As a service


"x as a service" is a phrasal template for any business model in which a product use is offered as a subscription-based service rather than as an artifact owned and maintained by the customer. The converse of conducting or operating something "as a service" is doing the same using "on-premise" assets or lump sum investments. Originating from the software-as-a-service concept that appeared in the 2010s with the advent of cloud computing, the template has expanded to numerous offerings in the field of information technology and beyond it. The term XaaS can mean "anything as a service".
The following is an alphabetical list of business models named in this way, including certain forms of cybercrime.

D

Database as a service (DBaaS)

With a database as a service model, users pay fees to a cloud provider for services and computing resources, reducing the amount of money and effort needed to develop and manage databases. Users are given tools to create and manage database instances, and control users. Some cloud providers also offer tools to manage database structures and data. Many cloud providers offer both relational and NoSQL databases. This is a type of software as a service.

Data management as a service (DMaaS)

Data management can also be done through the "as a service" business model, according to the book Data Management as a Service for Dummies.

DDoS as a service (DDoSaaS)

DDoS-as-a-Service is a cybercrime model in which individuals can hire hackers to execute an distributed denial-of-service attack against a specified target for a fee, typically paid in cryptocurrency, making such attacks more accessible to those without technical expertise.

E

Other "EaaS" business models

Under the acronym EaaS, the following business models have been discussed in journals and conferences:
  • Edge as a service
  • Encryption as a service
  • Energy as a service
  • Evaluation as a service

G

Ground segment as a service (GSaaS)

GSaaS means outsourcing ground operations to a third-party provider by the satellite operators.

P

Phishing as a service (PaaS)

Phishing as a service allows cybercriminals with little technical skills or without resources to launch sophisticated phishing attacks by providing access to a phishing kit.

T

Transportation as a Service

is a transportation system where customers have use of a vehicle over just the time they need it and use of the vehicle may also be shared with other customers.

W

Workspace as a Service

is a desktop virtualization utilised by companies to offer to employees a complete computer environment with remote access.