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What is Infrastructure as a Service and Who Can Benefit?

Angelika Agapow
Angelika Agapow
Content Marketing Specialist
February 16
15 min
Table of Contents

Introduction


Companies choose the Azure IaaS model to handle crucial workloads. Its incomparable stability, reliability, and support capabilities. In comparison to on-premises solutions, the IaaS model offers longer uptime, better security options, and scaling capabilities that on-premises environments cannot provide.

 

What is Infrastructure as a Service?


Infrastructure as a Service, also called IaaS, is an innovative cloud computing model that allows organizations to access virtualized resources from any device, anytime.

Cloud computing technology has revolutionized the way businesses access and acquire their software, making it faster to get up and running. IaaS is one of three main models along with SaaS (Software as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service). This enables companies to take full advantage of advances in cloud tech without needing large upfront costs associated with installing from scratch.

azure cloud iaas

In the IaaS model, the cloud provider manages IT infrastructures such as storage, server, and networking resources, and delivers them to subscriber organizations via virtual machines accessible through the internet. IaaS can have many benefits for organizations, such as potentially making workloads faster, easier, more flexible, and more cost-efficient.

 

Pricing of IaaS

With a pay-as-you-go approach, cloud users can rest easy knowing they’ll only be charged for what your business used. The range and complexity of IaaS pricing models has grown significantly over time.

 

Subscriptions and reserved instances

Make the most of your IT spending and achieve long-term cost savings by taking advantage of pre-paid subscriptions or reserved instances. These agreements with providers can give you discounts on retail prices if you commit to longer terms – reaching up to three years.

 

Monthly billing

Efficient and reliable payment solutions are key to the success of BMaaS (Bare Metal as a Service); monthly billing models offer a convenient way to ensure running costs remain stable with predictable, sustainable workloads.

 

How IaaS works?


Infrastructure as a Service offers a convenient and cost-effective way to outsource IT resources. By partnering with experienced cloud service providers, companies can access the latest hardware and software in reliable state-of-the-art data centers. This secure network provides customers with a high level of performance utilizing public or private networks tailored to specific requirements.

The provider may manage the hardware, but users are still in control of their projects and data. Customers are responsible for managing applications hosted on this infrastructure to turn their vision into reality with virtualization or containerization solutions.

Customers utilizing IaaS can easily access resources and services via a WAN, wide area network such as the internet. The platform allows them to quickly create virtual machines with their desired operating system of choice while also providing features like storage buckets for workloads/backups and middleware installations. All this in one convenient place – enabling customers to get up and running swiftly on their business’s enterprise workloads right away.

Customers can use the provider’s services to track costs, monitor performance, optimize network traffic, and prevent app issues. In addition, clients have access to robust disaster recovery solutions.

Learn why companies choose to work with Hicron Software House and read one of our case studies about performance-oriented solution for vehicle allocation in the cloud.

 

How IaaS differs from PaaS and SaaS?


Cloud service models are the perfect choice for companies looking to reduce costs, invest in business growth and remain agile. IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS each offer their own advantages depending on individual needs. It’s important to understand their differences before deciding which solution is best suited for your business. Each of these options can be professionally tailored to deliver key benefits such as improved scalability or increased efficiency.

How to get the best out of Azure for your business? Check our article!

 

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

It is the perfect solution for busy developers and programmers who need support in their day-to-day work – allowing them to focus on their tasks without having to worry about hardware maintenance. The cloud platform simplifies development, providing an economical alternative for businesses that still desire access to cutting-edge technology.

 

SaaS (Software as a Service)

Provides an easy and user-friendly way to access applications through the cloud. With SaaS, users can reap the benefits of a secure web application without needing to install it locally on all terminals or manage individual licenses for each team member. This ensures that teams benefit from efficient software updates, patches, and monitoring managed by the provider.

 

Architecture of IaaS


Cloud Infrastructure as a Service provides businesses with an innovative approach to data center resources, enabling them to access powerful hardware components and virtualization capabilities traditionally located in on-premises systems. This cutting-edge solution allows organizations of all sizes to benefit from the scalability and cost efficiency that can come with cloud computing.

IaaS providers offer an extensive suite of services to improve clients’ infrastructure operations, including billing and monitoring for more efficient allocation of resources, log access for enhanced security management, load balancing, and clustering to maximize performance, and storage resiliency to ensure data remains safely backed up – replicated and accessible in times of need.

To ensure top-tier performance and availability, IaaS users are now able to take advantage of policy-driven services for a higher level of automation. This allows them to dynamically manage their infrastructure by creating policies that facilitate functions such as efficient load balancing.

 

Pillars of IaaS

IaaS allows businesses to quickly and easily manage their IT needs using automated administrative tasks, dynamic scaling capabilities enabled by cutting-edge platform virtualization technology, graphical user interface (GUI) or application program interface (API)-based access options, as well as internet connectivity. All of these pillars come together to create a powerful foundation for any organization’s infrastructure requirements.

 

Types and examples of IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service is becoming an increasingly popular cloud computing solution, offering three types of services: public, private, and hybrid. Each option provides access to virtualized hardware components such as networks, servers, or storage at flexible scalability – enabling you to right-size the resources needed for your business goals.

