Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Cloud Computing has evolved in order to include platforms for building and implementing practices of network-based applications. This concept is known as Platform-as-a-Service, and is a natural consequence of the development model of Software-as-a-Service. The PaaS model creates all the facilities required to support a full lifecycle of web applications and services available to the Internet, with no downloads or installations to be carried out by developers, IT managers or end users. Unlike the model of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), in which developers create a specific operating system for the applications, developers of PaaS model are concerned only with developing web-based technology  and usually do not pay attention to what Operating system is used. PaaS Services enables users to focus their efforts on innovation rather than a complex infrastructure. The PaaS model is redirecting the industry into a new era of innovation in mass. Now, developers worldwide can access an unlimited computing power. Anyone with an Internet connection can build a powerful application and can spread it to users globally.

The On-Premises Traditional Model

The traditional approach to developing and running applications on-premises has always been complex, expensive and risky. Producing your own solution never brought any guarantee of success. Each application has been designed to meet their specific requirements within each business. Each solution requires a specific programming hardware, an operating system, a database, often a middle-ware package, mail and web servers, etc. Once environment was created in hardware and software, a team of developers had to navigate a complex programming platform to build their own applications. Additionally, a team of network, database and system management was needed to keep everything in perfect driving conditions. Inevitably, developers were forced to change the application on behalf of a detail of the business, generating new cycles of testing before being distributed.

Big companies lay off huge amounts of energy and strength to keep their data centers in cool temperature. Finally, all this required the use of data center in case of disaster.

The New Off Premises Cloud Computing Model

PaaS model offers a choice of faster and more cost-effective application development and delivery. Furthermore, PaaS provides all the infrastructure needed to run applications over the Internet. Just like Google, iTunes and Youtube, the new cloud computing model allows new functionality to be delivered in emerging markets through web browsers. PaaS is based on a model of mediation or subscription, and users only pay for what they use. The PaaS model in its range also includes other facilities such as, application design and development, testing, deployment and hosting as well as integration, security, scalability, storage, status management, control panel, etc.

Fundamental Characteristics Of PaaS

Essentially, the characteristics of the model are to develop, test, deploy, host and manage applications in function to support the lifecycle of application development. Web based interface for creating tools typically provide some level of support to simplify the creation of user interfaces, standards compliant languages such as HTML or JavaScript or any other. Another feature is the integration with web servers and databases. To support Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and other interfaces allowed, PaaS creates combination of web services (called mashups) as well as the ability to access databases and reuse services held in private networks. The ability to form and share code with ad-hoc, predefined, distributed or increase productivity of PaaS offerings, which provide an opportunity for developers to have a bigger view of work applications and behaviors of its users by implementing tools to visualize work based on internal measurements of performances, etc.. Some offers these models to enable pay-per-use billing.