CLOUD Flashcards
IaaS
Infrastructure As A Service
The Most Control, and the Most Work
An IaaS database implementation is one that is self-managed on cloud infrastructure. You would have responsibility for the OS, runtime and database software, along with installation, configuration and ongoing maintenance. The experience would be similar to running on-premises, except for the use of cloud servers and storage. An IaaS database offers the most control over your setup, and that naturally comes with more responsibilities.
No, you don’t have to requisition hardware and operate your own data center with an IaaS database. However, you do need to select a cloud provider infrastructure, and then install and manage the database yourself within the provider’s parameters.
If you’re willing to put in the work, IaaS gives you all the power—and the maintenance burden—of a traditional database. Let’s look more directly at the pros and cons of IaaS.
IaaS Pros
IaaS Pros
With IaaS you have more choices for database(s), since you can choose databases that do not necessarily offer equivalent PaaS or SaaS versions.
With IaaS, you can configure your database(s) to work precisely as you need them to.
Like all cloud database options, IaaS offers practically unlimited scalability. If you’re comfortable managing your database but are transitioning to avoid managing your own data center, IaaS may be all you need.
IaaS makes it easier to reproduce your on-premises database infrastructure in the cloud.
Finally, if your team has the know-how, IaaS provides more control over database software, OS and other configuration options (should you desire them).
IaaS Cons
If you choose an IaaS database, you bear the full responsibility for routine maintenance, including handling backup, scaling, security, and other considerations.
Compared to PaaS and SaaS, your team members may need more database skills and cloud credentials, specifically as they relate to database operations. Or you will simply need a larger team.
It may take considerable time to stand up an IaaS database implementation. You will have to weigh this against the urgency of your project.
