Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) is one of the three key components in cloud computing, alongside Platform as a Service (PAAS) and Software as a Service (SAAS). Infrastructure as a Service is basically the backbone of cloud computing, providing the “virtualized” hardware platform or the infrastructure used in computing. When IAAS is utilized it offers you virtual machines, servers, storage space, bandwidth, network connections and load balancers.
In layman’s terms, with IAAS, you are able to get access (as a client of a cloud computing service) to your virtualized infrastructure, i.e. the “virtual” hardware you will use in the Cloud. This is part of the huge data centers that your cloud provider is maintaining. In these data centers, you will be able to build your IT platform, and that’s what the Infrastructure as a Service is all about.
Scalable and Cost Effective
Alongside with the PAAS and SAAS, Infrastructure as a Service will provide you, as a customer, with a scalable and cost-effective IT solution for your business. Also, you will be spared the complexity and expenses of building/taking care of the physical hardware, by outsourcing all these problems to your cloud provider.
The scalability of Infrastructure as a Service will allow you to grow or downsize your business instantly, without having to invest in unnecessary equipment, because the cloud resources are basically unlimited and very easy to spin up and use. One obvious advantage of Infrastructure as a Service is you will never have to buy hardware, install or integrate it. These services are provided by the cloud and this saves businesses time and money.
Save Money on Servers
You can use Infrastructure as a Service when building a Virtual LAN (local area network) for your business or a private cloud, without having to spend money on physical servers and network resources. Also, you can expand your business at any time, without having to re-design your storage capacity or transfer your private data from one machine to another. All these are synced inside the cloud automatically.
Infrastructure as a Service is also used in Cloud hosting, when you’re in the business of hosting websites on virtual servers, again, without having to spend money on your own infrastructure. If you host a website in the cloud, you will benefit from technical assistance, cheaper maintenance costs and obviously the redundancy offered by such a huge network of physical servers.
Virtual Data Centers
Another obvious use of Infrastructure as a Service is in Virtual Data Centers (VDC), which consists of a virtual network of servers in the cloud, all interconnected, offering endless cloud hosting possibilities.
The main advantages of Infrastructure as a Service are scalability, cost effectiveness, pay-on-demand for utilities, location independence, redundancy and the security of your data. With these factors in mind, you need to weigh if Infrastructure as a Service is a more cost-effective solution for your business.
Clarus Communications is a leading, national provider of telecommunications technology. Clarus specializes in providing over 60 telecom provider options to businesses that need dependable, scalable and innovative technology solutions. Since 2001, Clarus Communications has been successfully helping clients make the best decisions regarding their phone service, phone systems, wireless and data needs. Please click here or call us at 855-801-6700 to speak with one of our knowledgeable staff so we can work with you on finding the right service for your business at the most affordable rates.