Cloud Computing - There’s more to the cloud than SaaS

Who remembers learning about the various types of cloud? Cumulus, altostratus and the rest. Ugh!

In cloud computing the services can be grouped into just three camps:

1. SaaS (Software as a Service): Any packaged software that is offered on a hosted basis across the internet, which users access through a web browser. This includes eBay, GoogleMail, salesforce.com and offerings in a host of areas such as accounting.
2. PaaS (Platform as a Service): This provides development tools to allow organisations and software developers to develop and deploy custom applications on a hosted platform, leaving the host to look after the system and basic administration
3. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Here the host provides raw computing power – processing power, storage and/or network – whilst giving the user control over aspects such as firewalls

So if you see me saying “SaaS cloud”, it’s to distinguish this type from the others.