In cloud computing, what does Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provide to subscribers?

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides subscribers with fundamental IT resources that include servers, storage, and networking capabilities. This model allows users to rent virtualized hardware over the internet instead of purchasing and maintaining physical hardware. Subscribers can deploy and run any software, which includes operating systems and applications, based on their specific requirements without being tied to a particular physical infrastructure.

IaaS is particularly valuable for businesses that need to scale their resources up or down quickly, as it allows for greater flexibility and cost-effectiveness by enabling users to pay for only what they consume. This is distinct from other service models like platform as a service (PaaS), which focuses on software development environments, or software as a service (SaaS), which delivers applications over the internet.

The provision of fundamental IT resources is essential for various applications and workloads, making IaaS a foundational aspect of cloud computing.