A cloud model, known as IaaS, in which a provider rents out computing resources such as virtual servers, storage, and networking on demand.
With infrastructure as a service, a business does not buy or maintain physical servers. It rents virtual machines, storage, and networks from a cloud provider and pays for what it uses. The provider manages the data centers and hardware, while the customer manages operating systems, applications, and data.
IaaS sits below platform as a service, which also manages runtime environments, and software as a service, which delivers complete applications. For example, a startup expecting a traffic spike during a product launch can add extra virtual servers for a week and remove them afterwards, rather than buying hardware it will rarely use. The flexibility comes with responsibility: customers must handle security patches, backups, and configuration, and unmanaged resources can lead to high bills.
Delivering computing resources such as servers, storage, databases, and software over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Platform as a ServiceA cloud model that provides a ready-to-use environment for building, deploying, and running applications without managing servers.
Virtual MachineA software-based computer that runs its own operating system and applications on shared physical hardware.
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A clear comparison of IaaS, PaaS and SaaS with a responsibility chart showing exactly what you manage and what the cloud provider manages.
A plain-English guide to cloud computing for business owners: how it works, the services you already use, the real benefits and the risks to manage.