Do you have a digital business or a company linked to that world? Then this post is for you. Next, we will tell you what SaaS, IaaS and PaaS are and how they differ. Read the full note: utilities and advantages of each one.
SaaS: definition, examples and benefits
SaaS stands for software as a service. It refers to an application, tool or digital platform that provides a service. In general, they are usually used for free, but with limitations in order to offer the paid version. The use is possible through a subscription (monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on the case). Some popular SaaS examples are Dropbox, Mailchimp, and Slack.
Although SaaS have little customization and high dependency on the provider, they have four important advantages:
- The initial investment cost is lower.
- No technical knowledge required.
- IT expenses are reduced.
- They have support included.
IaaS: definition, examples and benefits
IaaS means infrastructure as a service. The three best known are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Computing Engine. In short, they offer you all the tools to support the infrastructure that your program or application needs in order to be set up: servers, image storage, email, etc. As for your part, you only have to take care of the management of those resources that you have at your disposal; the hardware is provided by the vendor. Payment is made per use.
Although you need high technical knowledge, additional resources and training for employees, it is worth noting that there are three valuable benefits:
- To reduce operating costs.
- To achieve high flexibility and scalability.
- Fully control the infrastructure.
PaaS: definition, examples and benefits
PaaS stands for platform as a service. These types of products provide you with the hardware and all the configuration that your application needs on an already configured platform (it is one more step from the IaaS option). You only have to do the deployment with a few command lines. To access a PaaS, you choose a plan with certain resources and features, and pay a subscription for that plan. Some examples to consider are: Heroku, Windows Azure and Google App Engine.
Despite the fact that the operational capacity is limited and the solutions force you to migrate when they are insufficient, we can cite some great benefits:
- High scalability and flexibility.
- Reduced coding.
- Simplicity of access and use.
- Ability to create applications without the need to manage software.
In short, choosing between SaaS, IaaS and PaaS will depend on the situation and the needs of your business or company. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us without obligation.
