Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. It offers on-demand access to essential infrastructure components such as servers, storage, and networking, allowing organizations to scale their IT resources according to their needs without investing in physical hardware.
In the IaaS model, the cloud service provider manages the underlying physical infrastructure, including hardware, storage, and networking components. Users are responsible for installing, configuring, and managing their operating systems, applications, and data. This approach provides greater flexibility and control over the computing environment compared to other cloud service models like Platform as a Service (PaaS) or Software as a Service (SaaS).
IaaS is particularly beneficial for businesses seeking to avoid the costs and complexities associated with purchasing and maintaining physical servers and data center infrastructure. It enables rapid scaling of resources to meet fluctuating demand and supports a pay-as-you-go pricing model, ensuring that organizations pay only for the resources they use.
Examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, each offering a range of services to support various computing needs.