Comments on: What’s the long term cost of not using a PaaS? http://www.saasblogs.com/2009/04/03/whats-the-long-term-cost-of-not-using-a-paas/ Understanding the Software as a Service Revolution Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:14:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: sheena jain http://www.saasblogs.com/2009/04/03/whats-the-long-term-cost-of-not-using-a-paas/#comment-92026 sheena jain Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:09:19 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=249#comment-92026 I read complete blog post and the comments too, and found that PaaS can't stand alone with just its provider. The Dependencies are growing day by day, may it be vendor lock-in, data lock-in, maturity of the PaaS or may be standarization. IaaS, PaaS and SaaS are the key players involved in building a real cloud Computing World. Some consider that companies involved in PaaS or SaaS services are wrapping their product around the cloud and putting it forward as a cloud computing network. Currently PaaS and SaaS providers are not actually following the SOA process of implementing cloud computing. But the major loop hole being talked about Cloud computing and PaaS are the security of Data and Migration of platform from one vendor to another. This is only possible if a authorised community for standardization will come forward from the cloud players themselves, just like W3C. Some of the PaaS providers(Amazon, Google, Wolf Frameworks, etc.) are working hard on the security part of the customer data hanging in the cloud, which is of much concern at the budding age of Cloud Computing. At the same time, others(Wolf Frameworks and Team Desk) are working on a standard oriented architecture and applications, which means customer will not be bound to a particular vendor, if not happy with the services, they can just take a backup of the design structure of their application and move to better PaaS providers, so no vendor lock-in. Similarly, people are also talking about private clouds within the public cloud architecture (which in one sense disturbs the SOA concept but also helps in security of Customer Data.). Thus such kind of SOA-PaaS hybrid model which is uniquely related to Services is going to solve the data lock-in issues too. SOA/Cloud gives customers all kind of freedom. I read complete blog post and the comments too, and found that PaaS can’t stand alone with just its provider. The Dependencies are growing day by day, may it be vendor lock-in, data lock-in, maturity of the PaaS or may be standarization.

IaaS, PaaS and SaaS are the key players involved in building a real cloud Computing World. Some consider that companies involved in PaaS or SaaS services are wrapping their product around the cloud and putting it forward as a cloud computing network.

Currently PaaS and SaaS providers are not actually following the SOA process of implementing cloud computing.

But the major loop hole being talked about Cloud computing and PaaS are the security of Data and Migration of platform from one vendor to another. This is only possible if a authorised community for standardization will come forward from the cloud players themselves, just like W3C. Some of the PaaS providers(Amazon, Google, Wolf Frameworks, etc.) are working hard on the security part of the customer data hanging in the cloud, which is of much concern at the budding age of Cloud Computing. At the same time, others(Wolf Frameworks and Team Desk) are working on a standard oriented architecture and applications, which means customer will not be bound to a particular vendor, if not happy with the services, they can just take a backup of the design structure of their application and move to better PaaS providers, so no vendor lock-in. Similarly, people are also talking about private clouds within the public cloud architecture (which in one sense disturbs the SOA concept but also helps in security of Customer Data.). Thus such kind of SOA-PaaS hybrid model which is uniquely related to Services is going to solve the data lock-in issues too. SOA/Cloud gives customers all kind of freedom.

]]> By: Anand Mohan http://www.saasblogs.com/2009/04/03/whats-the-long-term-cost-of-not-using-a-paas/#comment-86885 Anand Mohan Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:36:27 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=249#comment-86885 Sinclair, thanks for the clarifications. It becomes very important for any company to choose the right Paas provider. Sinclair, thanks for the clarifications. It becomes very important for any company to choose the right Paas provider.

]]> By: Sinclair Schuller http://www.saasblogs.com/2009/04/03/whats-the-long-term-cost-of-not-using-a-paas/#comment-86547 Sinclair Schuller Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:19:13 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=249#comment-86547 Anand, thanks for the comments. While correct, most of your "disadvantages" really just point to the maturity of the platform and not some sort of set of disadvantages of PaaS. Second, a majority of these issues can be worked around. For example, "dependency on a PaaS environment" because of associated risk can be significantly mitigated via a strong disaster recovery plan provided to software companies by the PaaS provider. This plan would include a good "if we cease to exist" scenario. As for number 3 in your list, that's not necessarily true. Mature or not, that's simply a technology question. A software company should do their dilligence and request scale tests, white papers, etc. Anand, thanks for the comments. While correct, most of your “disadvantages” really just point to the maturity of the platform and not some sort of set of disadvantages of PaaS. Second, a majority of these issues can be worked around. For example, “dependency on a PaaS environment” because of associated risk can be significantly mitigated via a strong disaster recovery plan provided to software companies by the PaaS provider. This plan would include a good “if we cease to exist” scenario.

As for number 3 in your list, that’s not necessarily true. Mature or not, that’s simply a technology question. A software company should do their dilligence and request scale tests, white papers, etc.

]]> By: Anand Mohan http://www.saasblogs.com/2009/04/03/whats-the-long-term-cost-of-not-using-a-paas/#comment-86500 Anand Mohan Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:40:20 +0000 http://www.saasblogs.com/?p=249#comment-86500 It makes sense for any startup, small or mid size companies to go with what you are recommending because it will give them more time to attend to the needs of their customers. But again some of the disadvantages are: 1. Dependency on the PaaS environment - Companies have to choose a mature and right PasS provider 2. Changing business model - Immature players frequently change their business model and this can affect the companies using the PaaS. 3. If the PaaS provider is not doing well then soon there will be problems in scalability. Unless, a company chooses mature PaaS company, there is always risk on the companies using the PaaS service. It makes sense for any startup, small or mid size companies to go with what you are recommending because it will give them more time to attend to the needs of their customers. But again some of the disadvantages are:
1. Dependency on the PaaS environment - Companies have to choose a mature and right PasS provider
2. Changing business model - Immature players frequently change their business model and this can affect the companies using the PaaS.
3. If the PaaS provider is not doing well then soon there will be problems in scalability.
Unless, a company chooses mature PaaS company, there is always risk on the companies using the PaaS service.

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