UNDERSTANDING INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE (IaaS)
A Case Study of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Amazon EC2
Author: NDOYI PRNCE ROONEY NFORNGWA
Date: 10/11/2026

  1. Introduction Technology has changed the way businesses store information, manage applications, and provide services. In the past, organisations had to purchase physical servers, storage devices, and networking equipment to run their computer systems. This was often expensive and required technical expertise to maintain. Today, cloud computing provides a more flexible solution. One of its major service models is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Infrastructure as a Service is a cloud computing model that provides users with computing resources such as virtual machines, storage, and networking over the internet. Instead of purchasing and maintaining physical hardware, users rent these resources from a cloud service provider and pay according to their usage. This article explains how IaaS works, its benefits and challenges, and how Amazon Web Services (AWS) uses Amazon EC2 as an example.
  2. Main Components of IaaS Computing resources: Virtual machines, processors (CPU), and memory (RAM) used to run applications and process information. Storage: Cloud-based storage used to save files, databases, documents, and application data. Networking: Virtual networks, IP addresses, firewalls, and other networking services that allow systems to communicate securely.
  3. How Does IaaS Work? IaaS works through virtualization technology. A cloud provider owns and maintains physical servers in data centres. These servers are divided into virtual machines that customers can access through the internet.
  4. A user creates an account with a cloud provider.
  5. The user selects the required computing resources.
  6. The provider allocates virtual servers, storage, and networking.
  7. The user installs or configures an operating system and applications.
  8. The user manages the applications and pays for the resources consumed. This allows businesses to use computing infrastructure without purchasing physical equipment.
  9. Case Study: Amazon Web Services (AWS) Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that provides services such as computing, storage, networking, databases, and security. This case study focuses on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2). 4.1 What Is Amazon EC2? Amazon EC2 is an AWS service that provides virtual servers called instances. These instances allow users to run applications without purchasing physical servers. With Amazon EC2, users can: • Create virtual servers. • Choose the operating system they want. • Select the required processing power and memory. • Store information using cloud storage services. • Increase or decrease computing resources when necessary. • Configure networking and security settings. EC2 is an example of IaaS because AWS provides the underlying infrastructure while customers control their virtual servers and applications. 4.2 Practical Example: An Online Shopping Website Imagine a small business that wants to develop an online shopping website where customers can view products, place orders, and make payments. Without IaaS, the business would need to purchase physical servers, install software, provide electricity, and maintain the equipment. Using AWS EC2, the business can:
  10. Create an AWS account.
  11. Launch an EC2 virtual server.
  12. Select an operating system such as Linux.
  13. Install the software needed to run the website.
  14. Configure storage and networking.
  15. Deploy the shopping website.
  16. Increase server capacity when customer traffic grows. During a promotional period, many customers may visit the website simultaneously. The business can increase its computing capacity to handle the additional traffic and reduce it when demand decreases. This demonstrates how IaaS helps businesses manage computing resources.
  17. Advantages of IaaS
  18. Cost reduction: Businesses do not need to spend large amounts of money purchasing physical servers and other hardware.
  19. Scalability: Computing resources can be increased or decreased depending on demand.
  20. Flexibility: Users can select the operating systems, storage capacity, and computing resources they need.
  21. Accessibility: Cloud infrastructure can be accessed over the internet from different locations.
  22. Reliability: Cloud providers offer infrastructure and services designed to support reliable application operation.
  23. Faster deployment: Businesses can create virtual servers and deploy applications without waiting to purchase physical equipment.
  24. Disadvantages of IaaS
  25. Internet dependency: Users need a reliable internet connection to access cloud resources.
  26. Security risks: Poor configuration and weak access controls can expose applications and data.
  27. Unexpected costs: Poor resource management can lead to higher-than-expected bills.
  28. Technical knowledge: Users need technical skills to configure and manage their virtual servers.
  29. Provider dependency: Moving applications and data from one cloud provider to another may require additional time and effort.
  30. Security and Responsibility in AWS Security is an important part of using IaaS. In the AWS environment, security is a shared responsibility. AWS is responsible for protecting the physical data centres, hardware, networking, and virtualization infrastructure. Customers are responsible for protecting their applications, managing their operating systems, applying security updates, and configuring access controls. This arrangement is known as the AWS Shared Responsibility Model.
  31. IaaS Compared with PaaS and SaaS IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS are the three major cloud computing service models. The table below highlights their main differences. Feature IaaS PaaS SaaS Full meaning Infrastructure as a Service Platform as a Service Software as a Service Provides Servers, storage and networks Development platform Ready-to-use software User control High Moderate Low Example Amazon EC2 Google App Engine Google Workspace The major difference is the level of control and responsibility given to the customer. IaaS provides infrastructure, PaaS provides a development platform, while SaaS provides complete software applications.
  32. Conclusion Infrastructure as a Service has become an important part of modern computing because it allows individuals and organisations to access computing resources without purchasing and maintaining physical hardware. The Amazon EC2 case study demonstrates how businesses can use virtual servers to host websites, run applications, store information, and increase computing capacity when necessary. Although IaaS has challenges such as security risks, internet dependency, and unexpected costs, its flexibility, scalability, and cost advantages make it a valuable solution for modern businesses. As technology continues to develop, IaaS will remain an important foundation for cloud computing and digital transformation.