Platform as a Service (PaaS): Doing More with Less Infrastructure

Are you a DevOps engineer or developer? If you are, then there’s no doubt about the fact that you’ll have had experiences where you were swamped with so much work as a result of having to integrate and use several different tools. Well, here’s the thing, you’re not the only one. These days, the business landscape is hyper-digitized, and as such, companies are under a lot of pressure to get so much done in relatively little time. Because of this, there is an ongoing search for solutions that optimize operations, reduce costs, and enhance agility.

The cloud computing space has emerged as a leading provider of several excellent solutions that could help improve the efficiency of the business landscape. There are currently a lot of different cloud computing solutions that have proven helpful in this regard, however, there is one that is currently standing out from the rest. This is the use of a Platform as a Service.

In this article, we’ll be taking a close look at what Platform as a Service (PaaS) is, what it offers, and what Aptible, a unique PaaS tool, has to offer you. So without further ado, let's get right into it!

What Is Platform as a Service (Paas)?

Platform as a Service (PaaS) represents a cloud computing paradigm that empowers users to create, execute, and oversee applications without getting entangled in the underlying intricacies of the foundational processes. Essentially, PaaS offers developers an online suite of both hardware and software tools, hosted on a dedicated infrastructure. This eliminates the need for users to download or install hefty software or hardware on their devices, streamlining application development and deployment.

At this point, it is important to point out that although PaaS is emerging as the foremost preferred development cloud computing tool, it is actually not the only one. There are three main categories of cloud computing services.

They include the following:

• Software as a Service (SaaS) —This refers to a cloud-based service that involves hosting and providing users access to applications via the Internet. In simpler terms, SaaS is primarily concerned with software delivery, and every technical detail is handled by the vendor or provider.

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) — a cloud computing model that provides users or subscribers with access to virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS typically offers subscribers all the tools needed for full-stack development, including computing power and storage.

• And of course, Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS vs. IaaS and SaaS

Earlier, it was mentioned that PaaS is currently the most preferred cloud computing tool, ahead of IaaS and SaaS. So it’s not a far stretch to assume that you currently have one major question on your mind; “What is it about PaaS that makes it so special?” Good question, read on to find out!

Before we go into the key advantages of PaaS over IaaS and SaaS, you should know that, fundamentally, the major difference between these three cloud computing services is directly related to the level of control they offer and the technical expertise required to run them.

Overall, PaaS holds several advantages over its cloud computing counterparts. Let’s take a closer look.

PaaS vs. IaaS

• Management: In terms of management, PaaS comes out on top. While it’s true that IaaS provides users with more control over the development infrastructure, it does come with the requirement of expert understanding as a necessity. In addition to this, IaaS also requires a lot of hands-on management.

  On the other hand, PaaS offers users the same range of development infrastructure options, however, it significantly cuts down on the need for an in-depth understanding of the complex infrastructure. What this means for you as a DevOps engineer is that you’ll be able to focus more on coding and deploying your solutions.

• Faster Deployment: Sequel to the above, it’s pretty obvious that PaaS offers DevOps engineers the ability to achieve faster application deployments. This is further aided by the fact that PaaS comes with pre-configured application frameworks and components, meaning that you won’t have to configure them from scratch. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, you’ll be able to adjust it to your preference. Making adjustments is a lot easier and faster than developing from scratch, isn’t it?

• Scalability: One major problem lots of businesses face when using web solutions is the ease of scalability. This is especially challenging for companies that use IaaS options instead of PaaS, and the reason for this isn’t far-fetched. IaaS requires a great deal more manual intervention than PaaS. In addition to this, it’s also more expensive to manage and run. So PaaS provides more seamless scaling options than IaaS.

PaaS Vs. SaaS

• Customization: One major advantage of PaaS over SaaS that jumps straight out of the box is the ease of customization. Users of SaaS rely on the provision of ready-made solutions and services. However, while this is faster, it does mean that you’ll only have access to generic solutions. On the other hand, PaaS offers users the ability to use the services provided to build custom applications tailored to a very specific need.

