The technology sector is facing a structural turning point. Cloud infrastructure based on IaaS and PaaS is becoming a strategic choice for many organizations amid the convergence of two simultaneous trends: unprecedented demand for artificial intelligence capabilities and rising costs—coupled with historically low availability—of the hardware needed to support them.
The result is a situation in which maintaining local infrastructure is no longer a viable option—either economically or strategically—for a growing segment of the business community.
What do we mean by IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructure?
When we talk about IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructure, we are referring to cloud computing models that allow organizations to access technological capabilities on demand, without having to make physical investments in hardware.
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) provides virtualized infrastructure resources—servers, storage, and networking—managed by the cloud provider.
- PaaS (Platform as a Service) adds additional layers that simplify the development, deployment, and operation of applications without the need to manage the hardware or much of the underlying technical infrastructure.
These models allow you to scale capacity, handle spikes in demand, and access advanced technology without the traditional constraints of on-premises infrastructure.
The strain artificial intelligence places on hardware
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence models, cognitive services, and training workloads is creating a ripple effect throughout the entire technology ecosystem. Major hyperscalers are consuming an increasingly large share of available resources, from specialized servers to advanced memory.
Some statistics help illustrate the scale of the phenomenon:
- Global spending on servers will grow by 36.9% in 2026, driven directly by AI workloads (Gartner).
- In the second quarter of 2025, investment in computing and storage hardware for AI rose 166% year-over-year (Deloitte).
- The AI infrastructure market could reach $758 billion by 2029, according to Deloitte's forecasts.
This situation is putting significant strain on the global supply chain and influencing investment decisions regarding local infrastructure.
The impact of rising costs and component shortages
In addition to strong demand, there has been a steady rise in the prices of essential components. Some companies in the industry have redirected up to 70% of their DRAM production to supply data centers dedicated to AI, causing DRAM prices to double since 2025.
The cost of DDR5 modules has quadrupled in certain markets, while GPUs have been particularly hard hit: memory now accounts for up to 80% of the total manufacturing cost of these critical components.
In this scenario, planning investments in on-premises infrastructure is becoming increasingly uncertain, both in terms of cost and availability, as well as renewal cycles.
Why IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructure is emerging as the most viable option
In the face of this perfect storm, cloud solutions—especially IaaS and PaaS—stand out as the most logical and efficient option for ensuring operational continuity and financial stability for organizations.
IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructure allows organizations to avoid the technological inflation associated with physical hardware and mitigate the accelerated obsolescence caused by the evolution of AI-based workloads.
Among the most significant benefits are:
- Predictable costs, with no need for CAPEX investments driven by rising hardware prices.
- Scalability to adapt the infrastructure to AI workloads based on actual business needs.
- Greater operational efficiency by freeing internal teams from hardware management and maintenance.
- Immediate access to technological innovation without complex upgrade cycles or reliance on component availability.
Conclusion: a structural decision, not a temporary trend
Rising hardware costs, component shortages, and the technological pressure driven by artificial intelligence have permanently shifted the balance between on-premises infrastructure and the cloud.
For organizations seeking budget stability, scalability, and immediate access to advanced capabilities, adopting a cloud infrastructure based on IaaS and PaaS is no longer a tactical decision but rather a structural strategy for competing and evolving in an increasingly demanding technological environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
When hardware costs, replacement cycles, and the need to handle spikes in demand exceed a company’s ability to plan and amortize these expenses. At that point, IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructure enables companies to convert fixed costs into variable costs and reduce the risk of technological obsolescence.
Not necessarily. In many cases, they coexist in hybrid models. However, for intensive, scalable, or AI-related workloads, IaaS and PaaS become the most efficient and sustainable option in the medium term.
AI dramatically increases the demand for computing power, storage, and memory, accelerating the obsolescence of on-premises hardware. IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructure allows organizations to absorb this pressure without requiring significant upfront investments or relying on the availability of physical components.