From pretty fluffy things in the sky to one of the hottest topics for small and global businesses alike, clouds are reducing the need for on-premise hosting more than ever.

It's safe to assume that the word (as a service) you repeatedly hear ultimately means cloud computing in the cloud deployment world.

In short, if you're considering eCommerce business, these are your top acronyms to focus on, as they're the three main types of cloud computing:

SaaS (Software as a service)
PaaS (Platform as a service)
IaaS (Infrastructure as a service)

And yes, it's about time we take a further in-depth yet swift and effortless look at each type's concept, advantages, disadvantages, use cases, and overall variances of the SaaS vs. PaaS vs. IaaS.

SaaS overview

SaaS is as straightforward as using free or non-free internet apps, as they're controlled and managed by a third-party provider either way.

Therefore, you don't need to update, install, or have anything other than your internet connection. In English, it's goodbye to any software/hardware complicated management.

SaaS strengths

SaaS started to gain recognition in the late 1990s. That's when companies like salesforce were founded to create and offer enterprise cloud software solutions through SaaS.
Those unique solutions once had, and still included the following:

Doorstep advanced applications:

You can use available internet apps as I mentioned, and that includes the advanced ones as well! All at an affordable price and free of complicated tech-related stuff.

Access SaaS apps anytime, anywhere:

That's right, you don't even need to download anything. Leave all the fancy tech stuff to your provider's responsibility and indulge the benefits right from any internet-connected browser.

Focus 100% only on your customer:

SaaS services save you unnecessary expenses since they scale automatically based on your organization's usage, besides being pretty much accessible from anywhere.

You can feel free to forget about any development challenges and leave them to your provider, all while purely focusing on your customer's needs and happiness.

SaaS weaknesses

Potential low performance:

You'll need application performance management tools to measure how your SaaS apps are performing over time. Still, you'll also need to invest in a fast and high-quality internet connection since you'll run it using your internet browser.

Data security issues:

Nothing's more dangerous than sensitive data leaks in the cloud computing world, let alone willingly providing it to cyber attackers.

You'll need to take extra precautions when it comes to trusting your data to your service provider. Identity checker and device access are on top when it comes to trusting any third-party service provider.

Software Integration:

You'll often find that your in-house APIs or data structures are not working correctly with the third-party provider's software.

That's why it is advised to first run SaaS apps compatibility checks to achieve the optimal results since not all the apps your provider hosts will be tailored to your devices.

SaaS use cases

You know the saying that goes, don't hesitate to do something? Well, now might be an excellent time to pause.

Among all other available cloud computing models, you can consider SaaS if you're:

• Aiming to lower high costs to maintain your budget
• Willing to take your startup business to the following enterprise level
• Trying to aspire remotely while maintaining some social distancing

SaaS examples

Surprised? Already aware? Here are some of the top SaaS providers delivered through your internet:

• Salesforce
• Zendesk
• Slack
• Dropbox
• HubSpot
• MailChimp

PaaS overview

Would it be surprising if I told you that you use PaaS in your daily life, for example, your windows?

Thanks to PaaS, web application development became simpler than before, as it carries the complete lifecycle of applications like deploying, testing, etc.…

Additionally, it is there to make you manage applications and provide the resources you need -or end up purchasing from a cloud service provider- to build your own applications.

PaaS strengths

Since PaaS comes in different shapes for deployment environments (public PaaS, private PaaS, and even a hybrid PaaS for the hybrid cloud). It earned the right to become one of the main three cloud computing models, here's why:

Sophisticated tools within reach:

With a pay-as-you-go model as the PaaS, enjoy unlimited possibilities with the ability to afford sophisticated analytic tools that you usually wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.

Multitask platforms development:

Your third-party provider can grant you more deployment options, meaning that you can quickly develop new computers and mobile apps now, effortlessly.

Ultra-Efficient applications:

Get long-life application capabilities available, such as apps for the managing, deploying, and updating phases. Without requiring additional tech skills.

