Cloud Computing Report: IaaS vs PaaS for Webb's Stores Database

This report delves into cloud computing, specifically comparing the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) models for migrating a database, using Webb's Stores as a case study. The report outlines the core functionalities of IaaS, which offers access to network and storage resources, and PaaS, which provides a platform for application development. It details the steps involved in migrating a database to the cloud using both approaches, emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of each. The advantages of IaaS include minimal workload and easy migration, while its disadvantages include higher costs and customer responsibility for virtual machine management. PaaS offers dynamic scalability and ease of configuration but may require application modifications. Ultimately, the report recommends the PaaS approach for Webb's Stores, highlighting its scalability, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness, concluding that it is the most suitable option for the company's database migration needs. The report references several sources to support its findings.

Running head: CLOUD COMPUTING
Cloud Computing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
IaaS approach of moving the database to the Cloud............................................................2
PaaS approach of moving the database to the Cloud...........................................................3
Advantages and Disadvantages of IaaS and PaaS approach...............................................3
Recommendations................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................4
References............................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
Cloud Computing is an internet based process of computing that will allow sharing of
resources, computing and storing information online. This allows an organization to perform
certain functions without investing or purchasing their own resources.
This report discusses about the IaaS and PaaS approach of moving the database of
Webb’s Stores to the cloud. This report compares these two approaches and suggests a suitable
approach for Webb’s Stores.
IaaS approach of moving the database to the Cloud
Infrastructure as a service is a service model of the Cloud Computing that will allow
Webb’s Stores to access network, storage facilities and also storage services (Jadeja & Modi,
2012). It will also provide administration and hardware services.
The Webb’s Stores needs to build an application and load all its software that will run in
the cloud. Then they need to upload the VM to host’s environment. IaaS approach is best when
the organization has no time for reengineering the application. The company needs to take into
account a technology domain. Certain conditions like checking the financial considerations must
be satisfied without which migrating to IaaS will become difficult (Rittinghouse & Ransome,
2016). This approach has certain disadvantages like dependence on third party and degradation
of service quality. In IaaS, the Webb’s Stores will have full privilege in accessing the virtual
machine. Few things that are needed in order to migrate the database to cloud are data stream
amount and resource requirement that are dynamic. This approach migration is different than
migrating via PaaS approach.

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PaaS approach of moving the database to the Cloud
Platform as a service is a Cloud service model that provides a platform for developing
applications over the internet by providing hardware and software like middleware and software
(Wang et al., 2012). Webb’s Stores will be provided with all the facilities for developing and
delivering the software that will help them to build cloud applications and release them in an
elastic and scalable environment. Steps to be taken by Webb’s Stores to move the database to
Cloud by PaaS approach are configuring an Azure SQL Database and Azure Web App. The
company never has to log in to the VM server (Gibson et al., 2012). The PaaS approach has
several restrictions at every layer of technology of the stack of application like database,
programming language, third party library, middleware and restrictions associated with the
selected PaaS.
Advantages and Disadvantages of IaaS and PaaS approach
IaaS Approach PaaS Approach
Advantages:
 The workload required for this
approach is little.
 The complexity of the migration
process is very easy. It has no
complexity as such.
 There is no need for adaptation (Kavis,
2014).
 This approach saves the expenditure of
Advantages:
 This approach offers a scalability that is
dynamic in nature.
 The configurable procedure is easy.
 It has the lowest cost among all the
cloud approaches.
 Availability is high.

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capital that is required for hardware.
Disadvantages:
 This is the most expensive approach
among all the approaches.
 Customer has to take the responsibility
of managing the virtual machine.
 Customer is responsible for the
backups.
 The customers do not have control over
the server or physical location of the
virtual machine.
Disadvantages:
 The migration workload is moderate as
compared to IaaS.
 The complexity of migration is also
moderate.
 The customer needs to modify
application to make it compatible with
PaaS (Garrison, Kim & Wakefield,
2012).
 Platform is shared among multiple
customers.
Table 1: Benefits and Challenges of IaaS and PaaS Approach
Recommendations
The Webb’s Stores should take the PaaS approach as this will provide the company with
a platform to develop its own application along with storage and resource sharing facilities. It is
scalable and easy to configure. The cost of this approach is the lowest. This is not a time
consuming process.

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Conclusion
This report concludes that the best option for Webb’s Stores is to take the PaaS approach
to move its database to the cloud because this is the suitable for the purpose of this company.
This report also compares the IaaS and PaaS approach stating its benefits and challenges.

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References
Garrison, G., Kim, S., & Wakefield, R. L. (2012). Success factors for deploying cloud
computing. Communications of the ACM, 55(9), 62-68.
Gibson, J., Rondeau, R., Eveleigh, D., & Tan, Q. (2012, November). Benefits and challenges of
three cloud computing service models. In Computational Aspects of Social Networks
(CASoN), 2012 Fourth International Conference on (pp. 198-205). IEEE.
Jadeja, Y., & Modi, K. (2012, March). Cloud computing-concepts, architecture and challenges.
In Computing, Electronics and Electrical Technologies (ICCEET), 2012 International
Conference on (pp. 877-880). IEEE.
Kavis, M. J. (2014). Architecting the cloud: design decisions for cloud computing service models
(SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS). John Wiley & Sons.
Rittinghouse, J. W., & Ransome, J. F. (2016). Cloud computing: implementation, management,
and security. CRC press.
Wang, C., Wang, Q., Ren, K., Cao, N., & Lou, W. (2012). Toward secure and dependable
storage services in cloud computing. IEEE transactions on Services Computing, 5(2),
220-232.