This weeks Cloud Acronyms: TEaaS, BPaaS and CaaS.
TEaaS: Test Environment as a Service
Building test environments can be extremely complex requiring the setting up of servers, clients and a range of other technologies. Test Environment as a Service (TEaaS) makes it possible to automate the provisioning of test environments. Using a self service interface the user provisions their test environment as they would any other cloud service. This is then deployed allowing the user to tune and configure various elements such as server settings, bandwidth settings or the number of clients.
All of this is captured as a script which is then saved. When the test team need to deploy the environment again they simply run the script which automatically provisions the test environment so that they can run more tests. This is beginning to gain traction in organisations that do continuous development, delivery, testing and deployment.
BPaas: Business Process as a Service
Any business process delivered using cloud services is considered to be Business Process as a Service (BPaaS). There are many examples of this such as a corporate travel service that is delivered through the cloud or a cloud-based solution for tracking and reclaiming expenses.
In the standard cloud model Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) sits below Platform as a Service (PaaS). On top of this is Software as a Service (SaaS). BPaaS takes advantage of SaaS to deliver the application to the user. By sitting at the on top of the cloud stack anything that is done in the BPaaS can be easily integrated with other parts of the business software stack such as accounts, stock management and HR systems.
CaaS: Communication as a Service
This refers to any collection of communication services that are delivered via the cloud. Most vendors have their own definition of exactly what technologies it contains. Examples of the services included in CaaS are:
- Unified Communications
- Voice over IP (VoIP)
- Audio and video conferencing
- Audio, video and instant messaging
- Virtual PBX
All of this is hosted by the provider although it is possible for a customer to build their own CaaS solution by combining services from multiple providers.