 

Public cloud

Public IaaS offers an extensive selection of services that can be tailored to fit any user’s individual requirements. From these resources, customers are able to build the perfect package for their specific needs.

 

Private cloud

Private IaaS gives customers the freedom to create their own virtual data center, dedicated solely for them and accessible only by authorized personnel. It’s a powerful tool that allows users access to scalability and other benefits such as enhanced security measures normally not available in public cloud environments.

 

Hybrid cloud

Hybrid IaaS has revolutionized the way companies manage their applications and services. Users benefit from having direct control over critical parts of operations while also being able to easily access on-demand resources as needed – giving them an unprecedented degree of flexibility in meeting various requirements.

Read our article about hybrid and multicloud as the future of the cloud.

 

IaaS solutions provide businesses with a powerful tool to improve their operations. What Infrastructure as a Service solution can bring you? Here are some examples of this powerful tool:

 

Run testing and development

IaaS provides computing and networking capabilities that can streamline the development process, making it a great choice for testing scenarios. With its robust power and flexibility, IaaS offers critical support to all stages of software production.

 

Improve disaster recovery preparation

Businesses can simplify their disaster recovery systems through IaaS – a reliable, scalable virtual environment. Embrace the power of tech to make sure your organization is prepared for any scenario.

 

Perform big data analysis

With the influx of large data sets, a powerful processing solution is needed to successfully store and analyze information. IaaS provides an ideal environment for managing big data due to its ability to manage high volumes with ease.

 

Provision resources quickly

With IaaS, businesses can swiftly launch projects to address urgent needs. This efficient approach empowers organizations to capitalize on changing conditions and seize opportunities with confidence.

 

Types of IaaS resources

Cloud providers offer a range of IaaS infrastructure resources for use as cloud computing services. You can classify these infrastructure services into three broad categories.

 

Compute

Through simple requests, IaaS provisions user-specified resources on demand to create powerful cloud instances that are capable of handling most online demands with ease and efficiency. This versatile service allows operations and tasks to be conducted in a secure environment. With cloud computing, users can access resources such as CPUs (central processing units), GPUs (graphical processing units), and RAM (internal memory). These essential capabilities are delivered to the user in a virtual form — known as virtual machines or “cloud instances” — allowing them to swiftly achieve their desired goals with minimal headaches.

 

Storage

IaaS providers equip users with powerful resources for data storage, from block-based solutions like SSDs and hard drives to file repositories akin to NAS systems. But the most robust option of all is object storage – a technology that draws on concepts found in object-oriented programming.

 

Networking

Instead of physical networking hardware, IaaS allows you to create and manage a virtualized cloud network with the same secure performance as traditional appliances. Services like AWS Networking provide organizations with an automated way to set up powerful computing networks in minutes without additional resources or investments.

 

Security responsibilities shared under the IaaS model


IaaS providers offer comprehensive security solutions to ensure that your cloud applications remain safe and secure. They employ a multitude of measures to protect the infrastructure, including managing access control at every level. There are 3 types of security solutions:

 

Physical security

Protecting the data center with physical security measures such as cameras, guards, and surveillance provide an additional layer of defense to ensure a secure environment.

 

Infrastructure security

To ensure robust security, providers restrict access to their infrastructure and maintain it on a regular basis. This proactive approach results in uncompromising safety for clients’ data.

 

Data security

Comprehensive data security is essential for success in today’s business world. IaaS solutions guarantee a high level of protection and complete compliance with cutting-edge encryption, rigorous controls, and regular third-party auditing.

 

Cloud security presents a unique approach to data protection compared with traditional on-premises environments. It leverages an innovative partnership between service providers and their customers for secure coverage of valuable information assets.

With the Infrastructure as a Service model, the CSP provides the core tools to help customers construct a secure IT environment. From computing power and storage capacity to patching procedures and network support, clients must take charge of their data security using applications, virtual network systems, and operating platforms – even managing user access accordingly.

When it comes to IaaS security, the safety of your data lies in the hands of your cloud service provider. It is crucial that you take time to assess potential providers and make sure their security capabilities align with what you need before choosing one. Doing so can be key in keeping sensitive information secure.

 

IaaS as architecture supporter – automation and virtualization


For developers, an IaaS provider can be a valuable ally in the digital world. By utilizing cloud computing architecture based on virtualization, containers, and automation technology – server setup and maintenance are swiftly abstracted away from their workflow, allowing them to focus solely on building their application.

 

Virtualization

Combining the power of virtualization and cloud computing, IaaS can provide a complete environment that acts as an individual virtual computer. Through sophisticated software known as hypervisors, these VMs are provisioned on physical hardware in a data center – providing an access to their own CPUs, memory storage space, networking interface, etc.

 

Automation

Seamless scalability and efficient resource management are hallmarks of IaaS offerings, enabled by sophisticated IT automation. With orchestration, IaaS providers can automatically manage a multitude of tasks across groups of virtual machines or other systems – allowing customers to quickly meet their needs.

