Why You Need a Cloud Native Application Development Strategy
To compete in fast-paced markets, companies must adapt to new methods for designing, building, and delivering applications. The answer is cloud-native application development. Also known as modern application development, cloud native systems are based on well-known methods, frameworks, and technologies in cloud computing. The growing popularity of cloud native applications stems from business’s ability to ship faster with more innovation and less risk. Cloud native applications are scalable, resilient, and manageable. If you’re still developing in a traditional, monolithic environment or are just getting started with a new software development project, we will explain why you need to consider a cloud native application development strategy.
What Is Cloud Native?
A cloud-native application is a collection of small, independent, loosely coupled services. The services run in modern environments such as public, private, and hybrid clouds. Cloud native implementations typically include using containers, microservices, and self-contained APIs. Coupled with DevOps, organizations can deliver frequent changes that deliver more effective solutions with less effort.
A cornerstone of cloud native applications is microservices, which brings an architectural shift toward developing applications using a collection of small services that contain distinct business capabilities. Each microservice can be deployed, modified, and restarted with no impact on other services within the application. Cloud native architectures separate stateless and stateful services. Persistent and durable services follow a different pattern to ensure better availability and resiliency.
Another cornerstone is DevOps, which is a collaboration between software developers and IT operations with the goal of quickly and easily delivering working software to customers. DevOps is ideally part of an automated system — continuous integration & continuous deployment (CI/CD) — that enables frequent updates to live applications with no impact on customers.
What Advantages Does a Cloud Native Strategy Offer?
You can better align operations with business needs.
We’ve written before about the benefits of using CI/CD, which is a core element in a cloud native approach. Automating IT operations reduces the risks of human error by replacing manual IT administration tasks. Regular automated updates & patches throughout the stack reduce downtime and improve customer experience. In the end, businesses are free to focus on real business priorities.
Your business is more agile.
Cloud providers offer a growing array of powerful services at reasonable costs. With cloud native development, businesses can build cutting-edge applications that can run in dynamic environments without modification.
Create a competitive advantage.
Cloud native development entails switching from a focus on IT cost management to taking advantage of the cloud as an engine for innovation and growth. Businesses that embrace the cloud can deliver applications that address emerging customer needs faster than ever before. Listen, design, build, test, deliver, listen, iterate, repeat…
Your systems (and business) are more resilient.
Cloud native development employs resilient, flexible architecture. System architects, application developers, and operations teams can design systems that maximize uptime and simplify recovery when issues arise. With DevOps, delivery pipelines can deliver more functionality of higher quality in less time. As an AWS Partner, we live & breathe the tools that make it possible.
Why You Need a Cloud Native Application Development Strategy
If you’re watching the evolution of software, you’re seeing concepts like artificial intelligence, data lakes, and modern applications. These things are all happening NOW, not in the future. If you started using DevOps in the early days — a decade ago — you would be well-versed in the advantages it presents. And most likely, you would have embraced microservices along the way, since they naturally fit into a continuous innovation process. So if you haven’t embraced agile development, CI/CD, and APIs, now is the time to retool. You’ll build more innovation and agility into your business. You’ll be able to create better customer experiences through rapid response to needs, higher quality deliveries, and more uptime. And your employees will be elevated too — less time spent on hassles, more time spent on serving the customers’ needs. Cloud native application development may in its relative infancy, but it is here to stay…
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