Cloud Definition

Cloud Definition The term "cloud" comes from early network diagrams, in which the image of a cloud was used to indicate a large network, such as a WAN. The cloud eventually became associated with the entire Internet, and the two terms are now used synonymously. The cloud may also be used to describe specific online services, which are collectively labeled "cloud computing." Examples of popular cloud-based services include web applications, SaaS, online backup, and other types of online s...
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Definition

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Definition Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a form of cloud computing that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS is one of the three main categories of cloud computing services, alongside software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). IaaS architecture and how it works In an IaaS model, a cloud provider hosts the infrastructure components traditionally present in an on-premises data center, includin...
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Storage as a Service (SaaS) Definition

Storage as a Service (SaaS) Definition Storage as a Service is a business model in which a large company rents space in their storage infrastructure to a smaller company or individual. In the enterprise, SaaS vendors are targeting secondary storage applications by promoting SaaS as a convenient way to manage backups. The key advantage to SaaS in the enterprise is in cost savings -- in personnel, in hardware and in physical storage space. For instance, instead of maintaining a large...
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Software as a Service (SaaS) Definition

Software as a Service (SaaS) Definition Software as a service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the Internet. SaaS is one of three main categories of cloud computing, alongside infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). SaaS removes the need for organizations to install and run applications on their own computers or in their own data centers. This eliminates the e...
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SaaS Definition

SaaS Definition What is SaaS? SaaS stands for at least three different "as-a-service" offerings. The original use of the acronym was to refer to Software as a Service. The term has since been used in reference to Storage as a Service and Security as a Service. Other "as-a-service" offerings include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). The combination of these two with Software as a Service is sometimes called the SPI model (for SaaS, PaaS, IaaS). The wh...
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