SaaS, or software as a service, is software that a provider runs on cloud infrastructure and makes available to customers over a network, usually through a web browser or an application interface. The customer uses the application; the provider operates the underlying service. Customers may be able to adjust settings, but they generally do not manage the servers, storage, operating systems, or network that run it.
What does SaaS mean?
SaaS describes how software is delivered and operated, rather than a particular kind of app or payment plan. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines the SaaS capability as using “the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure.” In practical terms, you access the application over a network while the provider runs the systems underneath it. NIST’s SP 800-145, published in 2011, is the primary reference for this definition.
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A browser is common, but not required: an application can also be reached through a program interface. The defining point is that the provider makes its application available as a cloud service, not that the customer installs and operates all of the underlying infrastructure.
What does the SaaS provider manage?
In NIST’s model, the customer does not manage or control the underlying network, servers, operating systems, or storage. The customer uses the provider’s application and may have limited control over application-specific settings, such as user preferences or configuration options. The precise division of tasks depends on the service.
Infrastructure management does not settle every question about a customer’s data or obligations. For a particular product, review its terms and documentation for security responsibilities, data handling and retention, export and deletion options, uptime commitments, and regulatory suitability.
How is SaaS different from PaaS and IaaS?
SaaS, platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) describe different capabilities and customer roles. NIST’s SP 500-322, published in 2018, explains how to assess cloud services against the SP 800-145 definitions.
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| Model | What the customer receives | Typical customer role |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS | A provider’s application | Uses the application, with limited configuration control |
| PaaS | A platform for deploying customer-created or acquired applications | Develops or deploys applications on the platform |
| IaaS | Fundamental computing resources, such as processing, storage, and networks | Deploys and runs software, potentially including operating systems |
To distinguish them, look at what the provider actually supplies and what the customer is expected to do. A vendor’s use of words such as “cloud” or “platform” in a product name is not enough to classify the service.
What makes a service cloud computing?
NIST SP 800-145 identifies five essential cloud characteristics. These describe cloud computing broadly; they are not a checklist of features that every app must visibly show to its users.
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- On-demand self-service: a customer can provision computing capabilities as needed, without requiring the provider to perform each step.
- Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network through standard access mechanisms.
- Resource pooling: the provider pools computing resources to serve multiple customers, with resources assigned and reassigned as demand changes.
- Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be provisioned and released to respond to demand.
- Measured service: resource use can be monitored, controlled, and reported.
NIST also identifies four cloud deployment models: public, private, community, and hybrid cloud. Deployment model and service model answer different questions: deployment describes the cloud environment, while SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS describe the capability supplied to the customer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is SaaS always a subscription?
No. A subscription is a billing choice, not part of the formal SaaS definition. NIST observes that cloud computing is typically charged on a pay-per-use or charge-per-use basis, but that general description does not establish how every SaaS product bills customers. Pricing and contract terms vary, so check the current terms for the specific service.
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