Understanding the appropriate use cases for each cloud service model – Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) – helps organizations choose the most effective solution based on their operational needs, control requirements, and development goals.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS provides access to virtualized computing resources over the Internet. It is suitable for organizations that need flexibility and control without managing physical hardware.
Use Cases:
- SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine: Allows organizations to run a familiar database engine in the cloud with full administrative access.
- Traditional Servers migrating to Virtual Machines: Organizations moving from on-premises hardware to scalable cloud-based virtual machines.
IaaS is ideal when you want to manage the operating system, databases, and applications yourself while outsourcing hardware responsibilities to the cloud provider. For foundational responsibilities, see AZ-900: Describe infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS provides a platform for developers to build, test, and deploy applications without managing the infrastructure or runtime environment.
Use Cases:
- Managed Database Services: Use of services like Azure SQL Managed Instance to host and scale databases without managing the underlying virtual machines.
- IoT Hub: Enables real-time communication between IoT applications and devices.
- Azure Container Instances: Run containers in the cloud without needing to manage servers or clusters.
- App Services: Host web and mobile applications with built-in scaling, load balancing, and integration with DevOps workflows.
PaaS is most beneficial when your focus is on application development and delivery without the overhead of system administration. Refer back to AZ-900: Describe platform as a service (PaaS) for an overview of PaaS.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS delivers software applications over the Internet on a subscription basis. Users access the software via web browsers, and the cloud provider manages all infrastructure and updates.
Use Cases:
- Email and Office Applications: Solutions like Gmail, Office 365, and DropBox that provide productivity and collaboration tools with zero infrastructure management.
- IoT Central: An end-to-end SaaS solution to connect, monitor, and manage IoT assets.
- DevOps Services: Cloud-hosted tools that enable development teams to plan, build, test, and deploy applications more efficiently.
SaaS is the right choice when you want quick deployment and minimal configuration, focusing solely on using the application rather than managing it. For a more detailed look at SaaS, see AZ-900: Describe software as a service (SaaS).
Conclusion
Choosing the correct service model depends on the level of control and responsibility your organization requires. IaaS offers the most control, PaaS streamlines development, and SaaS provides ease of use and simplicity.
Want to confidently select the right cloud solution for your needs? Get hands-on insight in our AZ-900 video course – or go back to the AZ-900 list of requirements.
Please click here to find out more about Microsoft’s AZ-900 exam.
