What is Platform as a Service?

Following on from my previous article about Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) 

Read the Article What is Infrastructure as a Service?

Platform as a Service, often called PaaS, is the next tier of cloud service offering. 

PaaS builds on IaaS-based services by providing a platform for software developers to build, deploy and manage cloud-based applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure, including any virtual operating systems maintained by the cloud service provider.  

Using PaaS services is typically considered for one or more of the following key reasons:

• Speed to market

Development teams can quickly build applications on a PaaS platform without worrying about the underlying infrastructure, which can be physical or virtual. 

• Scaling

Applications built on PaaS platforms are often easier to scale when needed if they are architected and developed with scaling in mind. 

• Cost efficiency

Like most cloud offerings, PaaS is based on a pay-as-you-go model. However, unlike IaaS, the IT teams do not need to manage and maintain the operating system where the application is running, so they can spend time elsewhere adding value to the business. 

• Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD)

PaaS platforms support CI/CD workflows, allowing developers to automate the end-to-end build, test, and deployment process. If done well, this improves code quality and the application’s reliability. 

• Innovation

One of my favourite features of PaaS services is the ability to test new tools and application services safely. This allows developers to test the latest cutting-edge application services, aiding innovation. 

PaaS is often used in businesses to improve innovation, reduce management overhead, and speed up the time to market. Unlike IaaS-based platforms, software developers can build applications quickly and do not have to wait for an IT engineer to deploy virtual servers before they can start. 

What should I consider when thinking about PaaS services?

Like any cloud service, this depends on needs and requirements. All the main providers will offer scalability, a mix of performance and baseline security options, reliability and availability guarantees for uptime, and varying levels of regulatory compliance. Here are a few other key areas of consideration. 

• Application Requirements

Choose a provider that supports the relevant programming languages, tools, frameworks, and databases that your application needs. 

• Integration

Choose a provider that allows the necessary integrations with other applications via third-party services and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). You don’t want to start building and developing something on a platform to discover interoperability restrictions. 

• Customisation

Suppose you have an application that needs specific customisation of the underlying operating system to function correctly. In that case, PaaS services may not be the best option. 

Remember, in PaaS, the cloud provider manages the underlying Infrastructure for you, including the operating system, and you won’t be able to make certain changes. Instead, consider using an IaaS-based virtual machine where you have complete control over the operating system. 

• Cost

Like IaaS, you want to manage costs so your overall cloud computing spend does not get out of control. This involves creating a strategy to monitor and control who can deploy or change PaaS services. 

Overall, PaaS enables software developers to develop and deploy applications quickly in the cloud. In a fast-changing world, speed to market is often a key consideration for businesses, and PaaS is a good fit for those requirements. It is also frequently used to reduce IT management costs, as you are handing over management of the entire underlying Infrastructure to the cloud providers instead. 

Keep an eye out for my next article about Software as a Service (SaaS) to complete my mini-series on the core types of cloud services.