In this article, we have covered –

1. What is a Cloud-Native Application?
2. What is cloud-native application architecture and how does it work?
3. What are the Key Principles of Cloud-Native Applications?
4. What are the benefits of cloud-native applications?
5. Why Choose Cloud-Native Applications?

What is a Cloud-Native Application?

Before we dive into understanding what cloud-native applications are, let us first brief you on what is Cloud-native. It is basically an approach to building and running applications that uses the advantages of the cloud computing delivery model.

A program designed to function in a cloud computing architecture primarily hosted & run using a cloud framework is called a Cloud-Native Application. A native application is software developed to be used on a specific platform or device while cloud-native apps utilize the power of the internet & cloud computing model.

By using microservice architecture, cloud-native apps allocate resources to each service in use, hence creating a super flexible and adaptable system, thus promoting business agility. Cloud-native apps use shorter application lifecycles and are extremely resilient, manageable and observable.

How Does a Cloud-Native Application Architecture Work?

By taking the advantage of a cloud computing framework coupled with cloud services, cloud-native applications create a network between machines using software-based architectures. These services are located on numerous servers and operate from different geographical locations.

With cloud-native apps, it is easy for applications to scale and reduce redundancy. Since these apps are hosted on multiple servers and locations, it is equipped to withstand any hardware failure.

What are the Key Principles of Cloud-Native Applications?

Packaged in units and synced via APIs, cloud-native applications offer numerous capabilities as explained below:

1. Microservices-Based:

Microservices is an architectural approach used in the creation of a cloud-native application that breaks down the app into a series of independent services or modules. Each service performs a set of functions supporting a specific goal and these modules communicate with each other using an application program interface or APIs. This could be through HTTPs or messaging too. These individual services can be deployed, rescaled, and automated such that customers are not impacted and services can be delivered seamlessly.

2. Container-based:

Containers are best suited for deploying individual microservices. They offer the best of both i.e speed as well as efficiency compared to standard virtual machines. This enables the application to run independent of physical resources and also provides a separation for microservices to reduce interference. This increases the capacity of hosting channels and enables the app to perform multiple instances of the same service.

3. API based:

APIs or application program interfaces are the communication channels used to connect microservices and containers. It also provides easy maintenance plus security. It is one of the most sought after cloud native applications in businesses of all sizes.

4. Dynamic arrangement:

The dynamic arrangement of containers empowers the application to handle resource management, load balancing, internal failures and new deployments on server cluster nodes.

What are the benefits of cloud-native applications?

Cloud-native applications are designed to enhance speed and efficiency by taking advantage of the cloud. Cloud native applications applications are built, deployed in a rapid fashion via small, dedicated features such that organizations can benefit by scaling up easily, reducing time-to-market, providing greater agility and resilience across cloud environments.

1. Cost efficiency:

Cloud environments help switch from traditional legacy systems and focus on IT and Infrastructure savings. By opting for Cloud native apps, businesses can build and deliver applications faster thereby achieving greater success and also making it more cost efficient by reducing time to market.

2. Scalability:

Since each microservices are isolated, they can be scaled independently without affecting others. This also makes updating any component, container faster and easier.

3. Build Resilience:

With outdated legacy systems failing, services can get impacted. To minimize the impact, switching to a cloud native environment helps build resilience. In a cloud environment, it becomes easier for developers and architects to design systems that can stay intact and working despite any unforeseen glitches that may occur.

4. Achieve Business Needs:

Enterprises can transform into focused teams by aligning with IT operations. This not only eliminates the risk of failure that may occur due to human error, it helps the employees to focus on automation to replace manual admin tasks. Cloud native applications use automation to update and deploy app features. Since the app is divided into several microservices and containers, it is easy for engineers to track, update and manage the entire application without any worries thereby achieving business needs.

Why Choose Cloud-Native Applications?

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the cloud-native application helps organizations to become champions of process improvement and automation, thus delivering direct value to the business. A cloud-native app not only takes care of release, application operations but also automatically monitors plus fix issues on its own. However to make the most out of cloud-native app development, it’s best to stay focused on the following:

1. Prioritize: Identify which applications need to be converted to cloud-native. Ensure that businesses and IT work together to prioritize workloads and determine technical feasibility, strategic importance and ROI in each business scenario before opting for a Cloud environment.

2. Buy or not to buy: Some teams create their platform using an open-source microservice and container technology. But, a do-it-yourself (DIY) takes time and requires continuous maintenance. So, most of the time it is wise to buy a cloud-native application service from a trusted provider, allowing the in-house team to focus on driving business.

Furthermore, all cloud-native application designs must consider how the app will be built, how the performance will be measured and how teams will work on improving the app lifecycle.

Having said that, these applications have witnessed a tremendous increase in demand in the past few years and will continue to do so in the future. According to the cloud-native computing foundation, the number of cloud-native developers has increased from 4.7 million in 2019 to at least 6.5 million in 2020.

Today, the cloud-native application is solving some of the complex cloud computing problems; hence paving the way to a bright future.

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