Knowledge Base

Cloud computing technologies have become an indispensable part of our lives. Within this technology, the concepts we often hear, IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, represent different service models. In this article, we will discuss in detail what each one is, its advantages, disadvantages, and when it should be used.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Definition: IaaS is the provision of basic computing infrastructure such as servers, storage, network structures, and virtualization as a service over the internet. Businesses can access the infrastructure resources they need without having to purchase or set up their own servers.

Examples:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2

• Microsoft Azure VM

• Google Compute Engine

• DigitalOcean Droplets

Advantages:

• High scalability

• Pay-as-you-go model

• No hardware management concerns

Disadvantages:

• Need for technical knowledge

• Configuration and maintenance responsibility lies with the user

Use Cases:

• Website hosting

• Data storage and backup

• Test and development environments

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

Definition: PaaS provides ready-made platforms for developers to code, test, and publish applications. You can focus solely on development without having to deal with infrastructure details such as servers, storage, databases, and software environments.

Examples:

• Google App Engine

• Microsoft Azure App Service

• Heroku

Advantages:

• Fast development and deployment

• Automated infrastructure management

• Scalability and ease of maintenance

Disadvantages:

• Platform dependency (Vendor lock-in)

• Customization limitations

Use Cases:

• Application development

• API services

• Mobile application infrastructures

SaaS (Software as a Service)

Definition: SaaS allows users to access software applications over the internet. Operations such as installation, maintenance, or updates are carried out by the service provider.

Examples:

• Gmail

• Microsoft 365

• Dropbox

• Salesforce

Advantages:

• No installation required

• Low initial investment cost

• Access from anywhere

Disadvantages:

• Data control is with the service provider

• Internet dependency

Use Cases:

• Email services

• CRM systems

• File storage and sharing

Differences Between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS

Conclusion

• If you only need infrastructure, choose IaaS.

• If you are developing an application and don't want to manage infrastructure, use PaaS.

• If you want to easily access a ready-made software, prefer SaaS.

Choosing the right model significantly affects both the time cost and efficiency of your project.