Cloud Service Options

Even at this early stage of development, there’s a type of cloud computing for almost every need, and we can expect more to follow. Presently, we can identify at least four general types of cloud computing. Together, these form what you can call “IT as a service.”

SaaS (Software as a service)

SaaS is a cloud computing service typically delivered through the Internet. It’s designed to simplify maintenance and support by offering customers the ability to install and run software applications in the cloud, rather than on their own computers. Examples: Google Apps and Salesforce.com

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

This type of cloud computing addresses the needs of application development and testing by providing building blocks, enforcing consistent standards, and facilitating testing without the cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying hardware and software layers. Example: Google App Engine

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS providers offer customers servers, software, data-center space or network equipment resources—often virtualized solutions—as fully outsourced services. IaaS often can also include storage, management, and reporting. Example: Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (E2C)

StaaS (Storage as a Service)

StaaS is similar to IaaS, but it’s focused on storage delivered as a hosted service. It includes primary, secondary, and archival storage as well as backup and disaster recovery. Examples: Amazon S3, Nirvanix, and Rackspace

DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service)

Relatively new among the cloud computing service options, DRaaS can help organizations significantly reduce recovery costs with its pay-as-you go pricing model—particularly for smaller businesses without the budget for a considerable up-front investment in their own infrastructures. Example: Recover from Cloud services from Advanced Systems Group (ASG).

Advanced Systems Group—Stairway to the Cloud