Service and Deployment Models

How cloud offerings are packaged and delivered — from IaaS to SaaS, and from public to hybrid cloud.

IaaS gives you rented computing infrastructure without owning hardware. Learn what Infrastructure as a Service means, in plain English.

PaaS lets you focus on your code while the provider manages servers and runtimes. Learn what Platform as a Service means, in plain English.

SaaS is ready-to-use software you access over the internet, with nothing to install or maintain. Learn what Software as a Service means.

Serverless computing still uses servers, but you never manage them. Learn what the term actually means and when it makes sense.

Public cloud means shared infrastructure run by a provider and accessed over the internet. Learn what it is and when it's the right fit.

Private cloud dedicates infrastructure to a single organization. Learn what private cloud means and when it's worth the extra effort.

Hybrid cloud connects private and public cloud environments so they work together. Learn what hybrid cloud means and why teams use it.

Multi-cloud means using more than one public cloud provider on purpose. Learn what it means and why organizations choose this approach.

A side-by-side comparison of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS to help you quickly tell the three core cloud service models apart.