IAAS: Outsourcing Your IT Infrastructure
IAAS represents a pivotal shift in how businesses use and manage their IT infrastructure. It is a highly flexible, scalable and, most importantly, cost-effective alternative to traditional on-premises data centres. Infrastructure as a service is where cloud computing services vendors offer resources like storage, servers, virtual hardware and other services in order to remove the need for businesses to maintain a physical data centre. Generally, the model follows a pay-as-you-go model which allows organisations to consume IT infrastructure as a utility rather than as a major investment. Just as a business might pay to use electricity, water and other utilities, IAAS provides access to robust IT resources at a fraction of the cost of purchasing and maintaining them. In this blog we will discuss some of the benefits of infrastructure as a service and how it may be the future of business IT infrastructure.
Shared Resources Without A Drop In Performance
At the core of IAAS is advanced virtualisation technology. Multiple virtual machines are made to run on a single physical server while still maintaining their individuality and functioning as independent entities with their own operating systems and applications. Where in the past businesses may have spent large sums on IT equipment, often with more processing and storage capabilities than strictly necessary. Due to the nature of IAAS, wasted resources are a thing of the past as each virtual system is made to specification, with only the exact amount of RAM and CPU specifications needed to perform the tasks it is likely to perform.
Resources are thus shared and allocated as needed without sacrificing performance. If necessary, administrators have the power to install and uninstall operating systems, middleware, applications and more, giving the business even more control over how and where resources are used.
Accessible Storage
Central storage means ease of access. This is a boon for highly collaborative environments. Cloud storage makes it possible to access and make use of data quickly and easily from any virtual machine on the system, provided the correct permissions are in place. Difficulty sharing and using data is, in many workplaces, the cause of the vast majority of delays. When accessing information is as simple as looking up the relevant data on the cloud, the information sharing bottleneck vanishes entirely potentially doubling efficiency.
Virtualisation Eliminates Stress
Managing and maintaining the IT infrastructure of an entire business is a deceptively time-consuming task. Putting the entirety of your business’ IT infrastructure into the hands of an IAAS vendor essentially places a veil over the inner workings of the IT system, removing the need to even think about how the system functions only that it functions as needed. This is especially good for companies not in the IT sector that would otherwise have to employ one or more IT specialists to manage their systems. The vendor takes care of all the maintenance and troubleshooting allowing the client to focus on their business and nothing else. There is also a great deal of security in having the ability to contact a dedicated service desk in case any issues arise within the system.
Scalability
IAAS’ greatest advantage is the ability to scale an organisation’s computing resources almost instantly. Whether it is a seasonal spike in e-commerce traffic, the rapid expansion of a new application or a permanent expansion of the company, IAAS is incredibly agile and can be scaled up or down with little to no extra investment. This ensures optimal performance at all times without costly over-provisioning.
Centric Data Offers Infrastructure As A Service
Infrastructure as a service is still a relatively new idea in a lot of places. However, a large number of companies, both small businesses and large established enterprises, are beginning to look into IAAS as a computing, storage and network solution. Centric Data offers IAAS for small, medium and large enterprises. From the planning stage, to development of a system that meets the unique needs of each business, on to the implementation and beyond, Centric has the resources and the expertise to offer world class IAAS services. Visit our website or give us a call to learn about how we can help you take advantage of the endless possibilities of infrastructure as a service.
