What is Infrastructure as a Service?
By Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)-- along with Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, and cloud computing-- is changing the way that companies purchase their technology. Organizations are now able to deliver and control virtual IT resources such as storage, computing and networking capacity through Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) models – a model in which the product is offered through the Internet to the client as an on-demand service. The IaaS providers own, run, maintain and distribute IT resources more efficiently and cost-effectively than historic IT delivery models.
In traditional models, computer infrastructure includes personal machines, cooling devices, storage space, server rooms full of computers and specialized staff to maintain the computer structure. The upfront cost for the physical infrastructure can run into the thousands. According to some experts, the total IT costs can be 30 percent technology and 70 percent labor but IT resources on average are only 15 percent utilized.
With IaaS, companies can set up computer systems without those typical upfront costs.
IaaS offers a variety of benefits, most notably the lack of an initial cost for setting up computer infrastructure, according to reports. The setting up of computer infrastructure can cost thousands of dollars a year so IaaS already offers enormous cost savings from the beginning. Moreover, everything is included in the package price so there are no upgrading costs or maintenance fees.
In addition, companies can enjoy more space as there is no longer a need to house large server rooms. There are also environmental benefits as companies do not have to run their own resource intensive server rooms.
IaaS also offers scalability since IaaS is a pay-as-you go model; companies can scale up or down depending on their needs. In the event of a disaster, IaaS ensures that service will get back up and running as the vendor is responsible for providing disaster recovery. Finally, companies that opt for IaaS provider can enjoy more free time to focus on other pertinent tasks such as planning and development instead of the infrastructure since a vendor takes care of that need.
Carrie Schmelkin is a Web Editor for TMCnet. Previously, she worked as Assistant Editor at the New Canaan Advertiser, a 102-year-old weekly newspaper, covering news and enhancing the publication's social media initiatives. Carrie holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in English from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Rich Steeves
