If terms like IaaS, SaaS, SLA, API, CI/CD, and more sound like an alphabet soup to you, we’ve got you covered! The Sardina Systems team is back with Part 2 of our cloud glossary series, breaking down even more cloud computing buzzwords into language that even your grandma (and your coworkers) will understand.
Check out our Part 1 series and read on for real-world analogies and plain-English definitions of essential cloud computing terms.
1. IaaS/PaaS/SaaS
What it sounds like: Alphabet soup
In reality: These are three cloud service models that define what part of the tech stack is managed by you vs. your cloud provider. IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS stand for Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service.
What it means:
- IaaS: You rent infrastructure (like virtual machines, storage, and/or networking).
- PaaS: You rent infrastructure and tools for developing, running, and managing applications.
- SaaS: You use ready-made applications over the internet, and the provider manages everything except user data.
Real-life analogy:
- IaaS: You rent the kitchen and kitchenware, but you buy the ingredients, and you cook.
- PaaS: You get the kitchen, kitchenware, and sous-chef who preps the ingredients and sets the oven. You just focus on the recipe.
- SaaS: Dinner is delivered ready-to-eat, and what you need to do is eat and enjoy.
2. Serverless (computing)
What it sounds like: No servers at all
In reality: Serverless computing is a form of cloud computing where customers use different cloud capability types without having to provision, deploy, and manage either hardware or software resources. The servers still exist, but they are managed entirely by the cloud provider.
What it means: Developers just write code, and the cloud provider runs it automatically when needed. No need to worry about servers, scaling, or maintenance.
How to explain it to your Grandma: Instead of planting seeds, watering them, and harvesting your tomatoes, you just show up and buy them fresh. You still get to make your famous sauce, but someone else did the growing.
3. Edge Computing
What it sounds like: Tech near the edge of (the cliff?)
In reality: A distributed computing model that brings computation and data storage closer to the data source (e.g., phone, car, or factory), not far away in a central cloud.
What it means: Having computation physically closer to a user reduces the latency compared to when an application runs on a centralized data centre.
Picture this: It is like having a small convenience store on your street instead of going all the way to a big supermarket across town. You get what you need faster, with less waiting and no traffic jams.
4. Cloud Storage
What it sounds like: Putting your stuff in the sky
In reality: A model of computer data storage in which data is stored on remote servers that you can access anytime online. Cloud storage allows multiple users to share the same physical hardware, helping maximize efficiency and reduce waste, just like in other cloud services.
What it means: Your data is available and accessible anytime you have the internet. No need for a USB stick or hard drive. For example, FishOS Ceph Storage by Sardina Systems provides the underlying scalable and reliable foundation for building private and hybrid cloud environments. It’s designed to be cost-efficient, high-performance, and easy to integrate — giving operators the tools they need to deliver cloud-like storage services without vendor lock-in or licensing headaches.
The everyday version: You have all the family photo albums in a safe deposit box that you can see from any computer or phone.
5. SLA (Service Level Agreement)
What it sounds like: Lawyer talk
In reality: A contract between a service (cloud) provider and a customer that covers specific details of services expected during the agreement’s term.
What it means: SLAs define guarantees like availability, support response times, issue resolution, terms of termination, etc.
Made simple: Like a food delivery app promising your pizza in 30 minutes, or giving you a refund if it’s late.
6. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
What it sounds like: Security guard with a checklist
In reality: Identity and access management (IAM) is a framework of policies and technologies that ensure the appropriate access to technology resources to the right users (that are part of the ecosystem connected to or within an enterprise).
What it means: IAM lets you assign roles, manage user access, and secure your systems. It’s essential for protecting data and avoiding unauthorized access.
How it works in real life: Like an airport where everyone goes through the main entrance, but only passengers with tickets can reach the gates, and only staff can access restricted areas like the cockpit.
7. Load Balancing
What it sounds like: Yoga pose
In reality: Load balancing is the process of distributing computing tasks, network traffic, or storage requests across multiple servers or resources to make their overall processing more efficient.
What it means: It helps improve performance, optimize response time, and avoid overload on a single machine.
As simple as: Dividing laundry into several baskets instead of stuffing everything into one. Each washing machine finishes quicker, and nothing breaks.
8. API Gateway
What it sounds like: A smart doorbell
In reality: API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate with each other. The API Gateway is a single entry point that handles client requests to different backend services. It offers features like routing, authentication, and monitoring.
What it means: An API gateway handles requests, authentication, rate limits, and more between clients and backend systems.
Real-life analogy: Like a post office that makes sure every letter goes to the right house and nothing gets lost.
9. CI/CD
What it sounds like: A DJ set
In reality: CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (or Deployment). It’s a modern software development process for building, testing, and delivering code automatically.
What it means: CI/CD helps developers deliver updates faster and with fewer errors. Code changes are automatically tested and packaged, then either pushed to production or held for manual approval, depending on the organization’s setup and risk tolerance. Either way, it speeds up delivery and makes your app more reliable.
In plain English: Think of CI/CD like a theater troupe performing nightly shows. The playwright writes new scenes (code), the director and cast rehearse (test) them, and if everything flows smoothly, the curtain rises the same evening. No delays, just a polished performance every night.
10. Availability Zone
What it sounds like: A peaceful corner in a busy place
In reality: An availability zone (AZ) in cloud computing is a specific location (e.g., a separate data center) of an IT infrastructure system that is physically isolated within a geographic region. These zones are isolated from one another but connected by low-latency networks.
What it means: Cloud providers have multiple AZs to ensure redundancy: if one zone fails (due to power outage, natural disaster, etc.), others continue operating. This ensures uptime and protects your services from going down.
For humans: Imagine several self-sufficient neighboring cities, each with its own power, water, and roads. If a snowstorm shuts one down, the others can still lend equipment and resources to keep everything running smoothly.
Still confused? Don’t worry: at Sardina Systems, we know cloud infrastructure inside and out, and we are experts at making the complex simple. Whether you are building your first private cloud or trying to optimize an existing hybrid setup, we speak your language (and your grandma’s).
Book your free consultation today, and let’s build a cloud solution tailored to your business with FishOS. No jargon, just results.