What is SaaS, IaaS, PaaS in Cloud Computing? What are the differences?

Before the widespread use of cloud computing, companies used to build their own IT infrastructures and utilize the software they needed for business processes. Cloud computing brought alternative solutions to this situation. Cloud-based solutions provided over the internet began to be offered as a service model. This led to the emergence of SaaS (Software as a Service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), and PaaS (Platform as a Service) models.

Software that works with the service model allowed companies to access the technological services they needed with lower costs, less time, and less expertise. Companies could now economically access the infrastructure, application development platforms, and software they required.

What is SaaS (Software as a Service)?

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. In general, this term refers to the cloud computing model known as "Software as a Service" in Turkish. SaaS applications allow software to be used through a browser. Users typically pay a subscription fee monthly or annually and start using the software through their browsers.

The management of SaaS products is entirely handled by the service provider. The user does not have to worry about installation, maintenance, or configuration. The end user can directly access the application via their browser. Technical knowledge is not required, and the software can be easily used by the relevant department.

What are the Advantages of SaaS?

There are many advantages of SaaS. Some of the main advantages are:

• The biggest advantage of SaaS applications is the time-saving aspect. Users can start using the software they need directly, without worrying about infrastructure setup, installation, and configuration processes.
• SaaS applications offer cost savings, making it easier to prepare budget plans. Additionally, the fees for SaaS applications are fixed, and payments are made monthly or annually.
• SaaS applications are designed for end users, making them easy to use and understand. No technical knowledge is required to use them. Even departments without technical expertise can use them easily.
• As mentioned earlier, it eliminates the need for infrastructure setup, application development, and other such processes. This allows the time and money spent on these processes to be redirected to other areas.
• There is a SaaS solution available for almost every usage scenario. You can select the SaaS application that best fits your needs and continue with your work.

What are the Disadvantages of SaaS?

The biggest disadvantage of SaaS is data security. Company data is stored on servers owned by another company, and the user has no control over the infrastructure. Security is the most critical factor when selecting a SaaS service.

Another disadvantage is the limited customization options. SaaS applications may not allow extensive customizations, or some may offer only minimal customization. It is not possible to make comprehensive customizations to the software to fit a particular purpose.

Many SaaS applications offer features to integrate with third-party software, but these integrations are often limited. When trying to work with other software, issues may arise.

When Should SaaS be Used?

SaaS applications are suitable for individual or large community use. Organizations, such as companies, that require software accessible from anywhere with an internet connection and can be used by a large number of users, are the primary users of SaaS applications. Teams in different locations can easily access software that uses the same database.

SaaS products are available in many areas such as productivity, CRM, human resources management, and accounting. By selecting the most suitable SaaS software for the purpose, resources otherwise allocated for infrastructure, installation, and maintenance can be directed to other areas. Typically, users pay a fixed fee based on the number of users on a monthly or annual basis to start using the software via a web browser.

Examples of SaaS software include Paraşüt, Canva, Shopify, and Google Services (mail, drive, documents).

What is IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)?

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) refers to the provision of IT infrastructures over the cloud. The computing infrastructure is not hosted within the company but is hosted on the servers of a third-party service provider. Cloud-based storage and virtualization services can be accessed over the internet.

IaaS services usually work on a pay-as-you-go basis. Instead of setting up and maintaining the infrastructure, a service provided by a provider is used. The infrastructure is accessed and controlled through the interfaces provided by the service provider. This eliminates the need for installation and maintenance costs. Expensive hardware and software expenditures for infrastructure are no longer necessary.

Advantages of IaaS

There are several advantages to using IaaS for businesses. The most prominent advantages are:

• The provider gives access to hardware and infrastructure, which can be customized by selecting from the options provided.
• Full control over the software running on the hardware is possible.
• Choosing IaaS for infrastructure allows the resources that would otherwise be spent on infrastructure setup to be directed to other areas. It is cheaper than building and managing your own infrastructure. You only pay for what you use.
• Since there is no physical hardware to be hosted, maintenance and upgrades are not required, saving costs and labor.
• With IaaS services, the infrastructure can be easily scaled up or down according to needs. Resources can be increased or decreased based on requirements.