PaaS weaknesses

• Perfect levels of speed and support are on top when it comes to PaaS. Therefore, make sure to make the contract with a trustworthy provider who's gonna stick in for years to come.

• As the information is stored off-site, data security needs to be significantly considered, especially the process of keeping it away from any potential risks. Unfortunately, the IT department is the one most responsible for such tech difficulties.

• You need to understand what works and what doesn't, as some difficulties might occur when two different platforms come into play together. Make sure that everything's compatible together, as one can never be too prepared for the worst.

PaaS use cases

An enterprise can use PaaS to facilitate apps development and do other things that include:

• Get precise analytics for your business and impeccable data analysis that sure will come in handy for your future endeavors.

• Current or new application programming interfaces (APIs) become no longer a problem, as PaaS provides you every tool you need to run and manage perfectly fine.

• Need even more communication means? Now you have multiple more! Messaging, voice, and video communication. You name it, and the feature's added right away.

PaaS examples

• AWS Elastic Beanstalk
• Magento Commerce Cloud
• Apache Stratos
• Heroku
• OpenShift

IaaS overview

If you are ever in desperate need of an IT infrastructure, why don't you just rent it? Then, it is simply hosted on the public cloud and private cloud instead of an on-premises data center anyway.

That's what the IaaS is for. And, I'm not bragging or anything, but who's a better IaaS provider than ServerHub and its unprecedented prices?

IaaS strengths

Now that the IaaS goes without definition, let's take a deeper look at some of its top advantages:

Cost-effective solutions

Scale-up and down as you please, along with any specifically required infrastructure in no time, that all goes without saying to the expenses level of a startup business.

Increases everywhere

From troubleshooting problems to increasing the overall stability, every improvement is within reach, of course, with the right provider and reasonable agreement.

Core-business focus

With faster apps delivery, better data security, and your provider doing any infrastructure and development for you. The sky isn't the limit to your creativity when focusing on your other main things.

IaaS weaknesses

They say nothing's perfect without its drawbacks, right? Okay, maybe that's just me. Ahem, back to business! Here're some of the top IaaS drawbacks:

• It gets harder to pick when it comes to your next IaaS provider; that's why you need to make sure of choosing someone who's gonna stay in the industry for years to come! To spare yourself the agony of system interaction challenges.

• Always be careful out there, or when it comes to IaaS, as sudden expenses might occur at any given moment, including piled-up fees or even sudden peaks.

• Adjustable security has its ups and downs, but it will all be left to your own business's responsibility to handle it and make sure that everything goes according to plan.

Sometimes you might require a virtual private cloud (VPC) that has more security layers for more sensitive data, as a VPC can create you a private network for a single tenant inside the public cloud for extra protection you might require.

IaaS use cases

• Enjoy hosting complex websites even with unstable traffic. Yes, it's an IaaS specialty, and it can exceed expectations while at it.

• Ultra-perform all the complicated tasks you encounter, thanks to the scalability of the IaaS that can provide you with a pay-as-you-go model to fit your exact needs.

• Manage, analyze, and wide-scope vast amounts of data to get the best business insights and thrive among your competitors.

IaaS examples

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Compute Engine (GCE
• Cisco Metacloud
• Rackspace

SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS

Ultimately, each model stands for:

IaaS:

Cloud services with a pay-as-you-go model, such as storage and virtualization.

PaaS:

Available software and hardware tools over the internet.

SaaS:

Free/paid software that's available via a third-party provider.

On-premise:

Software that's installed in the same building as your business.

Off-premise:

Well, you got the hang of it.

Which model is better for you

It can certainly get confusing in an ever-changing cloud deployment world, where you can basically use everything as a service. But once you initiate your golden strategy and come to terms with your end goals, each model can work and serve as the best suitable for a specific phase.

Whether you choose to start with one cloud computing service model or go all-in with all three, it will eventually depend on your business's size, complexity, and current basic needs.

To most of us, cloud computing is this calm place where our data stays secure and unbothered. However, the reality is that it’s way beyond peaceful and is pretty much more difficult for an organization that provides or depends on it, let alone its expenses.

