IaaS (Infrastructure As A Service)
Synonyms
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Cloud Infrastructure Services
- Infrastructure Cloud Services
- Virtual Infrastructure Services
- Hosted Infrastructure
- On-Demand Infrastructure
- Cloud Hosting Services
- Infrastructure Utility Computing
- Cloud-Based Infrastructure
What is IaaS?
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. Rather than purchasing and managing physical servers, networking hardware, and storage, businesses can rent these resources on-demand from a cloud provider. This enables companies to scale quickly, reduce IT overhead, and focus on core business operations.
IaaS is one of the three main categories of cloud services, alongside PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service).
Key Features of IaaS
- On-Demand Scalability: Instantly scale infrastructure up or down based on demand.
- Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: Only pay for what you use, improving cost-efficiency.
- High Availability: Built-in redundancy and failover systems ensure uptime.
- Self-Service Provisioning: Users can provision computing resources via a web dashboard or API.
- Global Reach: Deploy infrastructure in multiple geographic locations for optimal performance.
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Examples of IaaS Providers
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- IBM Cloud Infrastructure
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
Real-World Use Cases
- Startups can quickly deploy applications without heavy capital investment.
- Enterprises can extend on-premises infrastructure into the cloud during peak periods.
- Software vendors use IaaS to host development, testing, and production environments.
- E-commerce platforms use IaaS to handle seasonal traffic spikes without latency issues.
Benefits of IaaS
- Cost Savings: Eliminate the need for capital expenditures on physical hardware.
- Faster Time to Market: Quickly launch and iterate on digital products.
- Flexibility: Customize virtual machines, storage, and networking configurations.
- Disaster Recovery: Easily back up and recover systems in case of failure.
IaaS vs. PaaS vs. SaaS
Why IaaS Matters in B2B Tech and CPQ
Modern CPQ platforms like servicePath™ are built on top of robust Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) environments, allowing them to deliver scalable, high-performance quoting experiences to enterprise sales teams around the globe.
By leveraging IaaS, CPQ platforms benefit from:
- Elastic compute power to handle complex configurations and large deal volumes without latency.
- Global availability zones for consistent performance across regional sales teams.
- Seamless integration capabilities with CRM, ERP, and billing systems via secure, high-throughput APIs.
- Resilience and uptime backed by enterprise-grade failover, monitoring, and recovery mechanisms.
- Rapid deployment and updates, enabling frequent iteration without infrastructure constraints.
For B2B organizations selling configurable, high-value solutions, IaaS enables the CPQ engine to remain responsive,secure,and scalable—critical to reducing quote turnaround times, increasing deal velocity, and maintaining pricing accuracy at scale.
Related Terms
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Virtual Machines (VMs)
- PaaS (Platform as a Service)
- SaaS (Software as a Service)
- Public Cloud
- Private Cloud
- Elastic Compute
- DevOps
- Hybrid Cloud
- Cloud Orchestration
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is IaaS in simple terms?
IaaS provides virtual access to servers, storage, and networking so businesses can build and run applications without owning hardware.
2. How is IaaS billed?
IaaS uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, charging based on resource usage like CPU hours, storage, and bandwidth.
3. Is IaaS secure?
Yes, most IaaS providers offer robust security features, including firewalls, encryption, access control, and compliance with industry standards.
4. Can I use IaaS for CPQ solutions?
Absolutely. IaaS supports scalable and secure deployments of CPQ platforms, enabling high performance even under heavy load.
5. Who uses IaaS?
Startups, enterprises, developers, and SaaS companies all use IaaS to run applications, store data, and support digital services.
The Infrastructure Behind Innovation: IaaS Is Non-Negotiable for Scalable B2B Sales
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