IaaS is the acronym for Infrastructure as a Service. It is a form of cloud computing that allows you to outsource your hardware IT infrastructure in a virtualized environment. It differs from PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions, which include more layers of services. We will detail the full definition and the advantages below.
1. IaaS: To dematerialize the hardware infrastructure
Infrastructure-as-a-Service consists of outsourcing and virtualizing its hardware IT infrastructure. The client company thus decides to entrust this task to a specialized company. This service includes the installation of network servers (RAM, CPU, etc.), data storage, and the entire virtualization solution.
On the other hand, by choosing an IaaS solution, the company retains the management of its platforms and applications. In particular, it manages the operating system, software, and applications, as well as data.
IaaS is sort of the first tier of cloud computing. It allows the company to outsource only its hardware resources and keep the rest of its resources in-house for more control.
By comparison, PaaS ( Platform as a Service ) is a hosted solution that offers teams of developers all the tools they need to build a business application without having to install them.
Finally, SaaS ( Software as a Service ) is the most successful solution to a cloud service. The application is accessible online without having to worry about anything to use it. The servers, the OS (operating systems), the installation of the application, the maintenance, everything is managed by the SaaS provider.
2. IaaS: For maximum flexibility and control
IaaS is a cloud computing model particularly suited to companies that already have solid IT resources in-house but want more flexibility in the management of their infrastructure and gradually move towards virtual solutions.
It is a solution also appreciated by start-ups because it does not require heavy investment and is both simple and quick to set up. Here are its many advantages.
3. For rationalized costs
IaaS is a service in the form of a subscription. The rate is generally by the hour, week, or month and payment is peruse. It can be at the work unit (CPU, RAM, disk, bandwidth, etc.)
The company that subscribes to this form of service therefore pays only for what it consumes, which makes it possible to optimize costs but also to better budget its expenses.
As such, we advise each structure to calculate its IT TCO before subscribing to a cloud service.
IaaS makes it possible not to invest in expensive material resources, nor to incur expenses related to their essential maintenance. The company, therefore, eliminates investment expenses (Capex) and passes them to operating expenses (Opex) while reducing operating costs.
4. Forevermore Agility
Agility, flexibility, flexibility, synonyms that go round and round in the head of a business leader. For a company’s information system, the answer to this need for agility is cloud computing. The challenge is then to find the most suitable cloud solution.
With IaaS, the IS has scalable resources that can adapt to the fluctuating needs of the company. These can be extensible in a few clicks and immediately available which ensures very high reactivity in the adjustment of the solution. These characteristics allow events such as a temporary increase in workloads, the ultra-fast launch of a project, or the testing of an experimental solution to be absorbed without technical constraints.
The IaaS thus offers the ideal framework for a resource that makes the value of a company: it’s capacity to innovate.
5. For optimized security
The transition to a cloud solution always gives rise, naturally, to fear the protection and confidentiality of sensitive information. Being aware of the importance of this parameter is already an excellent thing. However, it is necessary to be reassuring on this point. The cloud is now a perfectly secure solution when it comes to data security, as long as you make the right choices.
To be sure, the first criterion to take into account is the quality of the chosen provider and the hosting solution it offers. If you are in a sensitive or highly competitive field, we recommend that you favor a supplier who has a data center on French soil. We explain the importance of this parameter here: Why favor local hosting for your information system?
Outsourcing your IT infrastructure also ensures that it is constantly monitored and supervised by IT security professionals and that data is backed up daily. This solution finally allows you to benefit from responsive and competent customer service when you need it.
6. To keep control
IaaS is the first degree of cloud computing. It can therefore be a first step in making a gradual transition to the complete outsourcing of the information system if this responds to a strategic desire to focus on your core business.
This elasticity allows you to taste it, by testing it on a virtual machine.
