What is PaaS?

Platform as a service, or PaaS, is a cloud computing model that provides infrastructure and development tools so teams can build, test, and deploy applications without managing servers or hardware.

If you regularly read our PDQ blog (and if you don’t, you totally should), you may have seen our blog defining infrastructure as a service, or IaaS. PaaS sits between infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) in the cloud computing stack.

PaaS gives you everything IaaS gives you (infrastructure such as servers and storage) as well as the tools to do something with that infrastructure (middleware, management tools, operating systems, etc.).

How PaaS works

PaaS works by providing cloud-hosted infrastructure plus middleware and development tools so engineers can build and run applications without managing the underlying hardware.

Just like with IaaS, when you sign up for PaaS services, you essentially lease physical hardware that you access via the cloud. But you also lease tools that enable you to build things on that infrastructure. You gain access to middleware, which bridges the gap between programs and systems and helps them communicate with each other. In turn, the applications you build in the cloud can run.

Your engineers may spend some time in your PaaS environment writing and testing code to prepare an application for deployment.

Common use cases for PaaS

IT teams often use PaaS services in a few key ways.

Application testing and deployment

PaaS is commonly used for application testing and deployment because it provides a sandbox environment with built-in tools for faster development. But PaaS environments offer more than just the infrastructure. They also offer tools, such as middleware and developed application components, to make testing and developing more efficient.

DevOps support

In a similar vein, PaaS offers the tools and capabilities that DevOps teams need to do their jobs more efficiently. PaaS tools enable DevOps teams to develop, test, and manage software — all without needing to configure or provision test environments. Plus, PaaS solutions help to minimize downtime as DevOps teams can test to ensure applications are fully ready to deploy to a prod environment.

Cloud migration and integration

The cloud provides scalability that traditional on-prem environments can’t. As a result, some teams choose to move specific projects to the cloud. PaaS setups include the tools and capabilities that make the migration easier. And through integration options, you can connect your on-prem applications to your cloud-hosted applications, making way for a seamless experience.

How to implement PaaS

You can implement most PaaS solutions by following these steps. And if you read our blog on IaaS solutions, you'll probably feel some déjà vu in just a few moments.

1. Round up your core team

Implementation isn’t very fun as a solo activity (and truthfully, not much more fun as a group activity). It’s always best to go about implementing PaaS with a core team that can help you plan and execute (and help troubleshoot along the way).

2. Identify your use cases

Think about the ways your IT team might benefit from the PaaS solution. Talk to your DevOps team, your engineers, and anyone else in your organization who might use your PaaS solution. See what their needs are, and jot them down. You’ll need them for the next few steps.

3. Scope out the requirements

Introspection time! Take a good look at your current infrastructure and think about how a PaaS solution might integrate with it. What specifics will your organization need from your PaaS solution? Jot those down.

4. Select a PaaS provider

Similar to IaaS providers, there are quite a few PaaS providers to choose from. A few notable options include the following:

• Amazon (AWS Elastic Beanstalk)

• Google (Google App Engine)

• Microsoft (Microsoft Azure App Service)

• Heroku

• IBM (IBM Cloud Foundry)

• Oracle (Oracle Cloud Platform)

5. Migrate

And now, everyone’s favorite step: migrating! 😅

Like with IaaS, PaaS migrations require a lot of work that often takes years to complete. Working with your core team, you’ll need to figure out which applications you need to migrate to your PaaS instance, the types of data you want to migrate (and how to do so safely), and how best to migrate in phases.

Benefits of PaaS

There are a few notable benefits of PaaS solutions.

More efficient coding capabilities

PaaS solutions simplify application development by providing reusable components and built-in services. Your team can drag and drop usable snippets and speed up the process, cutting down the time it takes for your code to enter your prod environment.

Fewer hardware management responsibilities

With traditional on-prem environments, your team is responsible for updating and managing your hardware. If a machine fails, it’s your problem. But with PaaS solutions, your PaaS provider is responsible for maintaining and upkeeping hardware.

Cost savings

With PaaS solutions, you can scale up or down, and you pay only for what you use. Your cloud environment is always ready whenever you need it — no additional on-prem hardware required.

Disadvantages of PaaS

There are also a few disadvantages of PaaS you should be aware of before signing on the dotted line.

Compatibility issues

Compatibility issues can occur if existing tools or platforms are not supported by the PaaS provider. The fun thing about technology is it's often unpredictable whether your programs and platforms will play along nicely with one another or refuse to speak at all. Make sure you speak with any potential PaaS providers about your existing platforms and tools to make sure there won’t be any compatibility issues.

Security concerns

When you choose a PaaS provider, you’re placing a lot of trust in them because it’s up to them to secure the PaaS tools and platforms. But the onus is on you to make sure what you build in your PaaS instance is secure. You’ll need to take a few extra steps to make sure your provider takes security seriously — and that your team is equipped with the tools they need to develop secure applications.

Unexpected costs

The costs associated with PaaS providers are both a blessing and a curse. You pay only for what you use — but if the passionate engineers on your team get a little carried away with a project, costs can add up fast. It’s important to be aware of how PaaS providers charge you for services so you can be prepared for when the bill hits your desk.

And speaking of making life easier, PDQ Connect can help you keep your environment secure and up to date from the cloud. Deploy custom or prebuilt packages, streamline your tasks, and manage your devices — wherever they're located. Sign up for a free 14-day trial of PDQ Connect.