Cloud computing services are attracting more business interest as companies adopt technologies capable of delivering significant results. One of the most frequently chosen services is IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)—a $90.9 billion market in 2021, according to Gartner. In this article, you’ll learn what IaaS is, and what its main benefits are.
What Is IaaS and Why Is It Such a Popular Solution?
IaaS is a cloud computing model. It provides access to raw IT infrastructure such as server hardware, networks, connectivity, and operating systems. Service providers take care of physical infrastructure, allowing customers to devote resources to development instead of costly server maintenance.
Many factors influence the overall attractiveness of the IaaS model, but the main factor is its ability to reduce costs. When a business decides to have its own servers on-premise, it must invest in physical machines and infrastructure to ensure the safety of the equipment’s operation. It also needs to ensure that the machines are adequately cooled. Moreover, the ability to scale such a system is a challenge in and of itself, involving additional investment in space and equipment.
What Are the Benefits of Implementing IaaS?
Unlike the on-premise model, IaaS is a cost-effective solution because companies pay only for the space and the network resources used. It’s also a very efficient solution—one that automatically adapts to the specific needs of a business. Its implementation helps shorten the delays associated with the expansion of in-house IT systems, while also reducing potential resource wastage. IaaS boosts productivity, allowing businesses to allocate their employees’ valuable time to more important duties than infrastructure maintenance.
IaaS is also a stable solution. The data is never stored on a single device, but transferred between servers within a larger (or “zonal”) data center. If one of the data centers is affected by some kind of disaster (such as fire or flooding), the stored data is safe and always available.
IaaS can be scaled up and down. If the clients’ services have to cope with seasonal or even daily fluctuations in traffic, IaaS will be a much better solution than a dedicated physical server, which must always be prepared for the maximum expected traffic. With on-premise solutions, you have to anticipate traffic growth in advance, purchase machines, and then configure them. Scaling such a model down is almost impossible.
With IaaS, you can get optimal operational functionality, which shortens the product development cycle (assuming, of course, that all relevant departments are functioning properly). It is worth remembering that developers should always test the functionality of new solutions—even if the best cloud computing model was chosen.
Top Applications of the IaaS Service
The ability to choose a low-specification machine as part of IaaS makes it an ideal environment for launching and running application testing and development cycles, while reducing costs.
IaaS is also a safeguard in case of unexpected traffic spikes. Picture this nightmare: due to unforeseen events, there is a sudden surge of interest in a service, which could turn into a surge in sales, but the loaded servers make it impossible for customers to buy. This is where IaaS can make all the difference.
Is IaaS the Ideal Solution for Your Company?
Companies choose this service model to reduce their fixed costs in favor of more efficient operations. This is especially true when dealing with uneven server loads. However, there are many other reasons to shift to IaaS. Let’s see if your company is an ideal candidate for IaaS implementation.
If your business is growing rapidly and your IT infrastructure cannot keep up, and if the amount of data you store on your servers is so large that your servers are becoming inefficient, then you need to take a very serious look at the IaaS model.
The same applies if you are experiencing unpredictable traffic spikes, fluctuating demand for your services, or if your servers’ response time is too long.
You can also consider switching to IaaS if the applications you develop have limited performance due to insufficient server capacity.
Is IaaS the End or the Beginning of Your Cloud Computing Adventure?
Switching to IaaS is the first step taken by many companies accustomed to the on-premise model. Even though it’s an excellent option, it’s not the end of the road. There are other good cloud computing options out there, such as PaaS (Platform as a Service) or SaaS (Software as a Service).
