Have you ever wondered how cloud-based software works? It can seem like a complex and confusing topic, but that doesn’t have to be the case. We’ll be discussing the basics of cloud-based software in this blog post, and we’ll be using a housing analogy to explain it.
We’ll be looking at the differences between SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), and exploring how they’re like renting, unit titles and leasing housing respectively. By the end of it, you’ll have a good understanding of how cloud-based software works and which type is right for you. So let’s get started and explore cloud-based software with a housing analogy.
| Software as a Service | Its like a rental property. You pay a periodic rental fee to live in the house. | Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a type of cloud computing that delivers applications over the internet on a subscription-based model. SaaS applications are provided to end users via the cloud, meaning that end users do not need to install, configure, or maintain the application. Examples of SaaS include Gmail, Govcrate, Zoom, Dropbox etc. SaaS systems are targeted towards the needs of end users. All the IT costs and complexities are handled by the provider. |
| Platform as a Service | Its like a unit title property where you own a defined part of a building (e.g. an Apartment) in an apartment complex, and share common areas such as lifts, lobbies or driveways with other owners of the apartment complex. | Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a type of cloud computing that provides a platform for developing, running, and managing applications without the need for complex infrastructure. PaaS enables developers to easily create and deploy applications and services over the cloud. Examples of PaaS include Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine, Engine Yard etc. PaaS platforms require software development teams who build the applications on top of the platforms. |
| Infrastructure as a Service | It’s like a leasehold property where you own the house but lease the land that the house sits on. | Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is a type of cloud computing that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS allows businesses to access computing infrastructure (e.g. servers, storage, and networks) on a pay-as-you-go basis e.g. DigitalOcean, Linode, Rackspace, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Cloud Platform, Google Cloud Platform etc. IaaS platforms require DevOps teams who design, deploy and operate the computing infrastructure. |
| On Premise Infrastructure | It’s like free hold property. You own both the house and the land and all the associated costs and burdens. | On premise infrastructure is what has traditionally been done by IT. It means that you purchase the hardware, the software and hire IT staff to install, configure and maintain the system. On premises infrastructure require IT support, network and systems administrators to install, configure and maintain the computing hardware and software. |