The three main Cloud Computing Services are:

• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS makes use of the internet to offer apps to consumers that are controlled by a third-party vendor. The majority of SaaS apps operate immediately in your web browser, thus there are no client-side downloads or installation required.

In simple words, Users can access software through the internet using SaaS services, which charge a monthly subscription fee.

Examples of SaaS are Dropbox, Google Workspace (formerly GSuite), Cisco WebEx, Salesforce, GoToMeeting, SAP Concur, etc.

SaaS Characteristics

• Handled from a central location.
• The website is hosted  on a remote server.
• Available via the internet.
• Scalable, with multiple levels for small, medium, and large companies.
• Security, compliance, and maintenance are all included in the price.

When to Use SaaS

• Startups and small businesses that need to create an ecommerce site immediately and don’t have time to deal with server or software difficulties.
• Short-term initiatives that demand rapid, simple, and cost-effective collaboration.
• Tax software, for example, is an example of an application that isn’t used very often.
• Apps that require access from both the web and mobile devices.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS is a software development platform. Because this platform is supplied through the internet, developers may focus on developing software instead of worrying about operating systems, software upgrades, storage, or infrastructure. 

PaaS enables companies to grow and develop apps using unique software components that are integrated into the PaaS. Because they take on cloud qualities, these programmes, also known as middleware, are scalable and highly available.

In simple words, People utilise these tools to create apps, and PaaS vendors supply hardware and software tools through the internet. The majority of PaaS users are programmers.

Examples of PaaS are Windows Azure, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Heroku, Google App Engine, Force.com, OpenShift, etc.

PaaS Characteristics

• Multiple users can access it.
• Scalable – depending on the size of your company, you may pick from a variety of resource levels.
• The system is based on virtualization technology.
• It’s simple to use even if you don’t have a lot of experience with system management.

When to Use PaaS

PaaS is frequently the most cost- and time-effective method for a developer to construct a unique software.

PaaS allows the developer to concentrate on the creative aspects of app creation rather than routine duties like software upgrades and security fixes. The app will take up all of their time and brainpower to develop, test, and launch.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) refers to cloud infrastructure services that are made up of highly scalable and automated computing resources. Computers, networking, storage, and other services may all be accessed and monitored via IaaS. Instead of purchasing hardware altogether, IaaS allows organisations to acquire resources on-demand and as-needed.

In simple words, Pay-as-you-go storage, networking, and virtualization are among the services provided by IaaS companies. IaaS allows organisations to avoid investing in costly on-site resources by providing cloud-based alternatives to on-premise infrastructure.

Examples of IaaS are Linode, DigitalOcean, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Rackspace, Microsoft Azure, Cisco Metacloud, Google Compute Engine (GCE), etc.

IaaS Characteristics

• As a service, resources are provided.
• The price varies according on the amount of food consumed.
• The services are extremely scalable.
• On a single piece of hardware, there might be several users.
• The infrastructure is under the total control of the organisation.
• Adaptable and dynamic

When to Use IaaS

• IaaS may be preferred by startups and small businesses to avoid spending time and money on acquiring and developing hardware and software.
• Larger businesses may choose to maintain total control over their apps and infrastructure, but they want to buy just what they use.
• Companies that are experiencing rapid expansion like the scalability of IaaS, which allows them to simply swap out particular hardware and software as their needs change.