SaaS(Software as A Service)

As we move from IaaS and PaaS to SaaS, it becomes very confusing segregating PaaS and SaaS, but please hold on to your horses’ 😊 we are going to nail it down in this topic.

To understand this example, pre-requisite topics are 1) ‘On-Promises vs Cloud’ and 2) IaaS and 3) PaaS.

In IaaS, we established that only Infrastructure/ Servers and Storage is provided by Cloud providers then in PaaS we establish along with Infrastructure/ Servers and Storage, Software(s) BUT EMPTY Software(s) are also made available along with rest of all the activities to be managed by the Cloud providers EXCEPT NO IMPLEMENTED SOLUTION.

In SaaS, there are pre-built or OOTB Solutions available in the Cloud. Please note, it’s not mandatory that all solutions are owned by Cloud providers, most of the solutions are created and maintained by the third parties. Third Parties use compute and storage from Cloud providers and build their own solutions and sell to customers. Now, customers just need to log-in into the Solution in Cloud as a Service that is why it’s called Software as A Service. A solution is owned and its management like installation/ upgradation, compute, storage, HA, DR etc., all are taken care of by the Solution Owner, again which can be by Cloud Providers or any Third Parties. Customers just need to subscribe to the SaaS service and start using the Solution.

Yes, I agree with you, it should be called as Solution as A Service, not Software as A Service but what to do now lolz 😊. If it is in my power, I would.

‘In nutshell, pre-build solutions in the Cloud are SaaS.’

Please note, in SaaS, Solution is pre-implemented e.g., Referring to the same example from IaaS and PaaS.

• Installing Microsoft Word, Excel or Power Point will give you empty Word, Excel, and Power Point and is called Software installation in PaaS. Now, in SaaS, diagrams are pre-created for use immediately.
• If you want to build a Data Warehouse in Oracle. Installing just Oracle Database is equal to installing Software in PaaS. Now, pre-built physical data models i.e., creating tables and relationships in Oracle database is already done to be used immediately.