📚 A Complete Guide:
In a world increasingly driven by digital transformation, businesses are under constant pressure to innovate, scale, and deliver services faster than ever. That’s where Platform as a Service (PaaS) infrastructure hosting comes in, a powerful cloud computing model that provides a ready-to-use environment for developing, running, and managing applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure.
In this guide, we’ll break down what PaaS infrastructure hosting is, how it works, and why it’s a game-changer for modern enterprises, especially those running on platforms like, IBM Power Systems, and VMware, delivering multiple operating systems such as IBM I, Windows, AIX, and Linux, all under the same roof.
💭 What Is PaaS Infrastructure Hosting?
PaaS (Platform as a Service) is a cloud computing model that delivers hardware and software tools over the internet. It provides a complete development and deployment environment in the cloud, including servers, storage, networking, middleware, development tools, and database management systems.
Unlike traditional hosting, where businesses must manage everything from the OS to the application, PaaS allows developers to focus solely on writing code and deploying applications, the platform handles the rest.
🔑 Key Components of PaaS Infrastructure Hosting:
• Compute Resources: Virtual machines or containers running on platforms like IBM Power, VMware, or x86 servers.
• Operating Systems: Support for Windows, Linux, AIX, and IBM i, enabling flexibility across workloads.
• Middleware & Runtime: Pre-configured environments for Java, .NET, PHP, Python, and more.
• Storage & Networking: Scalable, secure, and high-performance infrastructure for data and connectivity.
• Security & Compliance: Built-in cybersecurity, firewall management, encryption, and compliance with standards like Cyber Essentials +, ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance.
• Monitoring & Management Tools: Dashboards, automation, and analytics for performance, usage, and cost optimisation.
💭 Why Choose PaaS for IBM i, Power Systems, and VMware?
Many enterprises still rely on mission-critical workloads running on IBM i (AS/400), AIX, or VMware environments. PaaS infrastructure hosting modernises these platforms by:
• Reducing hardware dependency: No need to maintain on-premise Power Systems or x86 servers.
• Enabling hybrid cloud strategies: Seamlessly integrate legacy systems with modern cloud-native applications.
• Improving scalability and uptime: Dynamically allocate resources based on demand.
• Enhancing security and compliance: Centralised control over access, data protection, and audit trails.
🔒 Security and Managed Services
Security is a top concern for any cloud deployment. PaaS providers typically offer:
• 24/7 monitoring and incident response
• Managed backups and disaster recovery
• Patch management and OS hardening
• Secure remote access for IBM i and AIX systems
🔍 Use Cases for PaaS Infrastructure Hosting
• ERP Hosting: Run Infor, SAP, or Oracle workloads on IBM i or AIX in the cloud.
• Dev/Test Environments: Spin up isolated environments for development and QA.
• Legacy Modernisation: Wrap APIs around legacy apps and integrate with modern services.
• Disaster Recovery: Use cloud-based failover for business continuity.
💭 Final Thoughts
PaaS infrastructure hosting is more than just a trend, it’s a strategic enabler for digital transformation. Whether you’re running legacy systems on IBM i, deploying virtualised workloads on VMware, or managing a hybrid environment with Windows, Linux, and AIX, PaaS offers the agility, scalability, and security your business needs to thrive.
👩💻Ready to Modernise?
If you’re considering moving your infrastructure to a PaaS model or want to explore how it can support your IBM or VMware workloads, our team is here to help. Let’s talk about how we can future proof your IT strategy.
📞 Book a call – Frontline Consultancy and Business Services Ltd