The customer demand for infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is rapidly stepping up, since maintaining an on-premises IT infrastructure can be overwhelmingly costive and labor-inclusive. Not to mention how hard it is to find the top talent and experience it requires.

All that aside, you will first need to be knowledgeable enough about the cloud service solutions’ analyzing, evaluating, and designing. Therefore, you need to understand at least how the common types of cloud computing services work.

You can find below our beginner guides for the most 3 common types of cloud computing services.

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

IaaS definition

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is one of the cloud computing services where users rent IT infrastructure through the internet.

The IaaS Infrastructure is hosted on the public cloud and private cloud instead of an on-premises data center.

The service provider is the one responsible for fully managing that infrastructure and delivering it to the customers.

IaaS Advantages

IaaS has many advantages that include but are not limited to:

Improved security:

The cloud service provider of your IaaS can grant you better applications and data security than your in-house one.

Swift apps delivery:

Get the new applications to your users faster with IaaS, as you can focus on the delivery of the app and let the provider set up and infrastructure and development for you.

Target the essence of your business:

Allow your team to prosper freely by focusing on the main thing, instead of the IT infrastructure.

Overall increase:

With the right agreement, your IaaS provider can troubleshoot any potential software/hardware problems for you, moving with what’s best to increase both your stability and reliability.

Best cost-effective improvements:

Get the required product’s infrastructure in no time with scaling up ability, disaster recovery, and high availability. All at the level of start-up expenses.

IaaS challenges

Even though Popular IaaS providers include Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Compute Engine. Nothing’s perfect without its drawbacks. That include:

Compromisable security:

While it’s true that the IaaS providers will provide the infrastructure, there’s no decisive telling for what comes next, since it becomes the responsibility of the business itself.

Merged vendors:

Your IaaS provider might go out of business at any moment, giving you hard time and current system interaction challenges.

Surprising costs:

whether it’s a piled-up fee or a sudden peak, the overall cost can be unexpected at times.

IaaS vs VPC

Companies with strict or sensitive data require additional protection and privacy within a public cloud, that’s where the virtual private cloud (VPC) comes into play.

VPC is the best way of isolating your data without sacrificing speed or functionality, as VPCs create you a private network for a single tenant inside the public cloud, which allows you to control the virtual firewalls, subnets, and security groups among other network privacy aspects.

IaaS glorified

IaaS providers offer gigantic services that manage to capture the interest of most business owners. However, always prioritize and check thoroughly your IT department’s capabilities to determine whether you’re ready to deal with the demands of IaaS implementation.

After accurate evaluation and analysis, you are ready to take the next step, which’s to start looking for your next IaaS provider, who will be able to meet your current and upcoming needs.

A cloud computing tech-savvy, or just a thirsty learner? Make sure to check the rest of our top-notch blogs or our high-value articles for more to come.

We’ve all been there, asking the same question over and over. Can just one other word make so much difference?

The lines between the private cloud and the virtual private cloud are blurring more than ever. Still, they differ in terms of provider, architecture, and resource delivery.

Luckily you can decide between both based on these distinctions.
Without further ado, let’s dive into it!

Private clouds: what to expect

Private clouds stand by their name as a computing service offered through the internet, exclusively provided to one organization, and dedicated to fully-protect it from any harm.

Unlike a public cloud’s often misassumptions of its expectation vs. reality. A private cloud is direct to the point, only available to a set-of selected users (single-tenant environment).

The internal/corporate/private cloud is easy to scale up. Therefore, it can provide:

• Scalability: providing extra services without extra configuration to be required by the IT team
• Self-service: granting users the ability to access the private cloud without IT complexities.

You better know that your own IT department will be held accountable for any failures and met with many complexities. So, you should invest smartly into the management, staff, and other maintenance expenses.

Benefits of private cloud

With optimal security and customization control, the advantages of a private cloud may include:

Full software/hardware choices control: choose what you prefer, not what a cloud provider offers.