• Innovation: Are you a company big on creating innovative solutions and services? If you are and you’re currently operating SaaS, then you may want to consider switching to PaaS. This is because PaaS platforms like #Aptible offer developers the freedom and tools they need to quite simply, innovate without restrictions.

• Data Management: It’s also worth mentioning that PaaS platforms offer better data management services than their SaaS counterparts. More often than not, data management on SaaS platforms is pretty generalized, meaning it may be optimal for your needs or not… we’re guessing not. PaaS, however, offers you finer control over how our data is handled and processed.

There are lots of different PaaS solutions available. However, in the next section, the focus will be on one particular PaaS platform that’s been making waves, Aptible.

Aptible – A PaaS Solution

A quick look at the Aptible website will present you with the text, “Aptible is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) used by companies that want to focus on delivering software, not managing infrastructure.” Since that’s the entire idea behind PaaS platforms, there’s no questioning the fact that Aptible really is one of the best PaaS platforms out there. But don’t just take my word for it, let’s dive into some of the core offerings and features of Aptibel that make it such a great option among other PaaS platforms.

Aptible Core Offerings and Features

Aptible is known for its exceptional features and offerings, some of which include the following:

• Cloud Application Security: One of the major threats businesses face in this era of cloud computing is susceptibility to malicious attacks. In fact, several companies have already been affected and exploited; however, none of these had Aptible securing them.

  Aptible offers a myriad of strategies and tools designed to perfectly protect your data and applications and prevent unauthorized access. But here’s the thing, the security Aptible offers goes beyond mere security. Aptible offers you the option of saving valuable engineering time by offering high-performance security controls that satisfy various security frameworks like HIPAA, HITRUST, and SOC 2 Type 2.

• Automatic Vulnerability Management: Traditionally, businesses devote lots of engineering hours to scanning and assessing their host and network for vulnerabilities before going ahead to fix any that show up. With Aptible, however, you won’t have to worry about any of these because Aptible's built-in and fully managed network and Host Vulnerability Management fully take care of all these.

• High-Efficiency Operations: Businesses that look to exploit the numerous benefits of cloud computing always have to deal with AWS outages at some point. Depending on your PaaS platform, these outages may occur frequently, thus affecting your availability and increasing downtime.

  Aptible offers processes that are backed by 99.95% uptime SLAs, meaning that you’ll have access to development processes that are fully optimized for seamless operation, high availability, and minimal AWS outages. Aptible also offers a dedicated Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) team that always remains on standby to promptly resolve any interruptions and guarantee seamless operations for users.

• Expert Support: Another problem Aptible provides excellent solutions to is the availability of expert support for users. With Aptible, every time you reach out to support, you’ll actually be interacting with their trademark Engineering-led support that’s more than capable of helping you easily resolve whatever issues you might be having.

Potential Challenges with PaaS

Although the emergence of PaaS has ushered in a new chapter for cloud computing, it should be said that it’s not a perfect solution, despite its numerous advantages.

Some of the top potential challenges of PaaS include the following:

• Dependency: While it is true that PaaS frees you from having to handle the intricacies of your development infrastructure, you should know that this means you’re placing a great deal of trust in the hands and competence of your PaaS platform. Because of this, the eventual result you'll be able to get and your PaaS experience largely depends on the functional capabilities of your PaaS provider.

• Customization Limits: Unlike IaaS which offers near-endless customization options, PaaS may not be suitable for developing applications that require a deep level of customization. This is largely because it’s based on the use of pre-configured “templates” instead of building from scratch.

• Vendor Lock-in: Choosing to go with PaaS may be stressful if you intend on repeatedly transferring data and applications to and from private infrastructures. This is because different PaaS solutions have unique specifications and may not always be directly compatible with each other or other cloud computing platform types.

Conclusion

From all of the above, it’s obvious that PaaS platforms like Aptible offer many advantages for businesses looking to streamline their development and scaling process. PaaS might not be a perfect solution to the ails of cloud computing… yet, there’s no question about the fact that it remains the foremost cloud computing option for businesses looking to achieve more with less infrastructure.