SaaS products have always been associated with an issue of limited customizability. In a move to tackle the same, another ‘as a Service’ model -Platform as a Service (PaaS) has evolved. Often being considered as an outcome of Service-oriented Architecture (SOA), it can best be described as an application development and deployment functionality available as a service.
With SOA, we have defined certain web-based interfaces which are specific to an existing system or module. It also has rendered it reusable too. Now, PaaS promises to extend these functionalities to the next level, wherein the whole platform would become accessible through a web browser. This means that enterprises now have to just develop and deploy their applications through a browser without shelling out any extra revenue on infrastructures.
It is agreed that PaaS readily helps create and deploy applications. However, the question here is, “Why should Enterprises adopt PaaS?” as they already have tools and technologies to meet the same goal. It certainly has some clear cut advantages such as no infrastructural costs, instant IDE, instant deployment, to name a few. They just have to choose the right platform depending on their needs and resources and subsequently, can shift their focus onto creating innovative applications, rather than the complex IT infrastructures. This would also mean the removal of critical barrier to entry for smaller ISVs.
The time has come when anyone with an internet connection can build various applications and deploy them across the globe. PaaS is here to stay, but it should be ensured that they are kept open so that the developers and designers do not get alienated from the mainstream.