Full conformity and flexibility: customers aren’t forced to obey a cloud service provider’s administration

Don’t forget to keep in mind that one of the most distinguished traits private clouds enjoy is the high privacy/security level, protecting you against any potential attacks or from sensitive data leaks to third-party providers.

Alongside elasticity and additional control, using the dedicated resources hosted on-premises.

Cloud services for private clouds

Two cloud services models are applicable for a private cloud, which are the IaaS and the PaaS.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): where a third-party provider develops platforms and exposes them to customers over the internet. As if you’re buying the tools you need to build your house by yourself.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): where a third-party provider hosts virtualized resources online to customers. As if you’re renting land to build your house on, but still need your own building equipment to do so.

Private cloud and the next level

Capable of running virtual machines, private clouds are a solid choice to maximize hardware usage.

Still, private cloud users will need more public cloud features and will often mix both the public cloud and private cloud to develop a hybrid cloud that can have the necessary elements to meet all their needs.

Deploying a hybrid cloud is essential for ultra-efficiency purposes, and will benefit you greatly by freeing up space using cloud bursting.

Virtual private cloud (VPC)

A virtual private cloud is a private cloud within a public cloud, reinforced with security/isolation aspects using public cloud resources.

Same as the private cloud, you’re only allowed to access it if you’re the one who made it or a part of the people invited inside (multitenancy).

The VPC comes backed with scalability, agility, exquisite performance, and easy hybrid cloud deployment using an application programming interface (API). Thus, Making-your business inevitably one step closer to perfection.

What isolates a VPC

With firewall functions that provide filtering capabilities, here’re the technologies behind the VPC isolation:

Subnets: You reserve IP network addresses so you can come back later to, which are ultimately only yours to command, away from the evil public internet world.

VLAN: VPCs can be isolated through some devices connected to a local area network, which means having a connection that is there without the use of the internet.

VPN: mostly used to access region-restricted websites or to shield your browsing activity. VPNs isolate a VPC using encrypted traffic. A virtual private network (VPN) passes through a publicly shared Internet infrastructure that’s not visible to anyone but you.

VPC top benefits

Most viable and valuable VPC scenarios come into play when you need the following:

Guaranteed customer satisfaction: a VPC helps you build brand trust/customer loyalty, and therefore gain more traffic and achieve other strategy goals, with an uptime ratio up to 99.99%.

Exceptional security: a VPC offers you a complete data separation from your provider’s other clients unless you give them access, protecting all your valuable information from potential leaks to the wrong hands.

Customize all you want: with complete control over your network, VPCs allow you to connect to your enterprise at any time you wish to, add segmentations based on your mere desire, and become more agile than ever.

Challenges VPC users to face

Like all the beautiful things in the world, they pack a punch when they come with a bit of excitement. Rare but possible at the same-time VPC challenges might include:

1-Complexity issues when trying to manage and configure the VPN of the VPC you are using. Therefore, you should have a pretty solid IT team for viable incidents.

2-VPCs, no matter how great they may seem, are still hosted outside the enterprise’s data center. This exposes some strict compliance businesses to data and application limitations.

Virtual private cloud vs. private cloud: you don’t have to choose

Although they are often used by financial institutions, government agencies, or other organizations with critical operations seeking more and improved control over their environment.

The utter truth is that no one specific type of cloud computing can be considered the right choice for everyone and will always depend on each entity’s needs.

As technology progresses faster than ever, several other cloud computing models and services have evolved to meet the fast-changing individualized needs of organizations.

There will be ups and downs for every cloud deployment model, but the three main service models for deploying a cloud service are a private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud.

Strategize, organize, and study both your needs and your competitors as hard. That way, it’s easier to grasp the ultimate end goal and move swiftly towards it using the perfect deployment method, mainly directed and guided by your unique business needs.

Hybrid cloud, cloud hybrid, or multi-cloud. No matter which definition of hybrid cloud you use, the great benefits are the same!

With superior security, automated data redundancy, high availability, and disaster recovery. Hybrid cloud is the ultimate choice for small and big businesses alike.