 

IaaS and DevOps


DevOps is an innovative methodology that bridges the gap between development and operations. It seeks to accelerate software enhancement deployment, allowing users to access new applications much faster than before. By leveraging DevOps practices, teams can capitalize on the advantages of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and gain powerful acceleration of their development process.

With DevOps, organizations benefit from faster code changes and dynamic IT infrastructure that’s tailored to their needs. Automating routine tasks streamlines workflow while a microservices-based architecture enables the swift delivery of complete software solutions. The agile methodology then ties it all together, enabling teams to rapidly develop pieces of functionality into unified products with APIs connecting them.

IaaS helps DevOps teams work efficiently, minimizing the need for manual server management and providing a streamlined development experience.

 

Advantages of Infrastructure as a Service


With Infrastructure as a Service, there are huge benefits for businesses – from cost savings to scalability. No wonder why IaaS has become an attractive alternative for organizations needing flexibility and efficiency. Let’s see what are the IaaS advantages:

 

Decrease capital expenditure and maximize cost efficiency

With IaaS, businesses can now enjoy a cost-effective transition to the cloud while reducing their hardware expenses. Also, they no longer have to worry about managing and configuring physical data centers as this is handled by an external service provider. Companies can reduce their expenditures while also allowing their tech team to refocus on core business objectives.

 

Increase scale and performance of IT workloads

IaaS allows you to flexibly expand your global IT infrastructure and meet the ever-changing needs of digital users. With this powerful solution, companies can instantly deploy resources worldwide while experiencing maximum performance boosts on their applications.

 

Stability, supportability, and reliability

Investing in an Infrastructure as a Service solution guarantees your business reliable, up-to-date infrastructure that meets any specific SLAs you might have – all without any worries about managing and upgrading software and hardware or dealing with potential equipment problems.

 

Chief benefits of IaaS for your business

IaaS provides a range of advantages for businesses looking to optimize their operations and stay ahead in an ever-evolving market. What are the main benefits for your business?

 

Lift-and-shift migration

Migrating applications or workloads to the cloud doesn’t have to be time-consuming, costly, and challenging. With the right approach, your architecture won’t even need refactoring – you can simply increase scalability, performance, and security while reducing running costs.

 

Test and development

Your team can quickly respond to market opportunities by rapidly deploying and deconstructing test and development environments. Thanks to Infrastructure as a Service, scaling dev/test resources is both cost-effective and efficient for producing innovative applications faster than ever before.

 

Storage, backup, and recovery

Your organization can reduce capital expenditure and improve storage efficiency by taking advantage of IaaS. By leveraging the cloud, you will be able to effectively manage data for compliance needs with minimal staff requirements while also having access to flexible resources that grow rapidly as your demand does. Additionally, implementing IaaS can simplify backup & recovery operations considerably and provide a streamlined approach towards maintaining operational readiness.

 

Great support for web apps

IaaS provides a powerful platform for your organization to quickly launch web apps with scaling flexibility. Storing, hosting, and networking needs are all covered by the infrastructure, so there is extra capacity when demand spikes or decreases unexpectedly.

 

How to implement IaaS?


To benefit from Infrastructure as a Service, first select a provider that aligns with your business needs and provide your team with the necessary training to utilize the cloud computing services available. What are the steps of IaaS implementation?

 

#1 Identify your requirements

When beginning a new project, it’s crucial to consider the infrastructure needs of your company: web hosting and big data analytics require different types of servers and networks. Make sure you have what is necessary before taking on an assignment.

 

#2 Select your team

Leading the digital transformation of your organization can be an intimidating task, but starting small with a core team to deal with initial challenges is the key. Solving one problem effectively and communicating successes to create enthusiasm around cloud computing will go far in laying down strong foundations for further progress.

 

#3 Select your IaaS provider

Before selecting a cloud provider, it is critical to evaluate the range of capabilities they offer. With the ever-evolving digital landscape, it is important to be prepared with a cloud provider who can keep up. IT partner will help you choose the best option with Azure, AWS cloud, Oracle, or other cloud solutions.

 

#4 Migrate to the new infrastructure

Software migration can be a complex process, but proper planning and implementation of hybrid clouds allow users to take advantage of both on-premises infrastructure as well as IaaS providers. This not only ensures continuity in the workflow but also minimizes potential disruption.

 

When should you choose IaaS?


Infrastructure as a Service provides efficient computing resources that can be tailored to any need. From web hosting and business continuity solutions to analytics processing and customer service functions – IaaS has been an essential tool for businesses seeking reliable digital capabilities.

Infrastructure as a Service is an ideal option when the need is for more specific control without extra maintenance responsibilities.

IaaS can offer much more flexibility than the offerings of PaaS and SaaS, delivering only what is needed for the particular job rather than being constrained by generic service offerings. IaaS does, however, require some in-house technical skills to ensure that infrastructure remains secure and optimized, allocating resources as efficiently as possible.

IaaS offers unparalleled scalability, providing users with an array of computational resources including storage, servers, data centers, and applications – all available on demand in real time. Iaas is the choice for those looking for agile and budget-friendly IT needs. We invite you to a consultation to learn more.

Angelika Agapow
Angelika Agapow
Content Marketing Specialist
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