IaaS with STACKIT: Sovereign cloud infrastructure for digital companies
Infrastructure as a Service – IaaS for short – is the foundation of digital business models. STACKIT provides companies, administrations and organizations with a powerful cloud platform that supports innovation, digitalization and transformation in a practical way.
Our cloud offers a scalable, secure and open infrastructure based on modern open source – ideal for building digital applications and platforms. You benefit not only from state-of-the-art technology, but also from the certainty that all data is stored and processed in certified data centers within Germany. This means you meet the highest data protection and IT compliance requirements – and enjoy personal contact persons on site.
Whether in e-commerce, the public sector, healthcare or for start-ups: with us, you can rely on a superior solution from Germany that combines data protection, compliance and efficient data management, making companies digital and future-proof.
Key technical terms – briefly explained
- Virtual machine (VM): A software-based server instance that runs in isolation on physical hardware. Several VMs can be operated in parallel on one host – with their own operating system and applications.
- Block storage: Stores data in blocks and enables fast, direct access – ideal for databases or operating systems.
- Object storage: Stores data as objects with metadata. Particularly suitable for large, unstructured data volumes such as backups, media or archive data.
- Availability Zone (AZ): Physically separate data center areas within a cloud region. Multiple AZs increase reliability and availability.
- Metro setup: Automatically distributes virtual machines and data to different AZs – for maximum high availability.
- Self-service portal: Web-based interface for the independent provision and management of resources such as VMs or storage.
- Application Programming Interface (API): Programming interface for automated access to cloud resources – e.g. via Infrastructure-as-Code.
- Pay-as-you-go: Billing model based on actual consumption – for flexible use without long-term commitment.
- Load balancer: Distributes incoming requests evenly across several servers – to optimize performance and availability.
- Georedundancy: Data processing at multiple, geographically separated locations – for high reliability.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Automated management of infrastructure via configuration files, e.g. with tools such as Terraform or Ansible.
- Managed service: Cloud service managed by the provider – e.g. database, messaging – including maintenance, operation and updates.
- Open source: Open source software that is free to use and customizable: for more flexibility and independence in the cloud.
IaaS with STACKIT in detail: from cloud infrastructure to digital platform
The cloud infrastructure has a modular structure and offers companies exactly the building blocks they need for their digital applications – which can be used individually or freely combined. The focus is not just on computing power, but on a holistic offering that can be flexibly expanded, automated and integrated into existing environments. The cloud solution thus enables the creation of high-performance, secure and future-oriented architectures – from classic workloads to container-based microservices.
Advantages of IaaS with STACKIT
- High availability through Metro setup: The metro setup automatically distributes virtual machines across multiple availability zones (AZs). This minimizes the risk of failures – crucial for KRITIS applications, health applications or e-commerce platforms where every minute counts.
- Flexible storage solutions for every use case: Whether block, object or backup storage, we offer storage options in different performance classes. This means that requirements for speed, availability and budget can be optimally combined.
- Automation and self-service: Resources can be provided, managed and released again easily and automatically via our portal or via API. This saves time, reduces effort and speeds up the implementation of new applications and services.
- Security right from the start – Security by default: Access to VMs from the Internet is deactivated by default. This means you start with a high level of security that can be flexibly adapted as required.
- Hybrid cloud solutions: STACKIT supports hybrid scenarios. Sensitive data remains on site, while less critical workloads can be cost-effectively outsourced to the cloud – ideal for a controlled transition.
- Logical project separation for clear structures: resources can be divided into projects and separated from each other. This makes it easier to manage complex infrastructures, for example with several specialist processes, clients or teams.
- Enablement & consulting for partners: Channel partners and independent software manufacturers in particular benefit from individual support and targeted enablement – for the successful positioning of their own services.
- Billing according to actual consumption: compute and network are billed on an hourly basis, storage according to GB/MB hours. This allows you to keep an eye on your costs – without overprovisioning.
- Can be combined with managed services: STACKIT IaaS can be seamlessly combined with databases such as MongoDB, messaging services, RabbitMQ, or AI applications – for a fully integrated cloud platform.
- Scalability for start-ups and digital companies: Innovative companies and start-ups benefit from needs-based scaling – without high entry costs, but with full transparency and control.
What exactly does STACKIT offer?
Virtual machines (VMs): Powerful, individually configurable server instances for every application.
Block and object storage: Highly available, secure storage for data, backups, media and more.
Network services: Virtual networks, load balancers, firewalls and VPN for secure, flexible connectivity.
Automation & self-service: Resources can be provided, managed and automated in minutes via a web portal or API.
