IaaS vs SaaS vs PaaS: A Guide to Azure Cloud Service Types

Cloud computing has changed over the years, and it has presented various elements that enable access to built-in cloud apps and cloud resources to accomplish tasks easily. This means you will never have to install or download the application on your system and can work remotely from wherever you want, provided you have a working internet connection

These cloud services are termed as IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS. The last three letters of each acronym mean 'as a service'. If you are interested in finding more about these and their benefits and differences, then you have come to the right place.

But before you can do that, you will have to understand the basic as a service concept and what it entails:

The Basics: As a Service

As a service generally means a commodity within the cloud computing or telecommunication section that is made available to its users as a service. They don't have to install or operate it by themselves, as the cloud computing technology or the communications provider takes care of its implementation, operations and provision to their customers. Think about the Microsoft 365 suite, back when cloud computing was not easy to work with. People used to buy licenses to use Word on their systems.

A fee was charged by Microsoft so that the user can enjoy the product for a given time frame. Now, all you need is an active internet connection and you can have access to the online version of Word that works the same anywhere.

That being said, it is the SaaS version of the original Word when it had to be made available over the user’s own system. You don’t have to do anything on your part except pay a monthly or yearly subscription to keep using the platform, as the rest is taken care of by the vendor. As a service model has grown into the most functional and economical business model available because users are not burdened with bearing a harsh expense at once and then change their mind to use a better alternative.

This way if you even find a better alternative and are compelled to move there, you can leave the service by not paying the next month’s subscription fee or you can leave whenever you want and you won’t be charged.

The following are benefits that you will end up getting if you leverage to use the as a service model:

Reduced Costs

If you don’t have the kind of money that is required to buy the software usage rights and license upfront, then there is no need, as you can do that by splitting that fee into a monthly or maybe a yearly subscription. It will make the tool or software accessible to you readily. If along the way you feel the need to quit, then you can do that by not paying your next monthly or yearly subscription. This way you will not be lumbered into keeping a tool that you don’t want anymore.

More Flexible and Accessible

When you have something installed on your computer or a particular workstation, then you can only use it there. However, with the SaaS system, you have the luxury of using that software anywhere you like. All you need is an internet connection and the credentials for the subscriptions. You can use the software on a number of devices, such as on your computer, mobile, tablet or generally anywhere that you feel the need to use.

Always Up to Date

Another great feature of using such a software model is that it will always be up to date and will be customized by the vendor who controls its management. This way you don’t have to worry about skipping on the latest updates, as these will automatically get installed and will be provided to you as soon as these are out there.

Improved Features

As the cloud computing networks and companies are trying their best to level up their game and using the resources of the cloud that can be scaled up according to their desires, the number of features that are being added into a SaaS software or tool is staggering. Your operations won’t be discarded or minimalized based on the relative processing of your system, as you will be able to use the cloud’s resources and improve efficiency as well as current computing power for the tool. 

Manipulating Less Power from Your System

All you have to do is connect your system to the internet and the rest will be taken care of. It doesn’t matter if your system is powerful enough or has the desired hardware specifications. There is no need to buy new hardware or redo your entire system to run a piece of software, saving you a lot of time and money in the process.

This concludes the very benefits or advantages of using the as a service system and why these are becoming more popular now than ever. Below are various versions of the as a service model and how well each performs with the Azure cloud services.

Start your 30-day FREE TRIAL with CloudInstitute.io and begin your Cloud career journey today! Connect with our experts to learn more about our cloud certifications.

What is IaaS?

IaaS translates into infrastructure as a service; it means that users will be able to use the outsourced form of the infrastructure as provided by various vendors. Infrastructure means the backend elements of cloud computing systems, such as the hardware, servers, network, storage, and various other similar items. In case a digital enterprise is not outsourced and doesn't use the resources provided by various vendors, they will have to set up their own data centers and manage its operations. That means overwhelming costs and large consumption of one’s time.

But with the IaaS as a service model, any particular individual or enterprise will be able to charter required network speed, storage units, compute speed, and any other backend resource from a cloud computing vendor. You can choose whatever package that suits your needs and scale up or down accordingly. When you have all the resources that you need, only then you can think about building or running something on it. This is the most advanced and feasible model of conducting business, especially when you lack the amount of startup cost and can’t afford it in the long run.

What is PaaS?

It translates into the platform as a service model. With such a model, customers have the ability to tie cloud-based resources into their existing network. It means using the platform which is the cloud, its resources, its computing power, and everything that is involved as a service to fulfill your own personal needs. It will provide your developers with a cloud-based framework on which they can build and deploy custom applications with much agility and outstanding efficiency.

This way you won't have to maintain the security protocols, take care of the platform by yourself, or manage the care of the server space. The only relative difference between the IaaS and PaaS is that within the PaaS model the customer is using the core service needed for the development of the applications, tools, or other services while the whole management of such systems is taken care of by the cloud vendor. With PaaS, it is cheaper, efficient, agile, and simpler to develop apps, software and tools. You won’t have to worry about its management or take care of the security protocols.

That can most definitely and easily be left to the cloud vendors. You can continue to build, run and test your product in a care-free and blazingly fast environment. No wonder why PaaS has become so popular and efficient over the years, where companies use the most robust cloud-based resources to build their stuff and then outsource the product to the customers using the same channels.

What is SaaS?

In this type of model, Software as a Service, users don't have to download or install any piece of it to their existing system and can access the software along with all of its components on the internet using an app or a web browser. Every aspect of the software or tool is taken care of by the vendor, and all you have to do is keep on using it as some other application that is installed onto your computer or mobile device.

All users of the software use the same cloud framework that is being consistently developed and maintained by software vendors while their personal information, app's or tool's history, and their impressions will be stored by the vendor's end. The data also gets backed up to a centralized location and can be made available to the user no matter where or which device they try to access it. So, yes, it is a fast, convenient and extremely popular model.

IaaS on Azure

Azure is a cloud computing company initiated and controlled by Microsoft which provides its clients with the opportunity of using their IaaS service model. This way the end-user or the company can load all of their data-driven resources, storage options, network requirements, and other infrastructure-intensive elements to the Azure systems.

Rest assured the up-gradation or updating of the infrastructure, data management, encryption, storage, and even all the other management will be done by Azure. You also have the ability to scale up or scale down at any given moment and only pay for the resources that you are actually using.

PaaS on Azure

If you want a cloud-powered development, testing and deployment system which is kind of an all-in-one approach, then there are enough resources with Azure to actually make it happen. With services like Azure CDN, Azure Search and app services, Azure offers a wide deal of resources and elements that a tech company requires to become successful in the long run, especially if they don't have the budget to support the development of their own platform.

You won't have to worry about service configuration, scaling up, balancing the load or upgrading your OS at any given moment. You will have the luxury of doing so at any given moment, develop your apps freely without worrying about downtime, testing them and then deploying them to the end-users, all taking place in a fully automated environment.

SaaS on Azure

You can use the Azure platform for hosting apps, tools or software systems that you have created and at the same time using other SaaS configured systems that Microsoft has developed. You will have the ability to properly bring into the use of the complete Office 365 suite and other fundamental apps that were created by Microsoft as a SaaS model. You can also take advantage of machine learning and advanced analytics that are offered by the Azure platform, especially if you do require to host your own SaaS model of the apps or software with the Azure systems.

Opportunities in accordance with cloud technology are booming right now. If you want to be a part of it, then how about you enroll in our azure training, as it will help you to scale up your skills and become ready to work for a company that requires an Azure technician.