Cloud delivery models refer to various ways in which cloud computing services are provided to users and organizations. These models define how resources and services are delivered, managed, and accessed over the internet through cloud providers. The most common cloud delivery models are:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): In this model, cloud providers offer virtualized computing resources over the internet. Users can rent virtual machines, storage, and networking resources, allowing them to set up and manage their own operating systems, applications, and data without the need to invest in physical hardware.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS provides a platform that includes not only infrastructure but also development tools, middleware, and services required to build, deploy, and manage applications. It abstracts the underlying infrastructure, enabling developers to focus on coding and application development rather than worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS delivers complete software applications over the internet. Users can access these applications through a web browser without needing to install or maintain software on their local devices. Examples include email services, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and productivity suites.
- Function as a Service (FaaS) / Serverless Computing: This model allows developers to deploy individual functions or units of code in response to events without managing the underlying infrastructure. The cloud provider automatically scales the resources as needed, charging users based on the actual resource usage.
- Container as a Service (CaaS): CaaS offers a platform for deploying, managing, and orchestrating containerized applications. Containers provide a consistent environment for applications to run across different computing environments.
These cloud delivery models provide varying levels of control, management, and flexibility, catering to different needs and preferences of users and organizations.