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Last month we looked at Public Cloud vs. Private Cloud vs. Hybrid Cloud Models. To kick off the New Year we thought we'd look at Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) vs. Platform as a Service (PaaS) vs. Software as a Service (SaaS).

Naturally as cloud computing providers we work with businesses every day who are grappling with which cloud computing model is right for them. Public cloud computing is probably the most pure form of cloud computing but in truth private and hybrid cloud models represent the most pragmatic approach to adopting a cloud based IT strategy. Not only that but the benefits of private and hybrid cloud solve most companies technology issues in the most effective way and are as such the logical stepping stone to a cloud based approach to IT. So what are they and what is the difference between them?

Core to the on-going cloud vision is to make advanced technology available to businesses large and small alike. It’s fair to say that cloud computing represents a great leveller, providing access to the kind of technology that was almost always the realm of large enterprises. It does this by removing the need for capital expenditure and replacing it with an operational expenditure model. This means that smaller businesses can pay monthly for access to truly great business transforming technology.

As a business leader I’m sure a constant source of annoyance for you is the proliferation of so called “cloud washing”. You know, the type of go-to-market approach where a vendor dresses up some old service or product by adding the word “cloud” to the name and try’s to pass it off as something new.

Gone are the days of cynics dismissing the Cloud as the latest me-too fad, consumers dictating hardware and software options and CIOs succumbing to the claims of the trusted in-house IT department. The face of Cloud Computing is changing at a rapid rate, and so is the technology that supports this offering.

Cloud Computing has brought about nothing short of a revolution in the SME marketplace. Gone are the days of large providers monopolising tenders and consequently leaving SMEs in the dark. Thanks to the Cloud, the smallest of enterprises is now able to not only hold their own, but compete and win tenders for the biggest contracts safe in the knowledge they are backed by the highest industry accreditations offered by Cloud partners. It is therefore no surprise that the Cloud should inevitably be the trump card that SMEs use when playing with the big boys.

Whilst the concept of 100% Cloud Computing is an alienating thought to even the most IT savvy MD, the reality is that the number of companies opting for a fully outsourced approach is on the rise. Despite the age old server room providing a comfort to those reluctant to move with technological developments, practically speaking it is a ticking time bomb, draining both funds and IT resources.

There is much contention surrounding the issue of size in relation to the Cloud, resulting in confusion about whether size does matter and if so, what size Cloud Computing provider really is the best.

Cloud contracts have become notorious for their unfair and non-negotiable terms which often leave companies tied into deals that don’t fully meet their business needs.

It is a common misconception that by moving to the Cloud , businesses are relinquishing all control of their data. Generally speaking, many companies fail to take the time to fully understand Cloud computing and in this vein, feel reluctant to outsource business-critical data to the Cloud.