7 Ways PaaS Delivers Business Value
Platform-as-a-Service has a bit of an identity crisis compared to the more popular SaaS and IaaS, but in the right circumstances it's the superior choice.
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Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) rests between Software-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service in terms of what a cloud provider is responsible for managing. If you're interested in PaaS, it's likely you are already sold on the idea of cloud computing -- yet you are looking to determine which cloud service level will generate the most business value for your dollar.
PaaS is similar to IaaS but takes things a step further. It lets your service provider manage the infrastructure up to the virtualization layer, adding management of all OS, middleware, and runtime functionality. What you're left with is the ability to completely control applications and all data those applications create.
However, PaaS is not without its pitfalls. There is relatively little standardization when it comes to various PaaS offerings. All the configuration and process setups to manage OS and middleware software are completely dependent on the service provider. So, choosing the right PaaS partner is essential and can be a challenge. In addition, the lines are blurring between PaaS and SaaS, since SaaS providers are offering more applications and more customization through the use of APIs.
By reworking many PaaS platforms, service providers are now using container technologies such as Docker to efficiently manage and control customer applications. Additionally, there are niche areas within organizations and IT departments where PaaS offers the right mix of services and control. Software and database development are two examples.
Here, we take a look at seven ways that PaaS can provide the most business value to your organization. While some benefits listed can also be applied to other cloud architectures, there are certain characteristics and benefits within PaaS that make this solution the superior choice -- especially as it relates to specific use-cases. Once you've reviewed these benefits, let us know what you think in the comments section below. Is PaaS may be the right cloud architecture for you? If so, in what circumstances do you envision using it? Have you tried PaaS in your organization? We want to learn from your experiences.
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When software needs to be rapidly deployed, PaaS is hard to beat. With a few clicks of a mouse on the PaaS management interface, brand new instances can be deployed in a matter of seconds. Then it's a matter of installing the software and configuring it exactly the way you want.
PaaS OS/middleware is automated and controlled by the service provider, a situation that increases the likelihood that it will be a uniform and predictable environment. This is especially true if the alternative is using a private data center, or IaaS manually administrated by in-house staff.
One really interesting aspect of PaaS is the fact that many PaaS providers cater their services to niche markets. There are PaaS offerings for mobile app development, big data, and various APIs, to name a few. Instead of creating your own environment in-house, it might be wise to spend some time investigating whether a service provider already has the tools you need.
If application control is at the top of your list, you may not be interested in SaaS. PaaS is your next best choice to eliminate underlying infrastructure duties, while maintaining complete application control. It allows administrators precise control with no sacrifices.
Thanks to the use of containers, service providers have the ability to deploy a wide array of interchangeable tools with each instance. Think of it as choosing just the right crayon from the box. It's all a matter of finding the specific tools your organization needs -- then deploying those tools within PaaS.
If your PaaS solution runs production applications -- as opposed to a development-only environment -- many PaaS providers offer service level agreements (SLAs) to guarantee uptime. This helps ensure your systems are running optimally around the clock.
If there's one segment of IT that absolutely loves the concept of PaaS, it has to be your software developers. PaaS gives developers the right controls, without the ability to alter any underlying OS, middleware, or infrastructure configurations. From an IT infrastructure support standpoint, you can essentially hand the keys over to your developers and let them run their own PaaS. In that regard, it's a win-win situation between developers and infrastructure support.
PaaS has gone through a bit of an identity crisis over the past few years. But thanks to new deployment technologies -- and a focus on solving specific business challenges -- the architecture has found a place between the more popular SaaS and IaaS offerings. While it is far more challenging to find the right PaaS partner platform than it is to work with SaaS or IaaS, the extra effort to find the ideal solution can reap rewards in the long run.
PaaS has gone through a bit of an identity crisis over the past few years. But thanks to new deployment technologies -- and a focus on solving specific business challenges -- the architecture has found a place between the more popular SaaS and IaaS offerings. While it is far more challenging to find the right PaaS partner platform than it is to work with SaaS or IaaS, the extra effort to find the ideal solution can reap rewards in the long run.
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