Cloud as a service definition
Cloud as a service is a business model for delivering cloud services using subscriptions or pay-per-use arrangements. The cloud as a service model lets organizations make full use of cloud resources, applications, and infrastructure while only paying for what they need — once a tool becomes irrelevant, the organization can simply unsubscribe to save money.
See also: public cloud infrastructure, cloud attack, cloud sandboxing
Types of cloud as a service solutions
- Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) provides virtualized computing resources, most notably the infrastructure required to run virtual machines.
- Platform as a service (PaaS) offers an environment where developers can build, deploy, and manage applications.
- Software as a service (SaaS) lets users access applications in the cloud using their web browsers or dedicated client software.
Real cloud as a service examples
- Google Cloud Compute Engine allows users to launch virtual machines on Google's infrastructure. Users can select from a variety of predefined instance types or create their own custom configurations.
- Heroku abstracts the infrastructure layer (the physical equipment and systems) needed for software, allowing developers to deploy, manage, and scale web applications on demand.
- Microsoft Office 365 provides users with a suite of productivity applications for office work, most famously Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Dropbox allows users to store and share files in the cloud.
