Cloud-Native Architecture: The Modern Way to Develop Software

essidsolutions

Ready-to-use infrastructure is an advantage for cloud-native applications that allows developers to access and reuse existing components such as data virtualization, workflow engines, caching services, rules, and APIs. Anupam Kulkarni, CEO & Co-Founder, iauro Systems, shares how such applications provide a unique approach to updating prototyping, designing, building, and operating according to the infrastructure as a service construct. 

In an industry that evolves as quickly as IT, keeping track of trends that accelerate growth is essential. Software development, thus, has seen much change in the last few years, and the biggest propellor of such innovations has been the cloud. Application modernization has become a norm with businesses building agile, dynamic environments in line with changing customer demands. Cloud-native applications give developers and engineers opportunities to increase profitability and customer satisfaction. 

What Is Cloud-native?

With flexibility, scalability and resilience at its core, cloud-native is an IT trend that drives digital agility and disruption. Born-in-the-cloud approaches for public, private and hybrid applications are slowly becoming the obvious choice for small businesses looking to increase their footing in the online space. This is very different from traditional infrastructure, and such a setup includes containerization (Kubernetes), microservices, declarative APIs, DevOps and continuous delivery technologies. 

Why Does It Matter?

Working with cloud-native enables breaking free of age-old trappings and cost and resource efficiency. As per The State of Cloud Native Development reportOpens a new window , co-created by Slash Data and The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), “there are more than 6.8 million cloud developers in the IT industry worldwide. Developers working specifically with edge computing find an excellent use for Kubernetes and containers. The usage varies by region, and APAC has shown significant growth, especially since 2020, as remote working environments have become a very prevalent norm.

Faster time to market software, massively improved developer productivity and immensely better delivery rates are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits this approach offers. It just makes the most economic sense in today’s time! Moreover, it also ensures applications can be developed at scale, with integrated security protocols and an experiential edge. This is imperative now, keeping in mind the digital savviness of today’s consumers to whom on-screen user experiences matter the most. 

See More: The Promise of Cloud-Native: Does it Rely on Deploying Cloud Solutions Into Kubernetes?

How To Integrate Cloud-native Into Development Processes?

Modernizing applications in line with these new approaches can be complex, depending on specific business goals and requirements. Paying attention to the planning stage could solve a lot of the usual problems.

  1. Assess the current state of architecture: Analyzing where you are before starting this journey is a highly critical starting point. Conduct a thorough evaluation of the tools already in use, microservices in place,  and usage levels of serverless architecture before jumping into a change. Also, take into consideration pre-existing logging, monitoring and security processes.
  2. Understand market trends: Mapping industry trends according to customer expectations will provide development teams with critical insights into what user experience works and what doesn’t. Connecting with real users on a real-time basis may also add value.
  3. Build proof of concept: Technical concepts may sound great on paper, but putting them to use through actual evidence of ideas is a whole different story. Software, especially in the cloud, may or may not perform as per developer and consumer expectations. It is thus essential to demonstrate end-to-end functionality to maintain time to market deadlines and understand the correct alignment of tech and talent.
  4. Build agility within the enterprise: An agile, sprint-based approach enables development teams to facilitate continuous delivery through specific optimizations. Newer, modern environments speed up the development cycle and enhance traditional work cultures that help dev teams develop creative solutions.
  5. Conduct regular automated testing: Automated testing for faster release cycles is a boon. Functional testing, destructive testing, load testing – everything needs to be considered before and after the modernization process. DevOps-led approaches come in handy here.

Cloud-native, when implemented correctly, has the potential to transform the software development industry radically. Following this approach, one step at a time will generate a significant business impact.

What cloud-native applications do you currently use? How have they helped transform your organization? Share with us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to learn from you!

MORE ON CLOUD COMPUTING:Â