IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a form of cloud computing that utilises virtual computer resources via the Internet. It is one of the three main categories of cloud computing services, alongside Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS).

In the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, the cloud provider manages the IT infrastructure, including storage, server, and network resources. These resources are delivered to subscribed organisations through virtual machines accessible over the Internet, making it a fundamental component of cloud hosting.

IaaS has several advantages for organisations, such as enabling faster, easier, and more flexible management of workloads. Additionally, it can be a cost-efficient solution for businesses.

How does IaaS work?

In the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, customers can access resources and services through the internet and utilise the cloud provider's services to install the remaining components of an application stack.

For instance, a user can log in to the IaaS platform to create virtual machines (VMs) and install operating systems on each VM. Furthermore, a user can deploy middleware such as databases.

Every cloud computing model necessitates the involvement of a provider (also called a vendor). The provider is frequently a third party specialised in selling IaaS. Independent IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). A company can also choose to use a private cloud where it acts as its own infrastructure service provider.

IaaS use cases

IaaS can be used for a wide variety of purposes. The most common use cases for IaaS are listed below.

Data storage, backup, and recovery

IaaS can be the simplest and most efficient way for organisations to manage data when demand is unpredictable or constantly increasing. It can also simplify the planning and management of backup and recovery systems.

High-performance computing

High-performance computing on supercomputers, computer grids, or computer clusters enables the resolution of complex problems that involve millions of variables or calculations. This includes scientific calculations, financial modelling, and product design.

Lift-and-shift migration

This is the quickest and most cost-effective approach to migrate an application or workload to the cloud. It can enhance scalability and performance, improve security, and decrease the overall cost of an application or workload without altering the underlying structure.

Testing and development

IaaS provides organisations with flexibility regarding different testing and development environments. They can easily be scaled up or down depending on the needs.

Web apps

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides the necessary infrastructure to host web applications. IaaS can offer the required storage, servers, and networks for an organisation hosting a web application. Deployments can be carried out quickly, and the cloud infrastructure can be scaled up or down depending on the application's demand with ease.

Benefits of IaaS

As previously mentioned, IaaS can make workloads faster, more efficient, and cheaper. Other benefits include: 

• Pay-as-you-go: Fees are calculated based on usage data.

• Less capital expenditure: IaaS is usually a monthly operational expense.

• Easy scaling: Quickly add capacity during busy periods and scale down when necessary.

• Increased security: IaaS providers invest heavily in security technology and expertise.

• Future-proof: Access to advanced data centres, hardware, and operating systems.

Disadvantages of IaaS

There are many benefits, but there are also some drawbacks to IaaS: 

• Unexpected costs: Monthly costs can add up, or peak usage may be more than expected. 

• Process changes: IaaS may require changes to processes and workflows. 

• Security risks: IaaS providers secure the infrastructure, but companies remain responsible for everything they host. 

Major IaaS Providers

There are many examples of IaaS providers and products. The three largest providers of public cloud services, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Microsoft, offer the following IaaS products, among others:

• AWS offers storage services such as Simple Storage Service (S3), Glacier, and computing services, including its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2).

• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers storage and computing services through Google Compute Engine.

• Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines offers cloud virtualisation for many different cloud computing purposes.

 This is just a small sample of the wide range of services major IaaS providers offer. Services can include serverless functions like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, or Google Cloud Functions (database access, big data compute environments, monitoring, logging, and more).