PaaS: the key to taking businesses to the next level

A cloud platform that allows applications to be developed and managed without the need for external hardware and software. What does this mean? Optimizing resources and increasing productivity without additional costs. This is where platform as a service, also known as PaaS, comes into play.

Networks, servers, storage space, software, operating systems, databases… All of this and more can be available in one place, hosted in the cloud, with a budget that helps keep costs under control for any company or project. This is the essence of the PaaS model, currently offered by Internet giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

What is PaaS or platform as a service?

PaaS is a space that brings together a range of cloud-based services and applications, providing developers and other users with the tools they need to deploy solutions quickly and within a controlled budget, which might otherwise be significantly higher.  This platform includes elements such as:

• Infrastructure, from servers and networks to storage space.
• Development tools.
• Business intelligence services.
• Database management systems.

Essentially, it helps control costs and simplifies the complexity of certain processes. PaaS solutions are increasingly used by companies and make operations easier by centralizing services and development.

Main characteristics of PaaS

The main characteristics of PaaS are:

1. The service provider supplies both the software and hardware required to develop applications.
2. The user who contracts the service has control over managing both applications and available data.
3. The customer using the platform as a service does not have to manage the maintenance of the systems included in the service and to which they have access.
4. A wide range of uses: a PaaS solution is not only intended for developers who want to create applications, but also offers options for professionals with limited coding skills.
5. A fully managed cloud-based database that can be customized according to the needs of the customer using the PaaS.
6. Experts highlight four major benefits: the user experience and the virtually unlimited possibilities it provides, the speed at which innovations can be processed and implemented through application development, cost control thanks to highly competitive budgets compared with the advantages these platforms provide, and the ability to scale according to business needs, as mentioned in point 5.

How does PaaS work?

At this point, readers may be wondering: how does PaaS work? In short, these platform-as-a-service solutions provide the technology required to create applications and other developments, as well as a place to host them without the need for costly and complex infrastructure or specific operating systems.

The way these platforms operate can be structured into three main steps or layers:

• Cloud-hosted infrastructure, including servers, a network, data centers and storage for developments created using PaaS.
• Software: development kits, frameworks, operating systems and libraries, among others. Together with the infrastructure described above, these elements form the core of platform as a service.
• User interfaces: there are three main types: the graphical user interface, known by experts and professionals as GUI; the API interface; and finally, the command-line interface, also known by the acronym CLI.

This comprehensive cloud environment is here to stay and is becoming increasingly widespread. Anyone looking to specialize in the digital world should be familiar with solutions like this. That is why EAE Barcelona covers this and other topics in programs such as the Master in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for Business and the Global Master in Business Analytics and Data Strategy. Those interested in learning more about the content of either program can contact the school's teaching team, who will be able to answer any relevant questions.

Advantages of PaaS

There are many advantages to choosing platform as a service. Some of the key factors behind its use include:

• It optimizes working time. The development tools typically included in PaaS platforms help reduce time requirements, as they often integrate applications and services that make collaborative work easier.
• It helps companies get the most out of their professional teams. One of the advantages of PaaS, although it may not always be well received in certain sectors, is that it adds development capabilities to a company without the need to hire additional staff. Specific components can be added to perform highly specific functions.
• It democratizes access to certain tools and systems. Not all companies, startups and professionals can afford to use certain software because of the costs involved. Platform as a service typically offers pay-as-you-go models, making programs and tools accessible to users who might otherwise be unable to afford them.
• It encourages collaborative work. Since everything is hosted in the cloud, multidisciplinary teams can work together while carrying out their respective activities from different and geographically distant locations.
• Easy maintenance. The solutions included in PaaS leave responsibility for keeping applications and systems up to date to the service provider. In this sense, maintenance tasks are effectively outsourced.>
• System scalability. This is another major advantage, particularly for projects with limited budgets. During periods of low web traffic, for example, contracted resources can be reduced. Likewise, when workloads peak, the required resources can be obtained in just a few seconds.
• A highly secure system. Platform-as-a-service solutions are responsible for protecting the developments, programs and software hosted within their environment. Given the high level of vulnerability that exists today, this is an important factor to consider.