thesmallobject.com » Understanding Cloud Computing Services

Cloud computing services allow software developers to create and host various applications online without having to invest money in expensive servers, other hardware, and software.

There are three main types of cloud computing services: IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service).

With Infrastructure as a Service, the user gets access to basic cloud infrastructure: servers, storage, and network connectivity. This is the perfect solution for advanced software developers, who want to build full applications from scratch, have plenty of time, and only need a blank canvas onto which to ‘paint’ their digital creations.

Platform as a Service gives developers a cloud-based platform that includes all the needed tools and software, allowing them to prototype and then build applications without having to start from scratch. With PaaS, development time is reduced, because programmers don’t need to set up and update virtual servers, etc.

Finally, Software as a Service is the most convenient way to use cloud services. Everything is already set up in a way that allows anyone to use cloud-based applications. Whenever you access the email address you’ve gotten from Google, Yahoo, etc. you are using a Software as a Service environment.

Ultimately, people choose between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS depending on how much control they want to have over virtual hardware, software packages, and the applications they’re creating or using.