Cloud Service Delivery Models

Cloud computing services are delivered to the end user in one of these three service models.

There are more service models now than we the below listed three but this is a good place to start.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS is the most basic cloud service model. It provides virtualized resources over the internet, such as servers, storage, and networking. The customer is responsible for managing the operating system, and applications. This gives the customer more control over their IT infrastructure, but also requires more technical expertise.

IaaS is commonly used for hosting websites and applications, running big data analytics, and providing remote access to virtual desktops. Some popular IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS provides a platform for developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. The provider manages the servers, storage, and networking, while the customer focuses on developing and deploying their applications.

PaaS is popular with developers because it allows them to focus on their code and not the infrastructure. It is commonly used for web and mobile application development, database management, and application hosting. Some popular PaaS providers include Heroku, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure App Services.

Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS provides a fully functional application over the internet, typically accessed through a web browser. The provider manages the servers, storage, and networking, as well as the application itself. The customer typically pays a subscription fee and has access to the application through their web browser.

SaaS is popular with businesses because it provides access to applications without the need for local installations or management of applications. It is commonly used for email, customer relationship management (CRM), and enterprise resource planning (ERP). Some popular SaaS providers include Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and Dropbox.

No matter what kind of cloud service you interact with daily, chances are - it would fall under one of the above said delivery models.