Integration with open source: Compatible with OpenStack, Kubernetes, Docker and many other open source technologies.
Monitoring & reporting: Transparent monitoring and evaluation of all resources and costs.
Examples from practice
Public sector
A municipality is modernizing its citizen services – from digital applications to intelligent data management. STACKIT IaaS creates secure, scalable server environments that meet the highest data protection requirements. Outdated specialist processes can be migrated quickly – without any hardware of their own.
Digital Health
Providers of medical platform solutions can, for example, operate patient records, telemedicine applications and AI-supported diagnostic tools in the cloud. The infrastructure meets KRITIS requirements and GDPR standards while offering high availability and certified security.
E-Commerce
When order numbers explode, the environment of an online retailer remains performant. Thanks to IaaS, resources can be dynamically scaled as required – for example on Black Friday or during Christmas sales. New functions are developed in isolated test environments without affecting the live systems.
Start-ups
Start quickly, grow flexibly: FinTech start-ups can use Infrastructure as a Service for the agile development and operation of digital financial services, for example. The solution offers full cost control, high scalability and a superior alternative to international hyperscalers.
Digital platforms & innovation
Companies develop AI-supported services, IoT platforms or data-driven applications directly on Infrastructure as a Service. The open architecture allows the seamless integration of messaging offerings such as RabbitMQ, managed databases or other services – ideal for innovation-driven projects.
How to get started with IaaS with STACKIT: tips from the field
Switching to Infrastructure as a Service has many advantages – as long as it is well planned. We have put together some tips and tricks for you to ensure a smooth and successful entry into the cloud infrastructure. Whether you are just starting out or want to further develop your existing environment: Get the most out of your organization with these recommendations.
- Start small, grow flexibly: start with a lean setup and scale your resources step by step as required. This way you avoid overprovisioning and keep your costs under control at all times.
- Use automation consistently: Rely on infrastructure-as-code with tools such as Terraform or Ansible. This enables standardized, repeatable deployment and reduces manual errors to a minimum.
- Think security straight away: Use the integrated security features – including network segmentation, firewalls and monitoring. Keep your systems up to date and minimize attack surfaces right from the start.
- Don’t leave compliance to chance: We support you with comprehensive documentation and relevant certifications – helpful for GDPR, KRITIS or industry-specific requirements. So you remain compliant at all times.
- Combine services in a targeted manner: Expand your infrastructure with additional services, such as RabbitMQ for messaging, Managed MongoDB for databases or AI services for innovative applications. This creates a modular, high-performance platform.
- Rely on personal support: Benefit from our German-speaking support – whether for migration, day-to-day operations or individual questions. Our expert advice ensures that your project is on a firm footing right from the start.
- Keep an eye on your budget: The integrated monitoring tools provide transparency about your resources and costs at all times. This not only gives you an overview, but also full cost control.
IaaS – the sovereign path to the digital future
Sustainable digitalization requires more than just computing power – it requires a trustworthy, powerful and open infrastructure. STACKIT offers exactly that: a superior cloud solution “Made in Germany” that combines security, flexibility and innovative strength.
Whether for the development of digital applications, modern data management or the migration of existing services: We provide the technological basis for successfully implementing digital strategies – data protection-compliant, scalable and independent. By relying on STACKIT today, you create the basis for sustainable digital success.
FAQs – frequently asked questions about Infrastructure as a Service
How does STACKIT differ from other cloud providers?
STACKIT stands for sovereign cloud infrastructure with data centers exclusively in Germany and Austria. The platform meets the highest data protection and security standards (GDPR, C5, ISO 27001) and offers personal support at eye level. It is based on open source and is aimed at companies that focus on data sovereignty, compliance and independence.
For which application scenarios is Infrastructure as a Service suitable?
The service can be used in a variety of ways – for digital platforms, e-commerce applications, AI projects, data management or specialist processes in the public sector, for example. The infrastructure can be scaled flexibly and meets industry-specific requirements – from start-ups to public authorities.
How secure is my data in the cloud?
Your data is stored in certified data centers within Germany and Austria – with strict access guidelines, encryption, firewalls and continuous monitoring. STACKIT meets all current security standards and thus ensures maximum data control.
Can existing applications be migrated without any problems?
Yes, thanks to open standards and individual consulting, we can support you with your migration – regardless of whether you want to migrate classic applications, virtual machines or container-based architectures to the cloud.
Which additional services are useful?
We offer numerous expandable cloud services – including managed databases, messaging applications, data management tools and AI services. All components can be seamlessly integrated into your IaaS environment.
