Hybrid IT

Basics of Cloud Computing: SaaS VS PaaS VS IaaS

30 November 2021

Gone are the days when on-premises solutions were the go-to choice for businesses. Be it a big enterprise or a small scale business, now, it’s all about leveraging the best cloud solutions for a variety of functions and operations. 
If you are thinking of switching to the cloud for infrastructure deployment or other application requirements, it is crucial that you understand the key differences between the basic cloud solutions available. 
The three most popular as-a-service models are:

  • SaaS (Software as a Service)
  • PaaS (Platform as a Service)
  • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

As more and more businesses move to the cloud, all these services are experiencing an influx in popularity. 
Let’s take a look at how these solutions work for your business.

SaaS VS PaaS VS IaaS

 

SaaS

With Software as a service in cloud computing, your business can access the vendor’s software available on the cloud. As a user, you need not install any applications on your local devices. The software instead, is made accessible on a remote cloud network that you can connect to using an API or through the web.
Users can assess and keep a record of all the company data whilst collaborating on projects with others via this handy cloud computing solution

Key Features of SaaS:

  • Accessible over the internet
  • A third-party provider hosts it on a remote server
  • Depending on the scalability, it can be used by small and medium businesses as well as big corporates
  • Includes compliance, security and maintenance within the price of the software

 

IaaS

With Infrastructure as a service, as a user, your business gains access to handy computing resources like servers, storage and networking. Your company can continue using their own applications and platforms within the service provider’s or vendor’s infrastructural setup. 

Key Features of IaaS:

  • Extremely scalable, not to mention highly flexible
  • Can be accessed by multiple users and devices
  • Cost-efficient, which makes being on a budget easy

 

PaaS

If you wish to work in a cloud environment that you can develop and adjust to your company’s preferences, while managing and delivering applications all on your own, then PaaS is the best cloud service for you. Apart from nifty computing resources and storage, your business gains access to an entire suite of pre-installed tools that you can use to personalise, develop and test your own applications. 

Key Features of PaaS:

  • Can be accessed by multiple users at a time
  • High scalability as you can choose from a range of tiers to complement the size and complexity of your business
  • Built using virtualisation technology
  • Simple to run and operate with minimal knowledge of system administration required

 

Quick Recap of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS Cloud Solutions

  • With SaaS, you can leverage in-built and ready-to-use solutions that can assist you with specific business needs like an email campaign or a website. Almost all modern SaaS platforms are built using PaaS and IaaS platforms.
  • To reduce the need for extensive system administration, PaaS is often built using an IaaS platform as the base. It enables you to concentrate on the development of an application and not worry about the management and maintenance of the infrastructure.
  • If hosting custom-built applications is what you want, IaaS is the best cloud solution as it offers maximum flexibility, not to mention, it provides data storage too with its dedicated data centre. 

 

Basic Cloud Solutions Summed Up

Given what each of these cloud services offers to businesses, it is hardly surprising that their availability has drastically reduced the need for on-premise hosting. 
All these cloud computing server models equip and empower businesses with choice, flexibility, scalability and a variety of options. The same cannot be said about on-premise hosting. 
At Redpalm we bring to you the best of what IT has to offer in a safe, secure and efficient manner. Our Hybrid IT Infrastructure is a popular choice for you if you are looking to leverage the best of both on-premise and cloud.
Book your IT consultation with us today to find the best tech solution for your business.

Latest From The Blogs

Cyber Security

Our Top 4 Cyber Security Trends to Watch Out for in 2026

With several businesses adopting online strategies and moving the bulk of their operations online in the past few years, implementing robust cyber security measures has become essential to reducing operational and data risks.

Read More
cloud migration mistakes, Redpalm's experts working from their headquarters
Cyber Security

4 Cloud Migration Mistakes Managed IT Services Help You Avoid

Cloud migrations commonly fail due to weak planning, unmanaged security and compliance risks, unoptimised lift and shift approaches, and a lack of post-migration oversight. Addressing these issues through structured strategy, workload optimisation, and ongoing cost and security management reduces disruption, controls spend, and ensures cloud environments support long-term business operations. Call us to learn more about our cloud services today.

Read More
choosing it supplier, engineering team in the server room viewing a security breach alert
Uncategorized

The Real Cost of Choosing the Wrong IT Supplier

Selecting the wrong IT supplier can lead to significant financial, operational, and strategic challenges. Poor decisions can lead to system failures, overspecified or misaligned solutions, productivity loss due to inadequate support, and limited scalability. Strategic supplier selection ensures reliable systems, efficient workflows, and flexible technology that support long-term business growth and continuity.

Read More
cyber risk ownership board UK, 3 professionals gathering around a laptop in a sleek office setting
Cyber Security

Who Owns Cyber Risk in Your Business? A Guide for UK Boards

Read More
it outsourcing regulated sectors, close-up image of a businessman holding a tablet with an abstract sketch of digital regulation
Hybrid IT

What Regulated UK Industries Should Know About IT Outsourcing

Regulated sectors rely on IT outsourcing to maintain compliance, secure sensitive data, and keep essential systems running reliably. Financial services, healthcare, legal, and manufacturing organisations use external expertise to reduce risk, strengthen continuity, and manage complex infrastructure. Effective outsourcing supports operational demands while meeting strict regulatory obligations across specialised industries.

Read More
hybrid IT workload placement, two system managers in a server room
Hybrid IT

How to Create the Right Hybrid IT Workload Placement Strategy

Hybrid IT workload placement involves assigning applications and data to the most appropriate environment, such as cloud, on-premises or edge, based on factors like performance, latency, compliance and cost. A structured framework helps avoid common pitfalls, including vendor lock-in and poor scalability, enabling IT teams to make informed, secure and flexible infrastructure decisions.

Read More
ai threats cyber security, close up shot of a notebook used by IT professionals to run AI software
Cyber Security

Why AI-Generated Threats Are Outsmarting Old-School Security Controls

AI-driven cyber threats now use deepfakes, adaptive malware, and autonomous tools to bypass legacy defences. UK businesses are increasingly targeted, with reported breaches involving AI impersonation and data extraction. Traditional controls can’t keep up with these evolving threats. Effective protection requires AI-assisted detection, multi-layered strategies, and external support from cyber-focused managed service providers.

Read More
IT outage disaster recovery plan, a person working on a laptop in a data centre
Cyber Security

Can You Recover from a Major IT Outage in Under 2 hours?

If you don’t have a disaster recovery plan for your business yet, you might still have key questions about disaster recovery plans. Is it possible to recover from a major IT outage in 2 hours in the UK? Can any plan be strong enough to allow for a 2-hour IT recovery? These are the questions that we’ll be addressing in this blog. We’ll explain what fast disaster recovery in the UK looks like and how you can plan to quickly resolve your issues.

Read More
Cyber Security

Is Your Business Ready for the End of Windows 10 Support?

In this blog, we’ll explain what the end of Windows 10 support means for businesses, covering the risks, technology challenges, and how your business can stay secure with the right support.

Read More
it audit and cyber insurance, 2 technicians finding cyber security gaps in encrypted data on a computer
Cyber Security

Can IT Health Checks Lower Your Cyber Insurance Premium?

In this blog, we’ll explain how IT audits reduce cyber insurance premiums and provide you with a cyber insurance readiness checklist. You’ll also find practical steps to prepare your IT systems and documentation for renewal with support from Redpalm.

Read More