As workforces are moving out of physical offices in favor of remote work environments, cloud services — which allow employees to access corporate applications, data, and resources from any location using any device — have become increasingly essential. Businesses now have several different cloud service options to choose from when managing hybrid and remote workers:
- Software as a service (SaaS)
- Platform as a service (PaaS)
- Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
- Desktop as a service (DaaS)
Each business must make a comparison among DaaS vs. SaaS vs. PaaS vs. IaaS to decide which cloud-based solution is ultimately most appropriate to help streamline the remote workforce. Company goals, culture, and line of business are all important considerations when weighing cloud-service options. But first, it’s important to take a closer look at what each of these four services are.
Software as a Service (SaaS) Defined
SaaS enables users to access cloud-based applications via an internet connection and password. A user does not own the software or application, nor are they stored anywhere on the device used to access them. End users simply access the software and application through a web browser.
SaaS mitigates the amount of work required by users and administrators. All the security, performance, and application availability are managed by the provider. Additionally, when updates are released for the software and application, it’s handled in the cloud by the provider, so end users or admins are not responsible for performing updates.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) Defined
Knowing exactly what PaaS entails is vital when comparing PaaS vs. SaaS vs. IaaS vs. DaaS. PaaS differs from SaaS in that, rather than providing a single use case to subscribers, it delivers an accessible platform (including things like development tools, database management systems, servers, storage, and networking solutions) that enables users to build, test, deploy, manage, and update cloud-based applications.
Companies that have multiple developers working on the same project can use PaaS to give all users management of accounts to test, deploy, host, and maintain applications throughout their lifecycle. Performing such tasks typically requires a lot of data, but PaaS helps manage the data load to keep it balanced.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Defined
IaaS moves vital storage, networking, and computing resources to the cloud. Organizations using IaaS platforms can reduce the amount of money spent on buying and managing on-premises servers and datacenters. IaaS services are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, allowing organizations to scale their infrastructure up and down as needed. When considering SaaS vs. PaaS vs. IaaS vs. DaaS, companies that are looking to take advantage of virtualized resources should pay close attention to what IaaS solutions offer.
Desktop as a Service (DaaS) Defined
DaaS provides businesses with cloud-based virtual desktops as part of a subscription service. End users with authorization can access files and applications, via virtual desktops, on their internet-connected devices from anywhere — a key advantage as more of the workforce moves to remote and hybrid arrangements. Looking closely at DaaS vs. SaaS, it’s easy to see that DaaS provides access to the entire suite of applications used by an organization, whereas SaaS only provides access to one application or platform.
Another similar option for companies looking to allow end users access to files and applications is virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Both a VDI and DaaS solution offer virtual desktops that allow users to run a desktop environment and access any applications on it — however, in the case of VDI, a company’s in-house IT team handles the upkeep and management of the infrastructure.
How does a cloud service differ from a traditional service?
Organizations looking to choose between SaaS vs. PaaS vs. IaaS vs. DaaS must be sure to have a clear understanding of the advantages of cloud services over traditional, on-premises datacenters. There are five key advantages cloud services offer:
- Scalability: Cloud servers can scale up or down as your business grows and your needs change. With traditional on-premises datacenters, your network resources are limited to the servers you have until you install new ones. Similarly, with on-premises solutions, when you hire new employees, you need to get new software licenses for all new employees — but with cloud services, you can provide access to applications as necessary.
- Resilience: Using traditional on-premises datacenters, organizations can suffer serious downtime if servers go down. However, with cloud services, data and applications can be distributed across multiple regions in massive datacenters, so the company is less likely to experience downtime if a server fails.
- Costs: With a cloud-based network infrastructure, you only pay for the storage you use, rather than the traditional method of buying or renting servers and replacing or repairing them when they age. What’s more, large organizations can save on licensing fees by purchasing a subscription for software rather than licenses for each user.
- Security: Cloud service providers handle security for subscribers, whereas traditional on-premises datacenter security was handled by internal IT teams. Managing and storing data externally may seem risky, so it’s important for organizations using a cloud service to choose a provider that’s transparent in their security practices.
- Automation: Cloud services take a lot of the heavy lifting away from IT teams, allowing them to focus on other more value-driven tasks. Cloud providers handle security and updates and manage all the hardware used for storage and connectivity to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Which cloud service option should I choose for my business?
