SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS (Software as a Service) is a model where you use an application over the internet, usually on a subscription, instead of buying and installing it on your computer. The provider hosts the program on its servers and takes care of maintenance, security and updates; you simply access it from a browser ✕ A browser is the program you use to open websites and surf the internet — such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. More in the glossary → or an app. Everyday examples are Gmail, Microsoft 365, Slack or Salesforce. Its advantages are convenience, access from any device and not having to manage infrastructure; in return, you depend on the provider and the connection, and your data lives on their servers. It is the most widespread of the three big categories of cloud ✕ "The cloud" refers to services and storage that run not on your device but on external servers on the internet. You can access them from anywhere. More in the glossary → services, alongside PaaS ✕ PaaS gives developers a ready-made cloud environment to build and deploy applications, without having to set up or maintain the servers underneath. More in the glossary → and IaaS ✕ IaaS means renting the basic computing resources — servers, storage, networking — over the internet, on demand and pay-as-you-go, without buying your own hardware. More in the glossary → .