Service (SaaS), which delivers complete applications as services. Each model offers distinct features and functionalities, and knowing the differences between them helps organizations choose one to best fit their business needs. It’s important to remember that most organizations that use the cloud often use a combination of cloud computing models to solve different needs. You can visualize these cloud computing models in layers. As you move up the layers from one model to another, each model requires less knowledge and management of the underlying infrastructure. This concept is called abstraction. In cloud architecture, as the level of abstraction increases, less is known about the underlying implementation. The goal of “abstracting away” infrastructure is to reduce complexity by removing unnecessary information and simplifying operations. Think about abstraction in the way that you operate a car. When you turn on the ignition, press the brake, put the car into gear, and accelerate, you’re not thinking about how the engine is physically operating under the hood. That complexity is abstracted away from you, so you can focus on driving safely to your destination. Abstraction is one of the core features of cloud computing. When choosing between cloud computing service models, organizations must decide the level of control and management they’ll require, or how much they want to hide technical details and focus on business needs. Let’s use a transportation analogy to see how on-premises, IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS compare with each other. On-premises IT infrastructure is like owning a car. When you buy a car, you’re responsible for its usage and maintenance. Upgrading means buying a new car, which takes time and can be costly. IaaS is like leasing a car. When you lease a car, you choose a car and drive it wherever you want, but the car isn’t yours. Upgrading is easier, though, as you can just lease a new car. PaaS is like taking a taxi. You provide specific directions, like the code, but the driver does the actual driving. SaaS is like going by bus. You still get access to transport, but it's less customizable. Buses have designated routes, and you share the space with other passengers.2. Let's practice!
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