If you are just like me, you might not know the difference between Cloud computing and Software as a service (SAAS), so what is difference between these two terms ?
So what is the Cloud ?
When you hear the words “It’s in the Cloud” from an IT expert, you might nod in understanding and think that your data is really being stored in some imaginary server farm in the sky but that is incorrect.
What they are actually saying is that your data is being stored online so it is accessible anywhere and on any device.
The cloud is a vast connection of servers that work as a single entity, that are used to access data and applications.
There are four types of cloud deployment and they are :
- Public Cloud : this type of cloud deployment is used to share resources and offers services to the public over the Internet.
- Private Cloud : this type of cloud deployment is shared and it offers services over a private internal network typically hosted on-premises.
- Hybrid Cloud : this type of cloud deployment is a combination of public and private cloud services. It can become private or public depending on the required purpose.
- Community Cloud : this type of cloud deployment shares its resources only between approved organizations.
The alternative to cloud storage is local data storage which refers to storing your data on your computer’s hard disk, a thumb drive and an external hard disk.
With local data storage, the storage devices are being managed by the server owners. The data storage owner are in charge or backing up the data, securing the server and installing the updates and patches.
So what is SaaS ?
SaaS is a software application that is hosted in the cloud and it is only accessible through an online subscription to the service.
So basically SaaS can only be accessed via the cloud.
There are numerous software applications that have a SaaS option. These software include ERP’s such as Dynamics 365, Oracle’s e-business suite, SAP and numerous other software applications.