Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Study Guide

Chapter 3. Cloud Service Types

As you prepare for the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam, be mindful of the three primary cloud service types:

• IaaS, or infrastructure as a service

• PaaS, or platform as a service

• SaaS, or software as a service

In this chapter, I’ll take a microscopic view of each of these cloud service types. First, I’ll explain them using everyday examples, and then we’ll explore what Microsoft Azure offers for each cloud service type. This approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of this topic that can be applied in practical scenarios.

Demystifying Cloud Service Types Using Everyday Examples

These cloud service types (and their acronyms) can be confusing at first. Let’s talk about them using the analogy of owning a car, renting a car, or using a rideshare service. In this analogy, the division of responsibilities shifts depending on the level of service you opt for (IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS).

IaaS: Owning a Car

With IaaS, you have full control over the infrastructure—just like when you own a car. When you own a car, you decide what car to buy, maintain it, fill it with fuel, and handle repairs. I’ll dig more into how this directly translates to IaaS in a later section. For now, you can start to let this analogy sink in.

IaaS

Like owning a car. You purchase a car when you want total control as well as all the responsibilities that come with ownership. You will:

• Enjoy maximum control and usage of the car

• Be the driver of the car

• Be responsible ...