What is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a cloud computing model that outsources IT infrastructure. IaaS providers purchase and manage expensive, physical computing resources while providing a wide range of cloud services in return. Companies essentially rent out the provider’s processing power to virtualize servers, store data, and facilitate network traffic. IaaS offerings allow businesses to create and utilize virtual hardware tools without buying, building, or hosting them. These tools are provided externally as virtualized servers, databases, or bandwidth, as well as other tools. What Does IaaS Stand For? IaaS stands for infrastructure as a service. The products deliver virtualized infrastructure deployed on the physical resources of a cloud services provider. They deliver these virtualized solutions in the form of a managed service, hence it is called infrastructure “as a service.” What Types of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Exist? It is common for IT departments to use a patchwork of IaaS solutions to manage web applications across multiple environments. However, this complex architecture needs to be evaluated constantly to maintain efficiency and meet business goals. Deciding between using public, private, or hybrid clouds usually comes down to performance and cost. Public cloud Public clouds are the most cost-effective route when choosing an IaaS provider, as they allow businesses to reduce upfront spending on hardware and maintenance costs. Technical benefits of public cloud options include scalability, reliability, and broader feature sets. Public cloud options are popular among startups and small businesses; however, they may not be the best fit for businesses operating in industries regulated by data security laws (HIPAA, PCI, etc.). Private cloud Private clouds offer better security and compatibility for legacy web applications, as well as an easier migration process than public clouds. Private clouds can be housed in onsite data centers; however, most mid-market to enterprise-level businesses that use private clouds opt to use third-party IaaS service providers. Private clouds are popular among businesses in industries such as finance, healthcare, and commerce, where data security is held to a higher standard than in other industries. Hybrid cloud Hybrid clouds provide a combination of the two options mentioned above. Hybrid clouds are popular among large enterprises and other businesses looking to find common ground between security and cost. This approach to IaaS allows businesses to process certain parts of a web application in a public cloud while storing and processing confidential data in a private cloud.

What are the Common Features of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?

The following are some core features within IaaS that can help users build, deploy, and manage cloud services: Virtual machines (VMs): IaaS software provides virtualized networks, applications, and operating systems. These solutions deliver emulated tools using the provider’s physical resources. VMs expand a user’s access to operating systems and host environments without requiring expensive hardware. Storage management: IaaS software provides management tools for data storage, database configuration, and scaling. These solutions give users access to a variety of databases and cloud storage applications that scale as use increases. Cloud-based storage can become especially important for preventing data loss. Networking: IaaS software lets users provision networks, deliver content, balance loads, and manage traffic. Networking features allow users to choose how data is connected and networks are communicating. Cloud migration: IaaS software allows data and VM transfers during adoption and maintenance. Digital transformation has caused many businesses to shift from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based solutions. Cloud migration tools simplify and expedite the process of transferring systems to the cloud. Analytics: IaaS software lets users analyze storage, performance, and connectivity. Analytics features can help optimize performance for users by managing traffic and resource allocation. Some IaaS solutions also have big data analytics features to help users process enormous data sets. Maintenance: IaaS software enables maintenance to existing VMs to improve functionality and security. Maintenance features help users centralize control over their users, their endpoints, and the VMs they access. Database management: IaaS software supports managing different types of databases and integration methods. Database support can give users access to cloud databases and sync them to facilitate live updates.

What are the Benefits of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?