Disadvantages of IaaS

Data security and privacy are significant disadvantages of IaaS services. In addition to the fact that data is hosted on a third-party server, users are also responsible for properly storing and backing up the data.

Unlike SaaS’s plug-and-play model, IaaS services require the user to set up the infrastructure and install the software. Therefore, IaaS is not for end-users but for IT and similar departments within organizations.

When Should IaaS be Used?

IaaS is suitable when a business needs a technological infrastructure. The IaaS model allows the process of setting up and maintaining infrastructure to be handed over to a third-party service provider. Full control over the infrastructure is possible, and the most appropriate option can be chosen based on needs and budget. Both small and large organizations can choose IaaS. In scenarios where data security is critical, IaaS may not be the best option.

You can rent virtual servers from providers such as Microsoft Azure or AWS to host everything from databases and accounting software to websites and e-commerce infrastructures. Investments in physical hardware can be redirected to other areas.

What is PaaS (Platform as a Service)?

Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides users with a platform on which they can develop their own applications. Unlike IaaS, which provides fully manageable cloud-based infrastructure, PaaS provides users with tools to develop their own software.

With PaaS, you can develop web-based applications and distribute them to users. The tools provided by the platform minimize the need to write code. In fact, with no-code tools, applications can be created without writing any code.

PaaS is used by application developers. The software developed on the platform is then made available to users via the cloud.

Advantages of PaaS

The advantages provided by PaaS include:

• Applications developed with PaaS can be easily scaled according to the number of users. The application can be shaped to fit the user base.
• PaaS provides tools that are tailored to the needs of application development. These tools are easy to use and accelerate the application development process.
• The tools provided also reduce the need for coding. This saves both time and money spent on developing applications.

Disadvantages of PaaS

Applications created with PaaS are designed to work in the cloud. When trying to integrate these new applications with existing software, issues may arise. Additionally, users do not have control over the infrastructure. In case of no internet connection, the software cannot be accessed.

Data security and privacy are critical issues for PaaS. The data stored is visible to the PaaS provider. The tools provided by the platform may not be enough to meet the exact needs for creating the appropriate application. The choice of provider should be made with this in mind.

Each PaaS platform has its own set of tools and application development systems. The proficiency of the team developing applications on the selected platform should be considered.

When Should PaaS be Used?

PaaS is ideal when no suitable existing software can meet the desired features, and developing an application from scratch is the best option. PaaS provides an opportunity to develop applications at low costs and in a short period. Additionally, PaaS provides developers with ready-made tools, reducing the coding process. Some no-code platforms allow applications to be created with minimal coding knowledge.

Examples of PaaS providers include Google App Engine, Bubble.io, Salesforce, Amazon Elastic Beanstalk, and Heroku.

Differences Between SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS

There are distinct differences between SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS, which are different types of cloud computing services. The first difference is the type of user. IaaS is used by network architects and system administrators, PaaS is used by developers, and SaaS is designed for a broader user base.

The IaaS model provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. PaaS provides a platform for developing applications, while SaaS offers software that can be used through a browser by end-users.

There are also differences in the technical knowledge required. IaaS services typically require the most technical expertise. PaaS services require less technical knowledge, depending on the provider. SaaS services, on the other hand, do not require any technical knowledge.

Another difference between these models is the level of control granted to the user. This control can be beneficial, but it also brings additional responsibilities, costs, and labor. Although IaaS does not require the physical hosting of servers, most of the infrastructure management is the user's responsibility. It involves various tasks, such as managing operating systems and backups. PaaS requires the user to manage the developed applications and stored data, while SaaS applications do not require any of these responsibilities.

During your software development career, you will likely use cloud computing applications that work with IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS models. To get a quick start in your career, you can check out the free Bootcamp training courses at Techcareer.net.