Infrastructure as a Service

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a type of cloud computing service delivery model where the cloud service provider (CSP) offers compute, storage, networking resources and the customer has the responsibility of controlling and customization of those computing resources. Furthermore, it is the capability of cloud computing provisioned to the customer in terms of processing, storage, networking, and other fundamental computing resources. And the cloud service customer is able to deploy and run software, operating systems, development environment and deployed applications. IaaS rather provides these basic computing resources to the customers as per organizations requirements. And the cloud service provider (CSP) is responsible to maintain the cloud computing based infrastructure and ensures that customers have access to the leased computing systems.

The IaaS service delivery model provides an organization with the most control compared to the SaaS and PaaS models. Furthermore, IaaS service model requires the cloud customer or the organization to undertake all the maintenance requirements on the operating systems, the applications and the platforms deployed on top the infrastructure. In IaaS model, the cloud service customer will have the most flexibility to deploy applications.

Key benefits of infrastructure as a service (IaaS) include the following:

• Cost efficiency and effectiveness
• High availability and reliability
• Scalability
• Self-service provisioning of computing resources
• Future proof solution
• Dynamic scalability and flexibility
• Reduced downtime
• High speed services
• Enhanced security
• Reduced capital expenditure (CAPEX)
• Supports business continuity (BC), and disaster recovery (DR)
• High availability (HA)
• On-demand access to computing resources
• Accessibility
• Increased business productivity