Platform As A Service (paas)

By Author: Yancy Marry
Total Articles: 185
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To break it down literally, the “Platform” in Platform as a Service stands for development platform. “As a service” means that it is available on the cloud. Using PaaS, developers can develop and deploy applications on the web, without having to install any development tools on their machines. They can also deploy these apps without having any sysadmin experience.

PaaS provides the entire infrastructure needed to develop and run applications over the Internet. Users can access custom apps built in the cloud, just like their SaaS apps, while IT departments and ISVs can focus on innovation instead of complex infrastructure. By leveraging PaaS, organizations can redirect a significant portion of their budgets from “keeping the lights on” to creating applications that provide real business value.

Enterprises of all sizes have adopted PaaS solutions for the simplicity, scalability and reliability. They use it for developing everything from enterprise intranet portals to customer facing business sites. The enterprises than invest in PaaS platforms swear by it.

Some popular Platform as a Service ...
... platforms are: Force.com, Google App engine, Applogic, Appscale, cloud foundry etc.

Different types of PaaS solutions available in the market are:

Social Application Development Platforms:
These PaaS solution stacks enable the development of applications, which utilize the collaborative platforms of Social websites like Facebook, MySpace and Bebo. These platforms provide API’s (Application Programming Interfaces) that facilitate the integration of user’s application with the website’s platforms, enabling user to execute that application integrated with its platform.

Web Based Application Add-On Platforms:
These offerings provide the customization of an existing Software as a Service ( SaaS) or addition of features/components in a packaged application like Microsoft Word, Lotus Notes etc. Google provides API to utilize its calendar, docs, mapping and other services, as an add-on or customize application.

Stand Alone Business Application platforms:
These platforms provide the large, scalable, complex and available platform to design and deploy essential business oriented applications that require reliability, security and scalability. They provide generalized development environment without incurring the cost of software licensing, hardware acquisition and maintenance expenditure to the customer.

Open Computing Platforms:
Such a platform enables the development of applications with the liberty to use virtually any programming language, database, operating system and server. Providers provision computing power and storage requirements, allowing developers to deploy their developed application onto the cloud.

Advantages

PaaS platforms are typically chosen for their simplicity and cost savings. With extremely low barrier-to-entry, and no upfront costs, enterprises like to invest in PaaS over a dedicated dev infrastructure. Further, due to their ‘managed’ nature, PaaS platforms are auto updated to the latest versions and new features without additional cost. Also, PaaS generally provide higher availability and security. Lastly, with the mess of deploying and managing the dev infrastructure, the IT organizations can focus on more innovation and projects.

Disadvantages

As with any platform outside their control, enterprises feel locked in with the provider. Such a feeling of captivity sometimes leads to acrimonious relationships. Another issue with PaaS platforms is the challenge of integration with the other enterprise systems. Integrations in an in-house and Platform as a Service scenario are inherently complex, and face issues like compatibility, network access, data security and data integrity. Data security and privacy are two other concerns that corporations face when moving to platforms beyond their boundaries. Corporate data, even if not critical, is private. Maintaining the privacy and security outside the boundary walls of the datacenter is not an easy task.

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