What is Platform-as-a-Service?

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a platform distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts a framework for developers for the creation of customized applications. PaaS provides an internet-based platform for developers so that they can focus on building software without the demands of maintaining servers, storage and related infrastructure.

What’s the Difference between Paas and SaaS?

PaaS and SaaS have several similarities. Both include third-party management of networking, storage, servers, operating systems and middleware. The difference is that, in PaaS, apps and data are managed by the customer.

SaaS is designed to liberate the user from almost all hardware and software maintenance responsibilities. PaaS provides a framework for developers to build, test, deploy and manage apps, an objective that differentiates it from SaaS.

However, Paas and SaaS are not mutually exclusive. PaaS is often built on top or adjacent to SaaS offerings, but with PaaS, internal developers can build value-added, business-specific customizations.

Snowflake: The Best of Both Worlds

Snowflake’s cloud data platform and data warehouse provides robust features and functionality out-of-the-box (check out our free trial and be up and running in minutes). But, importantly, its also delivers PaaS-like functionality and the built-in data warehouse design flexibility developers need to power applications for BI, AI, machine learning, IoT, and more.

To learn more about Snowflake for Developers, read the eBook, 3 Tips for Building Modern Data Warehouse Applications.