What Are The Benefits of Using IaaS?

The cloud has, in the past few years, become an integral part of the way that we use the internet. It has become a key part in hosting, storage and even in general day to day computing. It is a useful way of providing services over the internet but with minimal hassle and fuss. Though many individuals are using the cloud, often without even realising it, the cloud can also be hugely advantageous in the business world. SaaS (software-as-a-service) has become very popular with companies large and small as it provides them with the means to use a variety of software but with reduced costs. PaaS (platform-as-a-service) is also beginning to see wider use in the business world. A form of cloud computing that is taking slightly longer to catch on is IaaS (or infrastructure-as-a-service). Though many people may still not know exactly what IaaS is, there are a number of advantages to using the cloud in this way.

 But first, what is IaaS? IaaS stands for Infrastructure-as-a-Service and involves the delivery of infrastructure resources to the customer via the cloud. Infrastructure, in computing terms, generally refers to the physical hardware - such as servers, routers and storage. Rather than a business having to buy their own infrastructure IaaS allows them to have virtual access to infrastructure via an internet connection and the cloud. Customers can rent out the use of infrastructure and hardware without needing to purchase, manage or set up their own. There are five main advantages to using IaaS that all businesses should consider.

 1. Reduced Costs

 The workplace in recent decades has become increasingly centred on computers and the internet as a result of the increased efficiency and speed they can offer. This means that organising IT solutions is a key aspect of any business. Saving money has also become an important consideration in the past few years and many IT departments are looking for cheaper but still high quality alternatives. With IaaS you do not have to purchase your own servers and infrastructure which can be costly. Instead you can rent infrastructure from an IaaS provider. Doing this can greatly reduce the cost of buying expensive hardware (i.e. capital expenses) and can leave you with only the operational costs of using IaaS to deal with. Maintenance costs are also reduced as the responsibility of managing and maintaining the infrastructure lies with the provider.

 2. Pay as You Go

 A key facet of using the cloud 'as-a-service' is the flexibility available on price. Previously you may have to rent infrastructure on a monthly or yearly basis and pay large fees for something you may not use on a regular basis. With IaaS the situation is different. Instead of paying a regular set fee many IaaS providers will meter your usage and will only charge you for what you have used. They will base this on the length of time you used the resources for and the quantity. This payment system can be cost effective and of particular benefit to those who may only use the infrastructure on an irregular basis. A small proportion of your IaaS bill will go to the software provider to cover any licensing which can also save you money as you do not have to pay full price for licensing. You can also incorporate any pre-existing software licenses you may have.

 3. Flexible Scaling

 When setting up traditional computing infrastructure it can be difficult to know exactly how much you will need. Overestimating can leave you with a larger bill for resources that you don't need while underestimating can be problematic later on when you may need to expand. Having to add in extra infrastructure and resources can be difficult and can interrupt workflow. IaaS, however, offers infrastructure that is easily scalable. If you need more resource then you can simply add more resource without the need for your employees to stop working while you do so, disrupting their productivity. An IaaS provider will be able to add, or take away, extra resource as and when you need it. Some providers also offer 'dynamic scaling' which automatically increases or reduces your resource depending on the particular application in use.

 4. Less Hassle for the Customer

 Many businesses do not have the time or the resource to devote to setting up, managing and maintaining their own infrastructure. Some companies do not have an in-house IT team to look after their infrastructure management while IT teams in other companies may have more pressing projects that need their attention. Using a managed IaaS solution can take the burden of managing infrastructure off the shoulders of the customer. An IaaS provider will look after the management and set up of the infrastructure, leaving the customer free to concentrate on developing their own business. IaaS can be a great solution for smaller businesses who do not have the technical knowledge on hand to set up infrastructure. It can also be beneficial to larger companies as it allows in-house IT teams to focus on more important tasks.

 5. Environmental

 Awareness of how the environmental impact of technology is improving and many companies are now keen to show they have 'green credentials'. Utilising the cloud for infrastructure purposes can be a good way to improve the 'greenness' of a business. Having in-house infrastructure can quickly ramp up energy bills, but using infrastructure from the cloud means that less energy needs to be used by the customer to power it. With IaaS the infrastructure will likely be housed in a data centre where it is much easier to implement greener practices on a larger scale. Many data centres are now using renewable energy and other practices to reduce their environmental impact. In addition as the infrastructure can be accessed via the cloud it cuts down on the need to travel to where the servers and infrastructure are housed - further reducing environmental impact.