Differentiate between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with an example.

Differentiate between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with an example.

• A. IaaS provides virtualized infrastructure (e.g., AWS EC2); PaaS provides a development platform (e.g., Heroku); SaaS delivers software over the internet (e.g., Gmail)
• B. All three are the same
• C. There is no difference
• D. IaaS is a software service; PaaS is hardware; SaaS is a network

Answer: (A)

These cloud service models show who is responsible for what in the tech stack and where control sits when you use cloud resources. In IaaS, you get virtualized infrastructure like virtual machines, storage, and networks. You’re responsible for installing and managing the operating system, middleware, runtime, and your applications, while the provider handles the physical hardware and the virtualization layer. A common example is AWS EC2, where you control the VM and software you run on it. In PaaS, you’re given a development platform that handles the underlying OS, runtime, and middleware, so you can focus on writing and deploying your code and managing your data. The provider takes care of the platform you run on, including updates and scalability. Heroku is a typical example of this, offering a deployment environment without worrying about the underlying servers or runtimes. In SaaS, software applications are delivered over the internet, and you use the application as a service. The provider handles everything from the infrastructure to the application itself, and you just use the software. Gmail is a classic example. So the best choice correctly maps each model to its level of managed services and includes representative examples. Other statements that say there’s no difference or that IaaS is software don’t fit because they mischaracterize who manages what in each model.

These cloud service models show who is responsible for what in the tech stack and where control sits when you use cloud resources. In IaaS, you get virtualized infrastructure like virtual machines, storage, and networks. You’re responsible for installing and managing the operating system, middleware, runtime, and your applications, while the provider handles the physical hardware and the virtualization layer. A common example is AWS EC2, where you control the VM and software you run on it.

In PaaS, you’re given a development platform that handles the underlying OS, runtime, and middleware, so you can focus on writing and deploying your code and managing your data. The provider takes care of the platform you run on, including updates and scalability. Heroku is a typical example of this, offering a deployment environment without worrying about the underlying servers or runtimes.

In SaaS, software applications are delivered over the internet, and you use the application as a service. The provider handles everything from the infrastructure to the application itself, and you just use the software. Gmail is a classic example.

So the best choice correctly maps each model to its level of managed services and includes representative examples. Other statements that say there’s no difference or that IaaS is software don’t fit because they mischaracterize who manages what in each model.