Platform as a Service (PaaS) refers to a subset of cloud computing services providing customers an on-demand environment platform to develop, run and manage applications without needing to build the underlying infrastructure.

Relevance for Managed Service Providers:

– Enables quickly provisioning robust tech platforms for clients.
– Alleviates burden of managing operational overheads internally.
– Facilitates modern app development and lifecycle management.
– MSPs handle security, availability and scalability.

Example:

An MSP provisions a HIPAA-compliant healthcare PaaS environment allowing a hospital customer to rapidly build line-of-business apps and analyze medical data on the cloud while staying compliant.

Elements of PaaS Model:

– Operating systems
– Databases
– Networking, storage
– Middleware
– Runtime environments
– Analytics, machine learning

For industries from media to education, specialized PaaS solutions allow focusing on innovation rather than worrying about complex infrastructural needs.