Outsourced infrastructure: IaaS solutions can be a great fit for all businesses. For example, small businesses can avoid the costly process of building or buying in-house software solutions by using IaaS solutions. These tools can require heavy maintenance but are managed by the service provider rather than the small business. Instead of hosting the tools onsite, they are distributed through multiple data centers and maintained by the IaaS provider. Scaling: IaaS solutions are ideal for growing businesses. They are highly scalable and are offered on a pay-per-use basis. This means that companies don’t have to worry about surprises in cost. As the company grows and utilizes an existing plan, they are already presented with the price for additional usage. Flexibility: Small businesses with limited physical resources can subscribe to an IaaS solution and multiply their potential infrastructure. New, larger databases allow companies to use scalable storage solutions. Virtual desktops enable customers to utilize products across any platform. Companies are also provided with as much bandwidth as they need. Outsourced management: If a company has limited staff or time, they can also benefit from the automation of multiple tasks. This includes IT administrative duties, deployments, application monitoring, and others (depending on the provider). Providers control resources to optimize a company’s services or an application’s productivity. Application lifecycle management: Tech companies developing new software can benefit from IaaS solutions significantly during the development and testing phases. Application hosting and testing can be much cheaper through remote servers than through self-hosting. Users are able to test and deploy a tool multiple times without requiring in-house servers. They can then either keep an application hosted remotely or deploy it on in-house resources once the application is ready to be made publicly available.

Page 6 | Best Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software: User Reviews from September 2026

AWS Wavelength

Product Description: AWS Wavelength integrates AWS compute and storage services within telecommunications providers' data centers at the edge of 5G networks. This architecture enables developers to build and deploy applications that require ultra-low latency and meet stringent data residency requirements. By bringing AWS services closer to end-users, Wavelength facilitates real-time processing for applications such as machine learning inference, gaming, and video streaming. It leverages the secure AWS Nitro System to ensure data sovereignty and provides seamless connectivity to the full range of AWS services in the parent region. Key Features and Functionality: - Data Sovereignty: Built on AWS Nitro System, Wavelength offers verifiable control over data location, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. - Compute Services: Supports various Amazon EC2 instance types, including general-purpose, memory-optimized, and accelerated computing instances, catering to diverse application needs. - Storage Solutions: Provides Amazon Elastic Block Store gp2 volumes for persistent block storage, with features like snapshot and restore capabilities, and default encryption for enhanced security. - Container Orchestration: Enables running Kubernetes workloads in Wavelength Zones as part of Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service clusters. - Load Balancing: Offers Application Load Balancer to distribute incoming traffic across multiple targets, ensuring high availability and reliability. - Connectivity: Extends Amazon Virtual Private Cloud to Wavelength Zones and introduces carrier gateways for secure and reliable connectivity to telecommunications networks and the internet. - Access to Regional Services: Seamlessly connects to AWS regional services like Amazon S3 and Amazon DynamoDB over AWS’s private, high-bandwidth network backbone. - AWS Tools Integration: Compatible with AWS tools such as AWS CloudFormation, Amazon CloudWatch, and AWS CloudTrail for consistent management and monitoring. - Security Compliance: Meets industry standards and certifications, including HIPAA, ISO, SOC, and PCI DSS, ensuring robust security and compliance. Primary Value and User Solutions: AWS Wavelength addresses the critical need for low-latency, high-bandwidth applications by bringing AWS services to the edge of 5G networks. This proximity allows developers to create innovative applications that require real-time processing, such as interactive gaming, live video streaming, and industrial automation. By ensuring data remains within specified geographic boundaries, Wavelength helps organizations comply with data residency regulations. Additionally, it enhances security and resiliency by integrating with existing AWS infrastructure and on-premises deployments, providing a consistent and reliable user experience.

Average Rating: 4.2/5.0

Total Reviews: 3

How Do G2 Users Rate AWS Wavelength?

Public Cloud: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10)
Virtual Machines (VMs): 6.7/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
Hybrid Cloud: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)

Who Is the Company Behind AWS Wavelength?

Seller: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Year Founded: 2006
HQ Location: Seattle, WA
Twitter: @awscloud
2,232,483 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
147,094 employees on LinkedIn®
Ownership: NASDAQ: AMZN

Who Uses This Product?

Company Size: 67% Large, 33% Small

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of AWS Wavelength?

"Achieve Ultra low latency with Wavelength"

Rating: 4.5/5.0 stars

— DilLip Chowdary R.

Best Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Software - Page 6

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