Anything as a Service (XaaS)

The most-used definition of cloud computing belongs to the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): "Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction."

Providers use three well known models: IaaS (infrastructure as a service), PaaS (platform as a service), and SaaS (software as a service).

The next step is to decide on a model for deploying cloud services. In a public cloud, a provider provides the infrastructure to any customer. A private cloud is offered only to one organization. In a hybrid cloud, a company uses a combination of public and private clouds.

One evolution of Iaas/PaaS/SaaS is Anything as a Service, typically referred to as XaaS. The definition of XaaS is “any technology delivered over the Internet that used to be delivered onsite.”

Cloud providers are able to offer other technologies as cloud services now because Internet access has become increasingly reliable and faster, and server virtualization and serverless advances make powerful computing platforms and services readily available. XaaS allows for quick response to market changes.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, and deployed applications; and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).

Platform-as- a-Service (PaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly configuration settings for the application-hosting environment.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through either a thin client interface, such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email), or a program interface. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user specific application configuration settings.

Some of the latest on XaaS is mentioned in the Gartner Hype Cycle and elsewhere:

• Blockchain PaaS…

• Business Process as a Service (BPaaS)…

• Database as a Service (DBaaS)…

• Function as a Service (FaaS)…

• Malware as a Service…

• Windows as a Service…

Blockchain PaaS: Microsoft, AWS, and IBM are offering platforms that include tools for creating blockchain applications.

Business Process as a Service (BPaaS): delivery of business process outsourcing services that are sourced from the cloud and constructed for multitenancy. Services are often automated, and where human process actors are required, there is no overtly dedicated labor pool per client. The pricing models are consumption-based or subscription-based. As a cloud service, the BPaaS model is accessed via Internet-based technologies.

Database as a Service (DBaaS): a cloud computing service model that provides users with some form of access to a database without the need for setting up physical hardware, installing software or configuring for performance. All of the administrative tasks and maintenance are taken care of by the service provider so that all the user or application owner needs to do is use the database.

Function as a Service (FaaS): a category of cloud computing services that provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage application functionalities without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app.

Malware as a Service: a prosperous business run on the black market. Anyone can purchase code that will cause harm to computers or even hold it for ransom.

Windows as a Service: this doesn’t fit the traditional definition of an XaaS. The user still has a version of the operating system (OS) running on their computer, but the OS management and updates are seamless to the user and managed in cloud. The OS is version-less in most respects because it is continuously being updated.