Cloud computing is a disruptive computing paradigm that delivers services through the Internet. Moreover, these services can be categorized into three major service delivery models, namely:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): The services that CSP provision to the consumers include compute, storage and network resources. According to Shared Responsibility Model (SRM) and Service Level Agreements (SLA), cloud consumers are responsible to deploy and run different software and services by themselves. Moreover, the CSP provides secure infrastructure and customers should configure and manage all applications and platforms they would like to have. In this service models, most responsibilities in the cloud stack fall on the shoulder of the customer. In IaaS model, consumers have very limited control over the networking devices and other infrastructure components. IaaS enables consumers to get scalable, reliable, highly available, and cost effective and efficient infrastructure services with less capital expenditure (CapEX) but high operational expenditures (OpEX).
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): In PaaS model, CSP provisions libraries, services, and development environments for cloud consumers. Moreover, the consumers are responsible to develop and deploy software and applications. On the other hand, the provider is responsible to deploy and patch systems required by the consumer.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): In SaaS model, CSP deliver fully functional applications for their customers. Cloud consumers have very limited responsibility in this cloud service arrangement. Because, the CSP configures and manages the entire infrastructure and platforms. Consumers just make use of the deployed application(s).
The most prominent commercial cloud service providers (CSP) in the industry include AWS, MS Azure, and GCP. However, there are formidable open source cloud platforms that consumers can reply on such as Openstack, cloudstack and others.
the_cyberguy Answered question 10/07/2022