How does Cloud Computing affect customized software? Learn here about PaaS and IaaS and how this service works and what it holds for the future, for companies, and for custom software development.

There is no doubt that Cloud Computing is one trend that is growing among businesses and the digital world of today. Even though the term seems to be obvious, not too many have a clear idea of what it means (and much less what PaaS and IaaS means), but the reality is that we are using it in simple things such as the updating of our Facebook status.

Cloud Computing – the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer – is definitely globally used. But what is happening in the corporate world? Why is Cloud Computing gaining importance and how can this affect the development of specific software?

Beyond its benefits (flexibility, automatization, document control, security, and a friendly environment, among others), companies should be aware of how this impacts them, especially if they are hiring a custom development software.

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Let’s look at the three main categories of Cloud Computing that exist and how they are used within organizations:

1. IAAS: INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) are self-service models for accessing, monitoring, and managing remote datacenter infrastructures, such as computing, storage, and networking services. Instead of having to purchase hardware outright, users can purchase IaaS based on consumption.

IaaS users are responsible for managing applications, data, runtime, and updating their own machines. Moreover, they gain infrastructure on top of which they can install any required platform and are responsible for updating if new versions are released.

2. PAAS: PLATFORM AS A SERVICE

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is used for applications and other developments, while providing Cloud components to software. With PaaS, developers gain a framework where they can build to develop or customize apps.

PaaS makes the development, testing, and app development quick, simple, and cost-effective. Additionally, PaaS provides a self-service portal to manage computing infrastructure from centralized IT operations and the platforms that are installed on top of the hardware.

Applications made in a PaaS inherit Cloud characteristics such as scalability, high-availability, multi-tenancy, SaaS enablement, and more. Therefore, enterprises benefit from PaaS because it reduces the amount of coding necessary, automates business policy, and helps migrate apps to a hybrid model.

Plus, it eliminates the need for companies to manage the underlying infrastructure. For the needs of enterprises and other organizations, Oracle, Microsoft, and Amazon are some providers of Cloud PaaS that offer services such as database, storage, authentication and security services, services bus, and cache solutions, among others.

3. SAAS: SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE

The best example for SaaS is when we use an internet application such as our Gmail account. In other words, SaaS is a final product that is ready for the user.

SaaS removes the need for organizations to install and run applications on their own computers or in their own data centers. This eliminates the expense of hardware acquisition, provisioning, and maintenance, as well as software-based licensing, installation, and support.

But, since it is an already finished product we won’t take this one into discussion. Our main focus when thinking about a custom development software solution would be in the first two.

Paas vs Iaas? Which one is best for your business?

To give an answer to this, Eric Delahaye, project manager at Hexacta, affirms: “To make customized software, the best option between these Cloud Computing categories would be PaaS, not only because of time, costs, and updates that you could save (instead of investing), but because it is where we are heading in the future.

Nowadays, it is more and more complex to have your own datacenters, and if you do, you spend a lot of time and costs investing in it”.

Why do companies still prefer IaaS?

IaaS is still chosen because companies are used to having their own datacenter, managing it, and having their own security policies and its back up. They are in their “comfort zone”, and they want to keep it that way, with having autonomy to buy the licenses they want and managing their own data. Also, they do not depend on a server/provider that might control them in some way.

We must respect that there is a natural evolution from one service to another (from IaaS to PaaS). Companies should progressively abandon IaaS and turn to PaaS, especially if they work with customized software developments. Even though PaaS has some restrictions, we should start moving towards that service, not only for costs and time investment, but because there are great advantages in using it (no more datacenters concerns, among others).

Then, which is the right path?

The best way to transition from one to another is by choosing both, Paas and Iaas. In other words, use a hybrid Cloud. Companies should adapt to this new idea of choosing only PaaS (facing the fact that it is the future and impacts the modernization of companies) for custom software and apps, but they can start doing the transition by using both options.

You can have your customized application’s architecture by using IaaS and also PaaS and getting to know closely how this service works.

To Sum Up

PaaS and IaaS are two different categories of Cloud Computing, a current trend that is globally used and that is growing in the business world. Choosing between one and another will depend on software design and business requirements.

In an ideal world, to develop customized software, PaaS is more recommended because it simplifies all processes. Companies should start considering what different providers have to offer, looking towards the future, and aiming to modernize themselves, especially if they work with technology.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contact us for more information. We’ll quickly get back to you with the information you need.