Maximizing Your Use of Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Cloud and Infrastructure Series

IT executives today face a tough balancing act. On one hand, businesses demand agility and speed; on the other, they need stability and control. Legacy data centers are being phased out as more companies shift to the cloud. The challenge? Delivering data to various devices while embracing new platforms often means giving up some control over IT infrastructure. This article, part of the “Cloud and Infrastructure” series, explores how IT leaders can maximize the potential of new technologies, starting with the role of cloud computing and how it’s changing where and how users access data.

The Growing Role of PaaS in IT

Most IT executives want to standardize software and IT infrastructure. This simplifies development, support, and maintenance processes. However, it’s also important to recognize where competitive advantages come from and how to balance emerging technologies with current and legacy systems. This is especially relevant with the rise of analytics, mobility, social media, and the Internet of Things (IoT), all of which can benefit from Platform as a Service (PaaS).

PaaS has matured recently, offering greater automation, developer self-service, and more integrated application management tools. By separating applications from the underlying Infrastructure, PaaS eliminates the need to buy, host, or operate physical servers and storage. This helps simplify processes and standardize development in one go.

However, PaaS is a more than one-size-fits-all solution. While it’s great for some use cases, it may be better for others. Even if you incorporate PaaS into your IT strategy, existing applications may need significant updates to work on this Platform. This leaves many businesses managing a mix of cloud-based, optimized, and legacy systems, each requiring a different approach.

The Rise of PaaS Adoption

The PaaS market is growing fast. It’s estimated to reach $7 billion by 2018, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 23%. But despite the buzz, PaaS is still a maturing technology, meaning businesses need to assess whether it’s a good fit for them.

The IT Infrastructure Journey: From Past to Present

In the past, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) built their tech stacks, either buying or developing software for a specific IT setup. This offered high levels of control, but managing complex Infrastructure slowed growth and innovation.

Today, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) has become more common. IaaS allows businesses to rent IT Infrastructure, which can be set up on-site and remotely. While this approach automates some provisioning, businesses must configure software to work with the chosen Infrastructure.

Looking ahead, PaaS builds on IaaS by adding more automation. It provides the computing power, operating systems, and management needed to run applications, meaning developers can focus more on building valuable software and less on managing Infrastructure. Businesses can reduce their infrastructure needs by abstracting the operating system, middleware, and hardware and streamline software development.

Is PaaS Right for Your Business?

Deciding how much PaaS to use in your IT infrastructure strategy depends on several factors:

1. Business Needs: How well does PaaS align with your company’s critical capabilities?
2. Maturity of Features: Are PaaS tools and features advanced enough to meet your needs?
3. Technology Gaps: How does your organization’s technology compare with what PaaS offers, especially regarding application, data, and security architecture?
4. Control Over Technology: Are you prepared to hand over some control of your technology stack to a third party?
5. Flexibility: Can your business remain flexible in its choice of service providers?
6. Existing Portfolio: Which parts of your existing IT portfolio would benefit most from PaaS?

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is gaining traction as a valuable tool for businesses looking to simplify their IT infrastructure and streamline development. However, it’s not always the perfect solution for every business scenario. Companies must carefully assess their needs, considering both the benefits and potential challenges of transitioning to PaaS. As cloud computing evolves, services like Google Cloud Platform, Google Cloud Computing, and PaaS will play an increasingly important role in IT strategies. With the proper planning, PaaS can help businesses stay agile and competitive in a fast-changing digital landscape.