Difference Between PaaS and SaaS

Cloud computing is a style of computing in which resources are made available over the internet. Most often these resources are extensible and highly visualized resources and they are provided as a service. Cloud computing is broken down in to few different categories based on the type of service provided. SaaS (Software as a Service) is the category of cloud computing in which the main resources available as a service are software applications. PaaS (Platform as a Service) is the category/application of cloud computing in which the service providers deliver a computing platform or a solution stack to their subscribers over the internet.

What is PaaS?

PaaS is the category/application of cloud computing in which the service providers deliver a computing platform (a hardware architecture and a software framework) or a solution stack (computer subsystem needed to run a software). This makes it possible for the subscribers to deploy an application without having to buy and manage the necessary software and hardware requirements. The responsibility of maintaining the necessary hardware, operating systems, helper applications and databases is the sole responsibility of the service provider. The PaaS subscribers can make use of the delivered platform to build and ultimately deliver web applications and services. PaaS services typically offer complete set of facilities for designing, developing, testing and deploying applications to team collaboration, web service and database integration, version control and configuration management of software. All these facilities are usually available as a single integrated development environment making it very convenient to the developers or the users. Four popular types of PaaS are Add-on, Stand alone, delivery-only and open platform PaaS.

What is SaaS?

SaaS is one of the categories/methodologies of cloud computing. As mentioned above, resources available as a service through SaaS are specifically software applications. Here, an application is shared across multiple clients using the “one-to-many” model. The advantage offered for the SaaS user is that she can avoid installing and maintaining software and can free herself from complex software/hardware requirements. The provider of SaaS software, also known as hosted software or on-demand software, will take care of the security, availability and performance of the software because they are run on the provider’s servers. Using a multitenant architecture, a single application is delivered to millions of users through internet browsers. Customers do not require upfront licensing while providers are enjoying a lower cost because they are maintaining just one application. Popular SaaS software are Salesforce.com, Workday, Google Apps and Zogo Office.

What is IaaS?
IaaS: When the cloud computing system that is offered to you provides you with only infrastructure or the actual hardware (servers and disks), the system is essentially a IaaS. What you get is an infrastructure. You are responsible for installing all the required platforms on top of it. You are responsible for upgrading the necessary platforms if there is a new version released in the market. Let’s say you have installed the .NET Platform on IaaS. Whenever Microsoft releases a new version of .Net, you as an end user of the cloud computing system, take full responsibility of upgrading the system to a newer version of the .Net. It might require you to completely bring your website running on the cloud down, to complete the upgrading process and you will have to live with it 

What is the difference between PaaS and SaaS?

Even though, PaaS and SaaS are two applications/categories of cloud computing, they have their key differences. PaaS is the category/application of cloud computing in which the service providers deliver a computing platform or a solution stack, SaaS focuses on specifically making software applications available over the internet. Important difference between these two services can be identified from the type of subscribers. PaaS is typically used by application developers, while SaaS is used by end users. In other words, PaaS provides a mechanism to develop applications whereas SaaS provides already completed products for the use of the subscribers without modifications.

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Difference between Cloud Computing vs Grid Computing

Cloud computing and grid computing are the two different ways through which computing is done. Cloud computing means the services are used on the internet rather than local system. However, grid computing deals with the sharing of tasks over number of computers. Cloud computing can be described as a type of grid computing.

Cloud Computing

In late 2007, the term cloud computing was coined. In cloud computing, the services that are used daily are moved on the internet rather than being stored on a local machine. Email is a small example of cloud computing and it is available in both methods. Services like Yahoo mail and Google mail provide email facility and people do not need Microsoft Outlook or other applications for the purpose of mail. In this way, email service can be used anywhere in the world where there is internet connection.

After 2007, other services like spreadsheets, presentations and word processing entered cloud computing as Google provided presentation, spread sheets and word processing services and integrated them with Google Calendar and Gmail. Microsoft also entered the cloud computing arena and introduced some applications that can be used by internet users. Microsoft has largely focused on cloud computing.

Grid Computing

Sharing of tasks over number of computers is known as Grid computing. The tasks can simply be data storage or it can be complex calculations. The distribution of tasks can be over large distances. The computers in a grid can act as a part of grid while they are not in use. In order to complete projects, the grid search for unutilized cycles on different computers to access them. One of the popular grid computing projects is SETI@home. There are many organizations that rely on different volunteers who offer their computers to be added on the grid.

A virtual supercomputer is created after these computers are joined together. There may be some problem in these networked computers but still they are powerful than the supercomputers used in 70s and 80s. The principles of grid computing provide the way for modern supercomputers with many small computers attached to each other to form a supercomputer.

Different types of grids can be created using the various techniques of grid computing. By using multiple computers, power as well as flexibility is added to the system. For example, a data grid manages large information that can be accessed by the users.

However, grid computing is different from cluster computing. Firstly, there is no centralized management in grid computing as the computers are controlled in an independent manner. The computers in a grid can have different hardware or operating system.

Difference between cloud computing and grid computing

• Cloud computing involves the use of services on the internet rather than local computers while grid computing involves sharing of tasks over multiple computers.

• Resources of multiple computers are shared in grid computing which greatly helps in improving the flexibility and power of the network whereas this not the case with cloud computing.

• Applications like spreadsheets, presentations, email and word processors are part of cloud computing whereas in grid computing, data storage or complex calculations are done.

Difference Between Cloud Computing and Virtualization

• Virtualization is Technique but cloud computing is a concept using Virtualization technique.
• Virtualization could be done internally in on site and the resource involvement except hardware still exists but where as in cloud computing no internal resources will be required.

Read more: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-cloud-computing-and-grid-computing/#ixzz1No3irZ5R

Over 7.5 Million Underage Users on Facebook

The world’s most popular social-networking service, had 7.5 million U.S. users who were younger than 13 in the past year, a violation of the site’s policies, according to a survey by Consumer Reports.

More than 5 million of the users were under age 11, according to the Consumer Reports “State of the Net” survey. In addition, Facebook exposed more than 5 million U.S. households to some type of “abuse,” including virus infections and identity theft, the survey showed. About 1 million children experienced bullying on the site, Consumer Reports said.
“Despite Facebook’s age requirements, many kids are using the site who shouldn’t be,” said Jeff Fox, technology editor for the Yonkers, New York, magazine. “What’s even more troubling was the finding from our survey that indicated that a majority of parents of kids 10 and under seemed largely unconcerned by their children’s use of the site.”
Facebook, which has more than 500 million members, has faced criticism that it doesn’t protect the privacy of users, especially young people, and can be used to bully teens. Last month, the company announced additional safety tools, including a redesigned “Family Safety Center” that has videos and articles for teens, parents and teachers.
Facebook said it encourages communication between parents and kids about using the Internet safely.

Age Restrictions

“Recent reports have highlighted just how difficult it is to implement age restrictions on the Internet and that there is no single solution to ensuring younger children don’t circumvent a system or lie about their age,” the company said today in an e-mailed statement. “We appreciate the attention that these reports and other experts are giving this matter and believe this will provide an opportunity for parents, teachers, safety advocates and Internet services to focus on this area.”
Facebook requires users to be at least 13 -- and older in some jurisdictions. The site also lets users report accounts registered to members who are under 13 so they can be deleted.
In March, Facebook said it’s expanding an existing reporting system that lets users flag content they consider bullying to a parent or teacher. The site also lists tips on preventing cyber-bullying, including using a “block” feature to stop abusive behavior.
In all, Palo Alto, California-based Facebook has 20 million American users under 18, Consumer Reports said.