Imagine a hybrid train feeding on solar and electric power, 2 distinguished technologies functioning differently.

When both are combined appropriately, it results in a more powerful train than a solar or electric-only train, enhancing advantages and overcoming disadvantages of each power.

Hybrid clouds maintain the same approach, unifying public and private cloud services to create a single and cost-optimal IT infrastructure.

Hybrid cloud: what connects the separate clouds

Public clouds, private clouds, and on-premises infrastructure can connect through:

• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
• Wide Area Networks (WANs)
• Local area networks (LANs)

Hybrid cloud: types of environments

• Public cloud: shared by multiple organizations, it runs by an external vendor that may include servers in one or more data centers

• Private cloud: wholly dedicated to one company, all the files are not shared, maintained, and secured by the organizations-themselves

• On-premises (legacy): where deployments don’t use cloud technology. Instead, organizations use the traditional practice of purchasing software licenses.

Any combination of the above cloud types can be considered “hybrid cloud”

Hybrid cloud: How does it work?

Hybrid clouds focus on transforming portions of a company’s on-premises data center into private cloud infrastructure, then connecting that infrastructure to public cloud environments hosted off-premises by a public cloud provider.

This happens using unified management tools or advanced enterprise middleware to combine cloud resources across the environments.

Hybrid cloud: the advantages within

Offering many competitive edges, the benefits of a hybrid cloud include:

• Improved productivity: agility is on top when it comes to hybrid clouds, helping you expand effortlessly and deploy to all clouds.

• Exceptional security: keep sensitive data on-premises in a secure private cloud while running the rest of your applications using a public cloud.

• Potential acceleration: avoid service interruptions due to cloud crashes by relying on the other cloud. Also, gain faster integration and combination with partners or third parties to deliver new products and services.

• Cost control: run every application as efficiently as possible by adding cloud resources -only when- needed to accommodate the peak periods.

Read VPC vs private cloud: differences and definations

Hybrid cloud: the evil drawbacks

Because nothing’s perfect without the imperfections, some of the top hybrid cloud disadvantages are:

• Complexity all over: setting up a hybrid cloud takes more steps than deploying a single cloud, as hybrid clouds consist of at least 1 private cloud and 1 public cloud, or 2 and more clouds from each.

• Tough to secure: requiring multiple security products at times for the company’s public cloud, as it’s only the private cloud that runs behind its firewall.

• Barbed mixture: not all private and public clouds are fully compatible, resulting in slow responses for hybrid cloud applications. Additionally, the cost may significantly increase in data misplacement, inevitably calling for a unique set of outstanding technical skills.

Hybrid cloud: use cases and scenarios

• Disaster recovery: by backing up data in the cloud carefully to avoid bandwidth consumption.

• Cloud provider adventure: where a group of skilled people explore the cloud tools and learn how to deal with them before adopting a public cloud approach.

• Future flexibility: hybrid clouds match your exact data requirements to the public/private cloud resources that are guaranteed to handle them the best.

Hybrid cloud: best of both worlds

The presence of multiple environments can be a powerful defense against security risks and maintain the tools freely for complete scaling, saving, and maximum efficiency.

If the road is clear, then why limit your options? Go on and consider all the way hybrid cloud now! Get all the agility you need for the next level, and grasp the best of both worlds.

Next: Everything as a service: Beginner's guide to XaaS

Ever got confused about the difference between a VPC and a VPN, too? You're not alone. VPCs and VPNs are often puzzled as they:

• Share key aspects
• Can be associated together
• Stand for almost the same acronyms

Let's decipher each letter, benefit, and dig deeper into whether it's worth all the confusion, in this short yet comprehensive answer.

The (V) for virtual, refers to a virtualized network relying on virtualized hardware.

The (P) for private, means that access to a resource is limited for certain users.

VPC under spotlight

With the (C) standing for cloud, VPCs grant users the ability to turn on/off their servers within an hourly pricing model instead of a monthly one.

