Cloud computing has three basic service models: (a) infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), (b) platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and (c) software-as-a-service (SaaS). IaaS offers raw computing and storage services, whereas PaaS adds a layer of basic software such as an operating system, and SaaS includes one more layer of software applications. Examples of IaaS and PaaS are Amazon‘s Elastic Cloud (EC3) or Google Drive, and examples of SaaS are the cloud services provided by Salesforce or Google Docs….
The advent of cloud computing obviates the need for captive information technology (IT) departments because the cloud vendor instals and manages the infrastructure, applications and services. Hence, the existentialist question arises because cloud computing brings utility-type IT services to all organisations, and these services can displace the traditional captive IT department.
The idea of the ‘death’ of the IT department may be greatly exaggerated. Industry reports such as Deloitte (2013) indicate that cloud computing creates opportunities for IT departments to grow and increase the relevance of their function….
From ‘Will Cloud Computing Make the Information Technology Department Obsolete?’, Information Systems Journal