Types of Cloud Computing

The dynamic properties of cloud computing lay the foundation for advanced higher-level services. These services can not only complement but often provide essential tools for Agile and DevOps teams.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS is cloud infrastructure for rent.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the fundamental level of cloud services that enables organizations to rent IT infrastructure – servers, storage, networks, operating systems – from cloud service providers. IaaS allows users to reserve and allocate the resources they need from physical server farms. Additionally, IaaS allows users to reserve pre-configured machines for specialized tasks such as load balancers, databases, email servers, and distributed queues.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers software applications over the internet on-demand and typically on a subscription basis. Cloud service providers host and manage the application, handling software updates and security system fixes as necessary. Examples of SaaS include CRM systems, webmail applications, productivity tools, analytics tools, monitoring tools, chat applications, and more.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS is cloud infrastructure built on IaaS, providing resources for building user-level tools and applications. PaaS offers the basic infrastructure, including computational, networking, and storage resources, along with development tools, database management systems, and middleware.