Platform as a service
Also known as PaaS
Renting a managed runtime for your application, with the provider handling the operating system and platform underneath.
You deploy code or a database and the provider handles patching, scaling, and availability of everything below it. Less control, considerably less maintenance.
For most business applications this is the better default now, because the operational burden of running virtual machines rarely pays for itself.
Where this comes up
Platform as a service sits inside our microsoft 365 and cloud work. If you are trying to work out what this means for your own environment rather than in the abstract, that is the page worth reading next, and a short call will get you a straight answer faster than either.
Related terms
Infrastructure as a service Renting virtual servers, storage, and networking from a cloud provider while retaining responsibility for the operating system upward. Software as a service Subscribing to software the vendor runs entirely, accessed through a browser or app. Microsoft Azure Microsoft's cloud platform for hosting servers, applications, databases, and infrastructure services. Shared responsibility model The division of security duties between a cloud provider and its customer, which shifts depending on the service type.