Cloud Computing – SaaS, PaaS, IaaS : what are these terms?

We have already discussed about Cloud Computing, cloud server and Private Cloud. You must have heard of these terms : SaaS, PaaS and LaaS. Many people or organization often says, “well, we are using SaaS” , like something behind the real cloud, these  SaaS, PaaS and LaaS….often remains misty to an average computer user.

So, in this article, we will just explain the terms,  SaaS, PaaS and LaaS. We will go in to further technical detail about  SaaS, PaaS and LaaS in other article.

All these terms are actually related with Cloud Computing. So, if you have missed our articles on Cloud computing, you might be interested to read those articles :

• Private cloud in the business
• Cloud computing : Standards and Guidelines from NIST with Free e-book
• Cloud Computing Privacy and how to protect Privacy in the Cloud

Cloud Computing and SaaS

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. SaaS is the most popular form of cloud computing. The service allows software applications are available as standardized service over the Internet. SaaS is also the most common free Public Cloud Computing : examples of software as a service is the free Google Docs , Microsoft Live Services.

Cloud Computing and Paas

PaaS stands for Platform as a Service. Again, it is closely associated with Cloud Computing. A PaaS platform provides functions for quick, cost-effective development and deployment of applications. Example of PaaS Cloud Computing are : Google App Engine , Microsoft Windows Azure platform.

Cloud computing and IaaS

IaaS Stands for Infrastructure as as Service. Actually IaaS is smaller form of PaaS and IaaS is the lowest level in cloud computing. If you use the Virtual Servers of Rackspace or Amazon Cloud, you will be actually using Iaas.