Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a Cloud Computing model that provides a complete development and deployment environment in the cloud. It allows developers to create everything from simple apps to sophisticated, cloud-enabled enterprise applications without the cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying hardware and software licenses. Major providers such as Microsoft Azure, Google App Engine, and Heroku offer robust platforms for modern development.
According to IBM, PaaS provides a framework that developers can build upon to develop or customize cloud-based applications. Similar to the way you might use a macro in Microsoft Excel to create a spreadsheet, PaaS lets developers create applications using built-in software components. Cloud features such as Scalability, High Availability, and multi-tenant capability are included, reducing the amount of coding developers must do.
The distinction between Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and PaaS lies in the management layer. In an IaaS model, the user manages the Operating System and Middleware, whereas in PaaS, the provider handles these layers, allowing the user to focus solely on the Source Code and Data. Research from Gartner suggests that PaaS is essential for Digital Transformation and the adoption of Microservices architectures.