Tech Word For The Week: Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS)

Tech Word For The Week is a weekly series where we look to explain commonly used words in the tech ecosystem in a simple, engaging way.

Infrastructure as a service is another form of cloud computing. It delivers basic compute, network, and storage resources to clients through the internet using the pay as you go model. For organisations transitioning from on-premise infrastructure to cloud computing, IaaS is the most logical choice.

It eliminates the limitations of on-site infrastructure and heightens its advantages in a cost efficient manner to enhance daily business operations. With IaaS, businesses can regain some level of control over their infrastructure while reducing excess financial investments.

The IaaS Architecture

The IaaS architecture is built on 3 basic virtualised where all of the applications, softwares and workloads are run in the cloud.

• Compute: IaaS is also known as virtualized compute resources. Compute delivers the servers, applications, hardware and all other forms of compute which systems are built on. It enables a fast and cost-effective method of moving an application or workload to the cloud.
• Network: Cloud Network is a form of Software Defined Networking where traditional networking hardware, (like routers and switches) are made available, through APIs. Most advanced networking use cases entail the construction and deployment of multi-zone regions and virtual private clouds.
• Storage: Cloud storage is segmented into three types. They are block storage, object storage, and file storage. The things which go into object storage include pictures, documents, graphics and every other data. Block and file storage are more specific as regards the kind of file that are attached to them. iSCSI are attached on Block, while Network File systems are attached on file storage.

Benefits of IaaS

Removes excess capital expenditures

IaaS removes any costs relating to the configuring and management of a data center. The pay-as-you-go subscription models also help you reduce excess maintenance costs. This enables your team to focus on core business.

Facilitates scale

IaaS allows you to scale globally, anticipates and accommodates for spikes in resource demand. This allows your team to deliver IT resources from anywhere in the world in a prompt manner. This further enhances your application performance.

Reliable

IaaS does not require periodic maintenance, software and hardware upgrade or equipment troubleshooting. If you get the right agreement in place, your service provider ensures that the infrastructure is reliable and meets all service-level agreements (SLAs).

Business continuity and disaster recovery

Business continuity and disaster recovery is quite expensive for startups if they use on-site infrastructure. This is because it requires a huge amount of technology and staff. However, with the right SLA in place, IaaS eliminates this cost. It would also provide access to applications and data during a disaster or outage.

Better security

The right service agreement ensures the cloud service provider offers better security for your applications and data than the security you would attain on-site.

Bolsters innovation and delivers new apps faster

Iaas ensures new products or initiatives are delivered in minutes or hours rather than days, weeks or months. Since startups using IaaS don’t need to set up the underlying infrastructure their products can be delivered faster to users.