Platform Software And Infrastructure as a Service
Companies now have many “as a Service” agreements to make customers’ lives easier. How could these services help you?
Cloud computing terminology can be confusing to beginners, and that’s particularly true for the trilogy of services that comprise the cloud computing stack. This can be thought of as a pyramid of linked – and complementary – functions, enabling customers to operate their businesses using configurable resources provided by external specialists. These are hosted online, and accessed remotely at any time from a variety of devices or users.
Infrastructure Projects
The first, and arguably most important, aspect of this triumvirate is Infrastructure as a Service. Rather like the walls of a house, the infrastructure is a framework upon which other components can be supported. IaaS may include the network servers and firewalls that regulate access to information, the operating systems that govern this data or the storage devices that retain media content and account information.
IaaS can come in public, private or hybrid forms, with the latter effectively combining public cloud’s shared resources with private cloud’s dedicated hardware. Rather than a company having to buy, install and maintain this infrastructure themselves, they acquire it on-demand from specialists who take care of the maintenance. This is ideal for businesses where customer demand fluctuates, or for smaller enterprises with limited budgets and IT expertise.
Building a Platform
With an infrastructure framework in place, the middle-tier of the cloud computing pyramid involves Platform as a Service – or PaaS. This is a computing platform that enables software to be created and customized, from user interfaces through to communication tools. Typically built using popular programming languages like JavaScript, PaaS is ideal for new enterprises where existing software solutions are inadequate or inefficient. These firms don’t need to buy or maintain any infrastructure – they simply develop the web applications they need online.
PaaS is commonly used for hosting websites or streaming services, often using popular building blocks that can be mixed and matched to deliver a custom solution. Returning to the house analogy, PaaS can be thought of as the kitchens and bathrooms – created using unique combinations of familiar materials that enable specific functions to take place. PaaS is going to become increasingly significant in future years, as the Internet of Things sees devices around our homes and offices uploading information through Wi-Fi or 4G. This data will need to be processed, and PaaS solutions will be used for interpreting the raw information being generated in ever-increasing quantities.
Software Solutions
With the other building blocks in place, the final part of the cloud trilogy is Software as a Service. This is effectively a pre-prepared and fully functional solution to a business need. It is paid for by the client or provided free of charge in exchange for revenue generated by advertising or harvesting user information. Little technical knowledge is required to implement SaaS. pdates or patches are managed by the hosting provider.
Common examples of SaaS include standardized website templates, customizable apps and the burgeoning video conferencing industry. Although customers may be able to add a degree of personalization, they are effectively using the same services as competitors without the expense of creating their own platforms. The house analogy in this case would be an unfurnished rental property, where personal touches can be added but the décor and fittings have already been selected. There are limited parameters for customization, but the client has direct access via the cloud without needing to install anything – or being restricted to access on particular devices.