Interactive exploration of IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and deployment models
Service Model Comparison
See exactly who manages what in each cloud service model. Green = Provider manages, Yellow = You manage.
On-Premises
ApplicationsYou
DataYou
RuntimeYou
MiddlewareYou
Operating SystemYou
VirtualizationYou
ServersYou
StorageYou
NetworkingYou
IaaS
ApplicationsYou
DataYou
RuntimeYou
MiddlewareYou
Operating SystemYou
VirtualizationProvider
ServersProvider
StorageProvider
NetworkingProvider
PaaS
ApplicationsYou
DataYou
RuntimeProvider
MiddlewareProvider
Operating SystemProvider
VirtualizationProvider
ServersProvider
StorageProvider
NetworkingProvider
SaaS
ApplicationsProvider
DataShared
RuntimeProvider
MiddlewareProvider
Operating SystemProvider
VirtualizationProvider
ServersProvider
StorageProvider
NetworkingProvider
Key Insight
Moving from left to right (On-Prem → IaaS → PaaS → SaaS), the provider manages more, and you manage less. This trade-off gives you less control but more convenience!
Interactive Responsibility Stack
Select a service model to see exactly what you're responsible for:
Choose Service Model:
☁ IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service
You rent servers, storage, and networking. You install and manage everything on top.
PaaS - Platform as a Service
You deploy your code. Provider handles the platform (runtime, middleware, OS).
SaaS - Software as a Service
You use the software. Provider handles everything.
Your Responsibilities:
Match the Scenario
For each scenario, select the most appropriate service model:
Your Score
0/6
Company Email
A small business needs email for 50 employees. They don't have IT staff and want it to just work.
Custom Server Setup
A company needs to run a legacy application that requires specific OS configurations and custom security software.
Web App Development
A startup wants to quickly deploy a Python web application without worrying about server maintenance or scaling.
CRM System
A sales team needs to track customer relationships, leads, and sales pipeline without any technical setup.
High-Performance Computing
A research lab needs powerful VMs with specific GPU configurations for machine learning training.
Database Service
A developer needs a managed PostgreSQL database without handling backups, patches, or failover.