What is IaaS?
IaaS, infrastructure as a service, is a prime example of a cloud service model, which are cloud computing offerings that provide varying degrees of management for users. They define the level of control a user has over the underlying infrastructure and services. The three main types of cloud service models include:
Infrastructure as a service, i.e., IaaS
Platform as a service, i.e., PaaS
Software as a service, i.e., SaaS
IaaS is a type of cloud service model that provides IT-oriented
How does IaaS work?
The process starts when we get access to the services we need over the cloud from a cloud service provider. The provider ensures the maintenance of the back-end infrastructure while we can focus on the rented services. However, we can install and configure the services according to our needs. Since these services are rented from a service provider, we can opt for the pay-as-you-go basis and pay-only model for the resources we use.
Let's look at how the data is transferred when the user requests and the server responds.
The data centers send the requested data to the multi-cloud infrastructure, from which the service provider takes the data and sends it to the end user. Nowadays, IaaS services offer additional features like logging, monitoring, and detailing billing, which allows users to have a seamless experience on the cloud.
Is IaaS a toolbox?
IaaS in cloud computing is often considered an analogy for a toolbox, as it is like renting a toolbox from someone else. We can get access to virtual tools like computers, storage, and networks that we would otherwise have had to own. The provider takes care of our toolbox and keeps it safe so that we can focus on using the tools to build and store our stuff. In short, we only have to pay for what we use when needed.
IaaS vs. On-premises hosting
On-premises is the traditional way of managing the IT infrastructure requiring the company to have physical data centers. Though the company's IT administration has complete control, it can still be expensive and difficult to maintain. IaaS is a more scalable and cost-efficient solution for on-premises infrastructures. It help's the company to share a few of the management responsibilities with the service providers over the cloud.
Let's look at how cloud services divide the management responsibilities of the customers depending on their requirements.
Benefits of IaaS
IaaS is a vastly availed service because of the beneficial experience it provides to the users. Let's discuss a few integral aspects that help enterprises and users decide whether IaaS is a good choice.
Scalability | Resources can be easily scaled up or scaled down based on the requirement. |
Resource management | Users can customize the environment to achieve an optimized environment. |
Cost efficiency | Customers can pay only for the resources that they use, reducing costs. |
Rapid deployment | The resources can be efficiently deployed for new projects. |
Feature of IaaS
Web hosting
We can use IaaS to host websites and web applications by renting virtual servers, storage, and networking resources. These resources can host websites, blogs, e-commerce platforms, or other online services where the customer controls the operating system and configurations.
Development and testing
IaaS is suitable for testing and development as developers can easily set up the environment and manage virtual machines to test new software and perform debugging. In case of a failure, IaaS can restore the virtual machine to the previous state.
Data Backup and Recovery
Various organizations prefer to use IaaS for data backup and disaster recovery cases. They can store backups and snapshots of their data in the cloud to ensure a quick recovery in case of data loss or system failures. Moreover, they can also schedule back-ups of the data storing resources as a safety measure.
IaaS service providers
Many major companies offer virtual computing resources to customers worldwide to manage their systems using these resources without needing a physical hardware setup. Here are a few prominent IaaS providers.
Summary
IaaS is an infrastructure-based service that is usually provided to the IT administrators who handle the hardware and all the behind the curtain responsibilities to ensure the system is available without any storage, resource inefficiency, or security issue.
