Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) are generally known as what?

The term that best describes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) is "service models." These three are specific service delivery models within cloud computing that define how services are provided to customers.

IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, allowing users to rent servers and storage on a pay-as-you-go basis. PaaS offers a platform allowing developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without dealing with the underlying infrastructure. SaaS delivers software applications over the internet, typically on a subscription basis, making it accessible without the need for installation or maintenance.

Labeling these as service models highlights their role in the cloud ecosystem, differentiating them based on the level of management and responsibility shared between the provider and the consumer. Understanding these distinctions helps users select the right model based on their specific needs for flexibility, control, and management.

The other terms like "cloud categories," "infrastructure types," and "deployment models" do not accurately capture the specific functional division represented by IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, making them less appropriate in this context.