Examining Cloud Service Models
No cloud computing discussion would be complete without mentioning Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS), and Software as a service (SaaS). These are the standard models per the National institute of standards and technology (NIST) and the most commonly offered by cloud providers. Let’s briefly recap these models before we get into Azure specifics:
- IaaS: As the name suggests, with this model, the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure. One of the most common examples of this implementation is cloud-based virtual machines. You can request virtual machines with certain specifications, and the cloud provider can automatically provision them for you. You don’t need to worry about the underlying host or infrastructure. You will manage the virtual machine, including installing software, updates, and more.
This is the closest model to managing physical machines, without needing to manage any hardware...