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Cloud Computing- IaaS

Cloud Computing provides users with various services. One of the best and most essential services is known as IaaS. Cloud Computing is famous for IaaS. So, in today’s article, we will discuss IaaS, and let us begin.

What is IaaS?

In Cloud Computing terms IaaS stands for Infrastructure-as-a-Service. It is a form of cloud computing in which users receive virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS is one of the top three sections in cloud computing services. The list is followed by PaaS and SaaS. In this case, the cloud vendor will take the responsibility to manage the infrastructures required in IT. IaaS offers an essential compute, storage, and networking resource model. The user uses the Pay-as-you-go model for payment.

Migration of an organization’s infrastructure with IaaS helps users reduce the maintenance of on-premises data centers. The organization will reduce the expenditures on hardware costs and will focus on real-time business. It will allow users to scale up and scale down the IT resources depending upon the requirements. IaaS is also popularly known as Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS).

Architecture of IAAS

Cloud vendors providing an IaaS model will host the infrastructure components that are initially present inside an on-premises data center. It includes elements like servers, storage, networking hardware also virtualization or known as the hypervisor layer. The IaaS Service provider will offer the users with a wide range of services to go along with the infrastructure components. The list is as follows:

  • detailed billing;
  • monitoring;
  • log access;
  • security;
  • load-balancing;
  • clustering;
  • storage resiliency, (backup, replication, and recovery.)

But the following services are policy-driven which authorizes the IaaS users to implement a higher level of automation and orchestration required for high-priority infrastructure tasks.

IaaS Models

IaaS is offered in three models

IaaS Models

1. Public Cloud

In Public Cloud, the infrastructure resides at the cloud computing platform at the vendor’s data center.

2. Private Cloud

Private Cloud implies where the infrastructure resides at the premises of the customer.

3. Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is combined and made up of two clouds in which the client has to select the best out of the public and private cloud.

IaaS Services

The following services are provided by the IaaS provider. They are as follows:

1. Compute: The first service is Computing as a Service. This service includes virtual central processing units. Also, it has virtual main memory for the Virtual Machines allocated to the end-users.

2. Storage: IaaS provider will provide users with back-end storage for storing files and information.

3. Network: The third service in the list is Network as a Service (NaaS). It provides users with networking components such as routers, switches, and bridges for the VMS.

4. Load balancers: IaaS will provide load balancing capability located at the infrastructure layer.

How does IaaS Work?

The user using IaaS accesses the resources with the help of the internet. They use cloud provider services to install the required elements required to build the pyramid of an application. If the user can log in to the IaaS platform for creating virtual machines (VMs). They will have to perform the following operations:

  • Install the required Operating System for each VM.
  • Deploy middleware like databases.
  • The user has to create storage buckets for creating workloads and backups.
  • Finally, the user has to load the workload into the developed VM.

The user will have the authority to use the cloud provider’s services as mentioned below:

  • Track Costs
  • Monitor the Performance
  • Balance the Network Traffic
  • Troubleshoot the application issues
  • Disaster recovery management.

Every Cloud Computing Model requires a provider. The provider is mostly a third-party organization that is an expert providing IaaS services. The renowned IaaS vendors are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure. Some businesses also choose to deploy a private cloud and become the owner of infrastructure services.

Pros of Iaas

1. Shared Infrastructure

IaaS will permit many users to share and use the shared physical infrastructure.

2. Enhance Security

By having an appropriate Service Level Agreement (SLA), the cloud service provider will offer users better security required for the application.

3. Cost Savings

One of the key benefits of IaaS is to reduce the cost of infrastructure. And, it is the best feature of Cloud Computing. With the help of IaaS, the company does not have to think about the maintenance of hardware and network devices. It also ensures the uptime and replacement of old types of equipment.

4. Runs when the server goes down

The IaaS service provider will provide more excellent reliability along with the services. Because of any reason, if any hardware components fail. Otherwise, the internet connection fails, or the complete data goes offline. The infrastructure of an organization will not get affected.

5. Focusing on Business

The IaaS providers focus on the IT infrastructure, not the core business of any organization.

Cons of IaaS

1. Technical Issues

Sometimes, organizations face some downtime with IaaS. It will affect and restrict the user’s access to the applications and the data.

2. Lack of Flexibility

Some service providers maintain the software. But they do not update the software versions or upgrade the software for some businesses.

3. Security

Security is the primary concern in IaaS. The majority of the IaaS providers do not pass to provide 100 percent of security.

4. Interactivity Issues

It is a difficult task to migrate a VM from one IaaS provider to another provider. The users sometimes face issues related to vendor lock-in.

IaaS Service Providers

Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Some popular solutions offered are as follows:

  • Simple Storage Service (S3)
  • Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)
  • Route 53
  • Glacier.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a renowned Cloud Vendor in the Cloud Industry and it offers the users with compute and storage services via Google Compute Engine.

Microsoft Azure: Here, the Virtual Machines will offer cloud virtualization for many different cloud computing purposes.

These are some Cloud Giants in Today’s market. Below is the list of some smaller players in the IaaS market, which include these products mentioned below:

  • Rackspace Managed Cloud;
  • IBM Cloud Private;
  • IBM Cloud Virtual Servers;
  • CenturyLink Cloud;
  • DigitalOcean Droplets;
  • Alibaba Elastic Compute Service;
  • Alibaba Cloud Elastic High-Performance Computing (E-HPC); and
  • Alibaba Elastic GPU Service (EGS).
  • Reliance Communications Reliance Internet Data Center
  • Tata Communications InstaCompute
  • Sify Technologies Sify IaaS

Examples of IaaS

The examples of IaaS are as follows:

  • Software development
  • Software testing
  • Hosting websites
  • Supporting web apps
  • High-performance computing (HPC)
  • Big data analysis

Summary

Cloud Computing is one of the well-known emerging technologies which provides suitable architectural solutions. IaaS is the most flexible model available in cloud computing. It provides users with quick access to computing, storage, and network solutions. IaaS provides users with many business solutions which help to reduce their expenditure.