Tech in Diagrams

IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS

The three service models differ in one thing: how much of the stack the provider operates for you.

Beginner 5 min Cloud Computing
On-premisesYou run everythingIaaSRent compute, storage, networkPaaSDeploy code, not serversSaaSUse finished softwareYou keep: data, identities, configuration
Moving right, more layers are operated by the provider.

Hover a node to trace its connections · click or press Enter for a short explanation

Why it matters

  • Choosing a model is choosing how much operational work your team keeps.
  • Responsibility for data and access control never transfers to the provider, whatever the model.
Next conceptWhat is a Virtual Machine?A virtual machine is a software-defined computer that shares one physical host with other isolated machines.