They’re also not limited to a single server, and can manage great numbers of virtual machines. Plus, Elasticity is on top for VPCs, giving you automatic virtual expansion for sudden traffic increases.

Besides being much cheaper than a VPS that charges monthly, read (VPC) fully explained in less than 500 words. or virtual private cloud vs private cloud for a full virtual private cloud guide.

VPC additional perks

If what we mentioned still doesn’t satisfy your taste, here’s more!

• Effortless hardware boosts: simply upgrade hardware for all your VPC customers at once since they all access resources from the same hardware.

• Hybrid cloud harmony: enjoy a combination of a private cloud and a public cloud service operated by a third party, and gain access to more data deployment options.

VPN under spotlight

VPNs mainly facilitate the public-resources reach to users in private.

They also can:

• Encapsulate your data in an encrypted tunnel to secure your internet connection
• Give you the advantage of Internet privacy
• Offer you IP leak protection

Personally, I came into direct contact with VPNs and they benefited me in different ways, still are! Those benefits depend on each individualized scenario.

For instance, in my case, I used it to access blocked websites, since I come from a place where a lot of good websites are just, blocked.

Read SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS: Beginner's Guide to your Best Model

Key differences between a VPC and a VPN

Even though they share the acronyms of the “V” for Virilization and the “P” for private, they do still offer different needs.

VPC, as an elastic cloud service, focuses more on hosting/providing full control over a company-websites, with automatic scale for traffic requirements and unbounded hardware limitations.

VPN, on the other hand, is a cost-effective technology for companies and individuals alike.

From protecting normal conversations and VoIP calls up to logins and bank info, a VPN can be hosted on a VPC to breakthrough any geographical limitations.

Get a deeper look at our detailed article for the great capabilities of a VPN, or another one here for how to benefit your business with the VPN protocol types.

Do you know what VPC means and why it even matters to your public cloud journey? Today, we’re going to break it down!

A virtual private cloud (VPC) is a private cloud environment hosted within a public cloud, all enhanced with security and isolation aspects while using public cloud resources.

Like a crowded coffee shop with the sign “reserved” on one of its tables, you can access the VPC only if you’re who made it or a part of the multitenancy (people invited inside).

How is a VPC isolated?

A VPC separates traffic from the rest of the public clouds with firewall functions that provide filtering capabilities. The technologies used to do the VPC resources separation are:

• VLAN: devices connected to a local area network, without the use of the Internet.

• VPN: a virtual private network (VPN) uses scrambled and encrypted traffic that passes through publicly shared Internet infrastructure that’s not visible to anyone.

• Subnets: IP network addresses that are reserved, not accessible via the public Internet.

What are the benefits of a VPC?

1. Isolation and security: a VPC offers you complete data separation from your provider’s other clients unless you give them access.

2. Fixable customization: VPCs grant you full control over your network, allowing you to add segmentations, connect to your enterprise, and become more agile.

3. Customer satisfaction: VPC environments help you build brand trust and customer loyalty with uptime ratios up to 99.99%.
   

Challenges of virtual private clouds

Although rare but viable, a VPC is not immune to potential challenges, including:

1. Facing some complexity when managing and configuring its VPN.

2. VPCs are still hosted outside the enterprise’s data center, exposing some strict compliance businesses to data and application limitations.

The advantages of using a VPC instead of

• VPC vs. private cloud: a VPC is hosted by a public cloud provider that provides better security and performance, making the VPC public cloud connection simpler than the private cloud is.

• VPC vs. VPN: A virtual private network makes a secure internet connection by creating information traveling through an encrypted tunnel. Deploying a VPN-as-a-Service establishes secure site-to-site communication between your VPC and your other location

A VPC is guaranteed to grow your-business

Many business leaders provide IaaS and offer VPC services, such as Microsoft Azure, Google, and Amazon’s VPC that uses IPsec virtual private network connection

With scalability, easy hybrid cloud deployment, overall agility, security, and performance that VPC has. Your business is inevitably one step closer to perfection.