What Is SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS?
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What Do SaaS, PaaS and IaaS Mean?
SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) are the three standard ways cloud computing is delivered, and each hands over a different amount of control and responsibility. SaaS gives you finished, ready-to-use software over the internet — think Gmail or a cloud ERP — where the provider manages everything. PaaS gives developers a platform to build and run their own applications without managing servers. IaaS gives you raw computing infrastructure — virtual servers, storage, networking — that you configure yourself.
Key Differences Between the Three
The simplest way to see the difference is how much you manage versus how much the provider manages. With IaaS, you manage the operating system, applications and data, while the provider manages the physical hardware. With PaaS, the provider also manages the operating system and runtime, so your team only manages the application code and data. With SaaS, the provider manages everything end-to-end, and you simply use the software through a browser or app.
Choosing the Right Model
Choosing between them depends on what your team is trying to do. A business that just needs email, accounting or CRM software should use SaaS. A development team building a custom application benefits from PaaS, since it removes server management overhead. A company that needs full control over its infrastructure, or has specific compliance or performance requirements, is better served by IaaS. Many businesses actually use a mix of all three across different parts of their operations.