3 Top Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Providers in 2021
In the current scenario, technology is evolving at a rapid pace in the software world. Cloud computing is the latest trend that is dominating the information technology space and for a good reason.
In fact, nearly 81% of all enterprises across the U.S. either have a cloud strategy in place or are working toward it [1]. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a key variant of cloud computing that has garnered immense popularity in recent years.
PaaS providers have increased in numbers over the past decade as more and more organizations are switching to the cloud due to its benefits. The adoption of PaaS in 2017 was around 32%, and according to current forecasts, the adoption will grow to 56% by the end of 2021 [2].
This makes PaaS the fastest-growing cloud platform segment in the world.
Before we take a closer look at some of the best PaaS providers in 2021, let’s try to understand what makes PaaS so appealing.
SEE ALSO: SaaS vs Paas vs IaaS: What is the Difference & Which Model is Best for Your Company?
What Makes PaaS so Special?
- Just like software-as-a-service (SaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), end-users do not have to worry about investing in expensive IT infrastructure
- Users only need to pay for virtual server resources they require as the primary software is included in the package
- As PaaS platforms are scalable, users do not have to worry about steep upfront costs
- Users do not have to worry about computing power or cloud storage limits as everything is operated via a single platform
- As a result, reporting, data analytics, and analysis is very easy
Despite these advantages, setting up virtual platforms is not a piece of cake and you will require a great level of expertise. Even then, the advantages outnumber the hurdles, particularly in the short term.
Most of the top PaaS companies offer a free trial to ensure that users have enough time to decide whether they want to invest in the solution or not.
Let’s take a look at the best Paas providers in 2021.
1. Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is the complete cloud computing package you are looking for. Apart from PaaS, it also offers IaaS and SaaS.
Users can either use Azure services entirely on the cloud or integrate them with other existing applications, infrastructure, or data centers. Today, a lot of PaaS companies are interested in providing a hybrid between IaaS and PaaS and Azure is no stranger to that concept.
Microsoft Azure is primarily used to implement an array of managed and provisioned infrastructures via its PaaS offering. It also caters to most of your business requirements such as networking, storage, web hosting, and more.
The main notable benefit of this platform is that it eliminates the need to have in-house servers, which also cuts down on costs.
Reasons to buy Microsoft Azure?
- Wide feature set
- Pricing
- Can be integrated with on-premise applications and infrastructure
2. Google Cloud
Google Cloud is Google’s PaaS offering that caters to all your PaaS requirements. The platform’s intuitive engine allows Google to manage all your resources for you.
Besides, Google’s cloud platform allows you to leverage the benefits of Google’s web services to create a personalized solution that can address your company’s requirements.
Google Cloud does all the multi-tasking for you by running, managing, hosting, and scaling all your key applications.
Users who are well accustomed to Linux have an advantage here since Google Cloud predominantly relies on Linux.
Reasons to buy Google Cloud?
- Linux-based
- Google web services
- Intuitive engine
3. IBM Cloud
IBM Cloud is another cutting-edge cloud service platform that aims to help businesses link data, infrastructure, and applications with ease.
With IBM Cloud, data can be easily accessed and synchronized with on-premise as well as cloud applications. Besides, another advantage of this PaaS platform is that it can be integrated with APIs, making it easier to use various applications with it.
Premade templates for different workflows can be used to automate different processes. What makes IBM Cloud an appealing PaaS platform is its ability to monitor your workflows to ensure they are working as expected.
The entire framework is designed so that it encourages the use of business logic to attain the desired results instead of spending time understanding the underlying infrastructure.
In addition, since all your core applications are integrated into this PaaS platform, it simplifies the process of adapting and matching capabilities to optimize productivity and performance.
Reasons to buy IBM Cloud?
- Focus on business logic over hardware
- Synchronizes cloud with on-premise applications
- The wide array of service options
You can also Consider these PaaS Services
Apache Cloudstack is an open-source cloud computing platform that provides users complete control over infrastructure management.
As mentioned above, users can take control of an array of virtual machines and ensure they are scalable per their requirements. Besides, since Apache Cloudstack can be integrated with a gamut of hypervisors for cloud deployment and development, it is certainly worth considering.
Wasabi is another strong independent vendor operating in the cloud industry. Although it is not as well-rounded or robust in comparison to Azure and AWS, it is more affordable.
Another reason why Wasabi is becoming increasingly popular especially among small businesses is its ease of use and relatively simple setup. So, if you do not have the backing of a strong IT team, Wasabi is the right PaaS platform for your small business.
Wrapping it Up!
Looking at the current trends within the cloud industry, there is no reason for this technology to stop evolving. A lot of medium to large businesses have either migrated sensitive data to the cloud or in the process.
Besides, as organizational requirements continue to evolve, the demand for such cutting-edge technologies and business strategies will grow further.
We predict that multi-cloud and hybrid models will soon dominate the cloud industry, with PaaS platforms ruling the roost in the years to come.
Drop your comments below and tell us what trends are likely to be seen in the cloud computing space shortly.
SEE ALSO: 8 Proven SaaS Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business
Feature Image Source: Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Image 1 Source: Google Cloud
Image 2 Source: IBM
Source:
[1] [2] Radoslav.C (2021) “37 Heavenly Cloud Computing Statistics for 2021” [online] Available from: https://techjury.net/blog/cloud-computing-statistics/#gref [accessed July 2021]
