Glossary

Cloud Computing Models

Updated on Jun 4, 2026

Learn what cloud computing models mean, how IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS differ, and where cloud phone workflows fit in mobile operations.

What Are Cloud Computing Models?

Cloud computing models describe how cloud resources and services are delivered, managed, and consumed. The most common service models are Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service.

NIST identifies three cloud service models: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. It also describes cloud computing through characteristics such as on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service.

These models help teams understand responsibility. Who manages the infrastructure? Who manages the runtime? Who manages the application? Who controls user access?

Main Cloud Service Models

The common models are:

• IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service provides compute, storage, networking, and virtualization resources.
• PaaS: Platform as a Service provides a managed platform for building and deploying applications.
• SaaS: Software as a Service provides a finished application delivered through the cloud.

Many real products combine layers. A managed service may feel like SaaS to the customer while relying on IaaS and PaaS internally.

Why It Matters for Mobile Teams

Mobile teams need to understand cloud models because app workflows increasingly run across cloud services, APIs, analytics systems, remote devices, and managed platforms.

For cloud phones, the user does not manage raw servers. The practical experience is a managed remote Android environment. But that environment depends on cloud infrastructure, automation, security, networking, storage, and monitoring.

For mobile automation, cloud models also affect what can be controlled directly and what must be handled through a provider's interface.

Practical Evaluation

Teams should ask:

• What layer are we buying?
• Who manages infrastructure?
• Who manages runtime and updates?
• Who controls access?
• Who handles monitoring?
• What data is stored?
• What happens during outages?
• Can workflows scale?
• Can environments be isolated?
• What security responsibilities remain with us?

Cloud model clarity prevents unrealistic expectations. A team that buys a finished service should not expect low-level infrastructure control. A team that buys infrastructure must be ready to operate it.

How MoiMobi Fits

MoiMobi provides managed cloud phone environments for mobile account operations. Teams use the service to operate Android workflows without managing the full underlying infrastructure stack.

The important model is operational: MoiMobi gives teams controlled mobile execution, account separation, and team access on top of cloud infrastructure.

Bottom Line

Cloud computing models explain how cloud services are delivered and who manages each layer.

For mobile teams, this helps place cloud phones, automation, infrastructure, and app workflows into the right operational context.