Cloud-based network infrastructures offer several advantages over traditional on-premises infrastructures, but there’s still the matter of deciding between PaaS vs. SaaS vs. IaaS vs. DaaS. The decision will ultimately be based on the size and type of organization you are a part of and what problems you need to solve. To start, let’s look at some pros and cons for each type of service.
SaaS Pros and Cons
Pros of SaaS
With SaaS, you can:
- Access advanced applications: Deliver sophisticated applications to your users without having to deploy, purchase, maintain, or update hardware or software.
- Pay for only the application resources you use: SaaS resources are more granular because they are applications that fit a specific user need. They easily scale up or down based on use case and demand, so you’ll only pay for what you use.
- Run apps directly from a web browser: Users don’t have to download or install any software or application on their devices when using SaaS apps because they can run directly from a web browser.
- Provide users with application access anywhere from any device: SaaS apps can run on any computer or device, and they come equipped with security to protect corporate data.
- Let providers handle updates and maintenance: Software updates and maintenance are handled by SaaS provider, leaning your IT or security teams to tend to more value-driven tasks.
Cons of SaaS
But you will also need to:
- Ask security questions: With SaaS, you rely on third-party security and need to be sure your vendor is transparent about their security measures.
- Relinquish some control: When your data and software move to the cloud, you give up some control of how it’s stored and accessed.
- Abide by contractual obligations: You might be committed to a subscription for the specific software that you pay for even after you no longer have use for it.
PaaS Pros and Cons
Pros of PaaS
PaaS allows you to:
- Use development tools and application templates to reduce coding time: Speed up time-to-market when creating applications by using state-of-the-art apps.
- Collaborate globally on new projects: Employees can access development and collaboration programs from anywhere.
- Cut costs while providing access to sophisticated software: Save money by not buying or maintaining software that isn’t used.
Cons of PaaS
On the flip side, you may face challenges with:
- Varied user experiences: Security and compatibility issues may arise, depending on the vendor.
- Security gaps: Providers are responsible for security of the platform, but companies are usually responsible for the security of the apps they develop.
IaaS Pros and Cons
Pros of IaaS
IaaS makes it possible to:
- Deliver IT resources anywhere in the world: Recently updated and upgraded technology scales up or down for your business based on resource demand.
- Increase business availability and consistency: The service provider handles troubleshooting and ensures your infrastructure is dependable.
- Offload datacenter management: Leveraging cloud infrastructure frees IT teams from tending to on-premises datacenters and allows them to focus on more strategic initiatives.
- Lower your overhead costs: You can save costs on updating, purchasing, and maintaining hardware by migrating to the cloud.
Cons of IaaS
However, you may also experience:
- Loss of independence: Organizations can become too dependent on a provider that controls its data.
- Security concerns: Businesses need to carefully look at the service agreement to keep an eye out for security gaps on the provider’s end.
DaaS Pros and Cons
Pros of DaaS
DaaS opens the door to numerous opportunities so you can:
- Easily scale as your business grows: Desktops are ready to go whenever a new employee is hired. Simply connect them to new devices and give them a fully configured desktop on Day 1.
- Centralize access to all resources: Delivering virtual desktops from the cloud allows for apps and files to be accessed from one location, and the cloud platform gives admins the agility to dynamically provision new apps and data based on user need.
- Increase flexibility for remote and hybrid employees: Virtual desktops can be accessed anywhere, at any time, and work on a variety of operating systems.
- Enhance security: Because all data is stored in the cloud, harm done by lost or stolen devices is eliminated.
Cons for DaaS
When deploying DaaS, you’ll need to be conscious of:
- Training: Depending on the DaaS solution, the learning curve for employees learning how to access their desktops can be steep.
- Cost: Licensing can be tricky, as each device needs to be licensed. Some providers handle licensing to make it easier.
Make the move to cloud services with Citrix today
Cloud services offer a series of advantages to organizations looking for cost-effective and scalable solutions. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which solutions are best for your business when comparing DaaS vs. SaaS vs. IaaS vs. PaaS, including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service — a DaaS solution that can be fully deployed and managed from the cloud. With infrastructure offloaded, your IT teams can focus on other strategic initiatives rather than tending to cumbersome patches and updates. And thanks to the Citrix Cloud platform, your team can easily managed all of your Citrix resources from one location.
