SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/secplus-paas-deploy-apps

A developer deploys their own app on a provider's platform without managing servers or the operating system. Which model is that?

PaaS (Platform as a Service): you manage your app, the provider manages the platform.

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  1. IaaS
  2. PaaS ✔
  3. SaaS

Why: In PaaS you bring your code and the provider runs the servers, OS and runtime underneath. You still control the app and its settings. That makes it a middle ground between IaaS and SaaS.

Huh, didn't know that: Microsoft lists Azure App Service, Azure Functions and Azure SQL Database as PaaS examples.

The dad joke
What do you call a developer who uses PaaS? Someone who finally stopped caring what's under the hood.
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References

Answer: PaaS. In PaaS you bring your code and the provider runs the servers, OS and runtime underneath. You still control the app and its settings. That makes it a middle ground between IaaS and SaaS.

  1. Microsoft Learn: Shared responsibility in the cloud learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/shared-responsibility
    PaaS (platform as a service): You deploy applications without managing VMs or operating systems.
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. NIST SP 800-145, The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/SP/nistspecialpublication800-145.pdf
    deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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