Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solutions automate IT infrastructure provisioning and represent the core of cloud computing. Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions go a step further, providing a platform for application development and deployment that standardizes and automates aspects of these functions.
IaaS solutions offer virtualized compute, storage, and networking resources to consumers on a self-service basis. In effect, IaaS is synonymous with cloud computing. PaaS solutions tend to be more robust, in that they include operating systems and middleware, allowing developers to create and deploy applications with ease.
IaaS refers to centrally managed computing resources made available for rapid provisioning via the Internet. Users access these resources via a browser-based management console or by API. IaaS services automatically scale to meet demand, and customers pay only for the resources that they use. Both private and public IaaS solutions are available to businesses.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a complete development environment that is hosted in the cloud and includes an OS, web server, tools, programming language, database, network, servers, storage, and more. The PaaS provider hosts and maintains the system and often builds a solution tailored to the unique needs of the customer. Many providers offer pay-as-you-go and other online pricing models.
Infrastructure-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service solutions have some features in common, and both reduce IT costs while adding significant operational efficiencies. Whether you choose one or the other, or decide to employ both types of solutions, will depend on your business needs.
| Business need | IaaS | PaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Build IT infrastructure at low up-front cost | | |
| Regularly scale IT resources up or down | | |
| Eliminate infrastructure maintenance work and costs | | |
| Eliminate vendor lock-in | | |
| Free developers from managing IT infrastructure | | |
| Allow multiple developers to work on an application simultaneously | | |
| Build truly cloud-native applications that are inherently highly available and scalable | | |
| Seamlessly deploy applications to the cloud | | |
Create a private or hybrid cloud solution with HPE’s cloud-optimized infrastructure.
Simplify and accelerate cloud infrastructure management with HPE’s unified management dashboard.
HPE’s experienced consultants will support you through every stage of the cloud lifecycle.
Speak with a cloud computing expert about how HPE can help address your business challenges.
Succeeding in a multi-cloud world with HPE Helion CloudSystem 10
Learn how to deliver Azure consistent services for your data center using hybrid IT and hybrid cloud with HPE ProLiant for Microsoft Azure Stack solution.
Learn how to deliver Azure consistent services for your data center using hybrid IT and hybrid cloud with HPE ProLiant for Microsoft Azure Stack solution.