TL;DR
Self-hosted gives you complete control over security but requires expertise and resources to maintain. PaaS providers handle infrastructure security, letting you focus on application code. PaaS is usually more secure in practice because providers have dedicated security teams. Self-hosted is necessary for strict compliance, air-gapped environments, or when you can't trust third parties with your data.
The choice between self-hosted infrastructure and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) has significant security implications. Self-hosting gives you control while PaaS gives you expertise. Understanding the security tradeoffs helps you choose the right approach for your vibe-coded applications.
Security Responsibility Comparison
| Security Responsibility | Self-Hosted | PaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Security | You (or colo) | Provider |
| Network Security | You | Provider |
| OS Patching | You | Provider |
| Runtime Patching | You | Provider |
| Application Security | You | You |
| Dependency Updates | You | You |
| Compliance Documentation | You create | Provider assists |
| Incident Response | You | Shared |
Security Expertise
Self-Hosted Challenges
Self-hosting requires security expertise across networking, operating systems, container runtimes, and application security. You need to stay current with CVEs, apply patches promptly, configure firewalls correctly, and monitor for intrusions. Most organizations underestimate the expertise required.
PaaS Advantages
PaaS providers employ dedicated security teams and have security as a core competency. They handle patching, network configuration, and DDoS protection automatically. SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other certifications demonstrate their security practices. You benefit from security investments you couldn't afford alone.
Control vs Convenience
Self-Hosted Control
Self-hosting lets you implement exact security configurations your compliance requires. You can use specific security tools, network architectures, and access controls. For air-gapped environments or when data can't leave your infrastructure, self-hosting is the only option.
PaaS Convenience
PaaS abstracts infrastructure security decisions with sensible defaults. You deploy code and the platform handles TLS, firewalls, and isolation. This convenience means faster deployment but less customization. Security features are what the platform provides.
Choose Self-Hosted When: You have specific compliance requirements, air-gapped environment needs, or can't trust third parties with your data. Self-hosting makes sense when you have dedicated security staff and the resources to maintain infrastructure properly. Best for regulated industries with strict data residency requirements.
Choose PaaS When: You want to focus on application development rather than infrastructure security. PaaS is typically more secure in practice because security is their core competency. Best for startups, small teams, and organizations that lack dedicated infrastructure security expertise.
Common Security Mistakes
Self-Hosted Mistakes
- Not patching promptly due to change management delays
- Misconfigured firewalls leaving services exposed
- Using default credentials on databases and admin panels
- No monitoring for security incidents
- Backup failures discovered during incidents
PaaS Mistakes
- Over-permissive IAM roles
- Exposing secrets in environment variables or logs
- Not enabling available security features
- Assuming the provider handles application security
Is PaaS actually more secure than self-hosted?
For most organizations, yes. PaaS providers invest more in security than typical self-hosted setups. The key advantage is that security is their business. However, large enterprises with dedicated security teams can potentially match or exceed PaaS security with self-hosted infrastructure.
Can I meet compliance requirements with PaaS?
Most PaaS providers have SOC 2, ISO 27001, and industry-specific certifications. They provide compliance documentation and shared responsibility models. For most compliance requirements, PaaS simplifies rather than complicates compliance.
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