Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud-based development tool, and a model that’s gained fast popularity in recent years as subscription software solutions have taken hold.
PaaS allows users to purchase the needed resources from cloud-based providers, while also allowing them to utilize necessary infrastructure like storage and servers without having to pay for and/or maintain them with their own time and resources.
But how does it compare to the model of Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)? The difference lies in a specialization spelled out by that added word: integration.
Here’s a quick look at PaaS vs. iPaaS and their similarities and differences.
What is PaaS?
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud based platform that can easily be scaled to handle allt things application related. The appeal of the PaaS environment is largely that users do not have to manage a range of cumbersome licenses; the cloud service provider handles most of the back-end administrative work.
PaaS has earned its place as a leading product within the “as-a-service” revolution, which has moved a large percentage of computing and development to the cloud. With this advancement, customers have gained far more flexibility in the tools they can take advantage of.
This transition to more as-a-service offerings has only accelerated in the age of COVID-19 as more and more companies transition their workforces to remote working and learning, thus quickening their adoption of cloud computing technology.
This transition period, conducted to ensure safety, has led to marked improvements in productivity and work satisfaction among employees in many cases. However, it has also created additional strains on companies’ capabilities.
PaaS has been ready to help fill this void and keep companies of all sizes firing on all cylinders.
PaaS is a critical tool in this sector, with a streamlining effect that can pay dividends for customers, who are able to focus on the development and evolution of software applications without having to make the financial investment or operational commitment into the underlying infrastructure.
Companies like Amazon Web Services and Google have emerged as some of the leaders in this space, as they provide a huge chunk of the tools needed by developers, all in one place.
PaaS also allows developers to manage the entire lifecycle of an application in one place. Everything from testing to troubleshooting to management can all be handled centrally.
In addition, PaaS products allow for multi-platform support – a critical, if not indispensable, feature of such development tools in an environment where users are logging in on everything from cell phones to laptops to video game consoles. PaaS helps users sidestep any complications arising from this by giving you all of the tools to go “one stop shopping” for across-the-board updates and support.
What is iPaaS?
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) is a cloud native platform that unifies application integration, API management, data synchronization and more. iPaaS is a service model similar to PaaS — but differs in some key ways.
Its greatest selling point is right in the name: the ability to integrate business processes quickly and efficiently. Users do not have to worry about taxing custom programming or a variety of middleware. For this reason, iPaaS is the future of streamlined integration for businesses of all sizes.
Traditional integration methods take time, money, and a devoted IT staff, but iPaaS has the potential to eliminate much of that legwork and allow you to focus on running your business, confident that integration efforts are smooth sailing. In this way, it is an improvement upon standard PaaS tools. iPaaS offers users the flexibility and the customization that PaaS entities can sometimes lack.
iPaaS subscriptions provide an immediate impact, as well. When you subscribe, you can immediately hit the ground running, getting up to speed in hours or days vs. weeks or months of implementation. The differences that come with adopting such a model are immediately noticeable.
Most users see both financial and time savings as a result of implementing iPaaS. For example, app-to-app integration becomes a breeze, turning batch data transfers into a thing of the past as data is integrated in real-time.
iPaaS can also help relieve some headaches that extend beyond the technology world. If you work in an industry that has a number of regulations, such as finance or healthcare, iPaaS enables you to update and integrate your systems and data while automatically keeping them up to code with the regulations to which your industry is subject.
iPaaS represents the next (improved) step in the “as-a-service” revolution — a purpose-fit extension of the PaaS model that can bring tremendous value to a wide range of businesses.
iPaaS vs PaaS
While both iPaaS and PaaS serve their own unique purposes, iPaaS emphasizes data flow and system connectivity,whereas PaaS centers on software development and application lifecycle management. Depending on your tech eco-system, you can choose which model works best for you.
Using Boomi’s iPaaS Capabilities
The Boomi Enterprise Platform — Boomi’s industry-leading iPaaS — intelligently connects applications and automates workflows, making life easier for IT, developers, and business users alike. Check out our 10-minute demo to see the future of integration in action.