Get an overview of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.
Cloud computing services are commonly categorized into three main models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Each model represents a different level of abstraction and management. 'IaaS' provides the fundamental building blocks of computing infrastructure: virtualized servers, storage, and networking. It offers the highest level of flexibility and management control over your IT resources, closely resembling traditional on-premises infrastructure. Examples include Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine, and Azure Virtual Machines. 'PaaS' removes the need for organizations to manage the underlying infrastructure (usually hardware and operating systems) and allows them to focus on the deployment and management of their applications. This environment is ideal for developers, providing a framework they can build upon to create or customize applications. Examples include AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Heroku, and Google App Engine. Finally, 'SaaS' provides a complete software product that is run and managed by the service provider. In most cases, SaaS refers to end-user applications. You connect to the application over the internet, usually with a web browser, without worrying about software maintenance or infrastructure management. Examples are ubiquitous and include Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Dropbox.