Don's company has contracted with a service provider to receive a computing platform for all employees, complete with an operating system, database services, and a Web server. Don develops applications using tools delivered by the service provider. What type of service has Don's company signed up for?

Platform as a Service (PaaS).

Explanation:

Cloud computing can be defined as a form of data computing which requires the use of shared computing resources such as cloud storage (data storage), servers, computer power, and software over the internet rather than local servers and hard drives.

Basically, cloud computing comprises three (3) service models and these include;

1. Platform as a Service (PaaS).

2. Software as a Service (SaaS).

3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

Platform as a Service (PaaS) refers to a type of cloud computing model in which a service provider makes available a platform that allow users (software developers) to build code (develop), run, store information in a database and manage applications over the internet.

The main purpose of a Platform as a Service (PaaS) is to provide an enabling environment for software developers to code without having to build and maintain complex infrastructure needed for the development, storage and launching of their software applications.

Simply stated, PaaS makes provision for all of the software and hardware tools required for all the stages associated with application development over the internet (web browser).

Hence, the advantage of the Platform as a Service (PaaS) is that, it avails software developers with enough convenience as well as simplicity, service availability, ease of licensing and reduced costs for the development of software applications.

These are the different types of Platform as a Service;

1. Private PaaS.

2. Public PaaS.

3. Open PaaS.

4. Mobile PaaS.

5. Communications PaaS.

6. Hybrid PaaS.

In this scenario, the type of service Don's company signed up for is called Platform as a Service (PaaS).