Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)

The IaaS delivery model represents a self-contained IT environment comprised of infrastructure-centric IT resources that can be accessed and managed via cloud service-based interfaces and tools. This environment can include hardware, network, connectivity, operating systems, and other “raw” IT resources. In contrast to traditional hosting or outsourcing environments, with IaaS, IT resources are typically virtualized and packaged into bundles that simplify up-front runtime scaling and customization of the infrastructure.

The general purpose of an IaaS environment is to provide cloud consumers with a high level of control and responsibility over its configuration and utilization. The IT resources provided by IaaS are generally not pre-configured, placing the administrative responsibility directly upon the cloud consumer. This model is therefore used by cloud consumers that require a high level of control over the cloud-based environment they intend to create.

Sometimes cloud providers will contract IaaS offerings from other cloud providers in order to scale their own cloud environments. The types and brands of the IT resources provided by IaaS products offered by different cloud providers can vary. IT resources available through IaaS environments are generally offered as freshly initialized virtual instances. A central and primary IT resource within a typical IaaS environment is the virtual server. Virtual servers are leased by specifying server hardware requirements, such as processor capacity, memory, and local storage space, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 – A cloud consumer is using a virtual server within an IaaS environment. Cloud consumers are provided with a range of contractual guarantees by the cloud provider, pertaining to characteristics such as capacity, performance, and availability.