Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a platform model that allows organizations to control their Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) directly upon their provider’s environment. Operating as a natural extension to the slow shift towards IaaS, PaaS gives operators and programmers more control over their system while still streamlining the process of deployment and development.
The Benefits of Platform-as-a-Service
- Rapid development. When developing or modifying applications, developers no longer have to concern themselves with low-level functions. Instead, they can focus on interfacing directly with their Infrastructure-as-a-Service, rather than having to drill down to the system functions o the machine.
- Simplified operations. PaaS makes it easier to track and log changes throughout a system, and discourages the use of outside third-party cloud resources. The PaaS platform is able to operate as an interface between applications and infrastructure, thereby creating a more fluid, better secured, and simplified computing model.
- Better value. With PaaS, organizations can acquire their infrastructure and applications through a single provider, making it easier to deploy and manage their systems. It is believed that PaaS can simultaneously provide better value to customers and to providers, as it allows providers to better differentiate themselves from their competition in terms of service offerings.
- Available resources. By working through single provider, companies are able to leverage one vendor as their point of contact for their system’s infrastructure and platform. This streamlines the process of troubleshooting and procuring support, in addition to reducing overall costs.
Considerations Related to Platform-as-a-Service
Transitioning to a PaaS platform puts all of the control of your system in the hands of a single vendor. An ideal PaaS setup is designed so that the vendor controls your web-based utilities in addition to the hardware that the service is developed on; otherwise the system loses many of its benefits. The system itself will be only as productive and secure as the software and hardware involved.
Consequently, it becomes incredibly important for organizations to properly vet their service providers. Not only do service providers need to have the right technology, but they must also adhere to all relevant security and regulatory standards. PaaS services will be ranked based on the efficiency of their technology as well as the strength of their customer support.
Organizations are already steadily moving towards a PaaS model as SaaS systems and IaaS systems are becoming commonplace. PaaS will create a truly agile model in which IT engineers do not have to be responsible for low-level development on as-a-service infrastructures, instead able to rely upon an all-in-one service that can deploy and control their infrastructure and platform all at once. And PaaS is only one of many ways that cloud technology and web-based applications are changing enterprise technology. If you’re a cloud solutions expert (or looking for one), you can contact Software Specialists today for current IT job listings.
