With so many cloud models like infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, multi-tenant SaaS, and dedicated cloud-managed services, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and confused about what’s right for your business needs. In this article, we are giving an overview of available cloud service and deployment models as defined by NIST and define OpenText’s cloud models. Cloud computing is a model for on-demand access to shared computing resources that can be quickly deployed and shared with minimal effort or interaction by administrators or service providers.
Cloud Service Models
The three service models for the cloud are as follows:
- Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
The ability provided to the consumer is to provide processing, storage, networking, and other basic computing resources where the consumer can provide and run any software that 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 applications provided, and possibly limited control of selected network components (e.g. host firewalls).
- Platform as a service (PaaS)
The consumer can deploy consumer-built or purchased applications in the cloud that were created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure, including the network, server and operations 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 consumer uses the provider’s applications that run on a cloud infrastructure. The applications can be accessed from various client devices either via a thin client interface such as a web browser or a program interface. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure, including the network, server, operating systems, storage, or even individual application functions, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
Deployment Models
There are four deployment models defined by NIST:
- Private cloud
The cloud infrastructure is provided for exclusive use by a single organization that spans multiple consumers (e.g., business units). It may be owned, managed and operated by the organization, a third party, or a combination thereof exist locally or outside.
- Community cloud
The cloud infrastructure is provided for exclusive use by a specific community of consumers from organizations that share common concerns (e.g. mission, security requirements, policy and compliance considerations). It may belong to, be managed and operated by one or more organizations in the community, a third party, or a combination thereof, and may exist on-site or outside.
- Public cloud
The cloud infrastructure is used openly by the public. It can be the property, management, and operation of a company, an academic or government organization, or a combination thereof. It is located on the premises of the cloud provider.
- Hybrid cloud
The cloud infrastructure consists of two or more different cloud infrastructures (private, communal or public) that remain unique units, but are connected by standardized or proprietary technologies that enable data and application portability (e.g. cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds).
Defining OpenText Cloud Models
Based on the above definitions, the OpenText Cloud fits into a combination of the PaaS and SaaS service models together with the private and hybrid delivery models. Elements of the public and community cloud definition apply to the OpenText Cloud. However, they are not made available to the public, but only to OpenText business customers. Because of this distinction, although the OpenText Cloud offers a shared cloud infrastructure (with virtual and logical separation between customers), we have referred to OpenText’s cloud offering in this document as more of a private/hybrid cloud than a “public cloud”.
OpenText Go to Cloud Advisory Session
Do you consider moving OpenText Content Suite, Extended ECM, Document Presentment, Archiving and Document Access or other solutions to the cloud in order to reduce the cost of ownership? If yes, we recommend scheduling an advisory session with our OpenText experts.
Helping customers, like Washington Gas, Sysco, New York Life Insurance, Chance Healthcare, Continental Resources, McKesson and many more, we provide OpenText advisory sessions to help organizations build their future product strategy. Contact us and schedule a free consultation.
