Advantages of Cloud Computing: Cloud vs. On-Premise
The advantages of cloud computing are no longer restricts itself for shared infrastructure to host an application. Because of its exponential scalability and greater resilience, cloud-native, which uses loosely-coupled cloud components for application development, is gaining traction in the software industry.
Some compelling reasons to migrate from an on-premise development paradigm to a cloud-native development strategy include enabling applications to scale resources in response to demand spikes and self-managing and reliable infrastructure with automation.
This section introduces you to cloud-native applications, their benefits over on-premise application development, and some of the top AWS services for cloud-native application development.
What are Cloud-Native Applications, and How Do They Work?
A cloud-native application is a program build specifically for cloud computing. These apps are designed to take advantage of the inherent properties of a cloud computing software delivery architecture and are operated and hosted in the cloud. A native app is a software created specifically for a platform or device.
DevOps, Agile approach, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), microservices, containers (like Docker, Kubernetes), and continuous delivery are all used to develop cloud-native applications.
Also, see how Daffodil assisted FS Security in developing a bespoke VPN framework and reducing application development costs by 23% by leveraging the cloud.
On-Premise vs. Cloud-Native Applications
Software Comparison: Cloud vs. On-Premise
The primary distinction between cloud and on-premise software is where it is stored. Cloud software is hosted on the vendor’s server and accessed via a web browser, whereas on-premise software is installed locally on your company’s PCs and servers.
Aside from accessibility, there are several other factors to consider while making a decision, such as software ownership, cost of ownership, software upgrades, and additional services like support and implementation. We’ll go over all of the advantages and disadvantages…
Benefits of Cloud Software
Access from anywhere and at any time – You may use a web browser on any device to access your applications at any time and from anywhere.
Cloud is cost-effective since there are no upfront charges; instead, you make regular payments, making it an ongoing expense (OpEx). While the monthly cost mounts up over time, maintenance and support services are included, so no annual commitments are required.
Predictable expenses — Take advantage of monthly fees, including software licenses, upgrades, support, and daily backups.
IT is worry-free — You don’t have to worry about the maintenance of your software or the hardware it runs on because cloud software is hosted for you; the cloud service provider handles compatibility and upgrades.
High levels of protection – Because data centers use security procedures that are out of reach for most organizations, your data is typically safer in the cloud than on a server in your office.
Quick deployment– Unlike on-premise programs, which must be installed on a physical server and each PC or laptop, cloud-based software can deploy over the Internet in hours or days.
Scalability – Cloud solutions give you more flexibility because you only pay for what you use and can simply scale up or down to suit demand, such as adding or removing licenses.
Reduced energy costs — You no longer have to pay to power or maintain on-premise servers when you go to the cloud. Your energy bills will reduce as a result of this.
The Negatives
Connectivity — To be productive using cloud solutions, you’ll need reliable internet access.
Costs in the long run – Although cloud applications require a smaller initial investment, they can be more expensive over the system’s life cycle, increasing the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Cloud software is often flexible; however, depending on how it is host, a cloud solution can handle complicated development.
Advantages of Working on-Site
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) — You only pay once for your user licenses; an on-premise solution can have a cheaper TCO than a cloud system.
Totally in charge – You own your data, hardware, and software platforms. Configuration, upgrades, and system modifications are all up to you.
Uptime — You can access your software without relying on internet connectivity or other external factors with on-premise systems.
The Negatives
Large capital expenditure — On-premise systems often require a large upfront investment, requiring capital expenditure (CapEx). You should also factor in maintenance expenditures to guarantee that support and functionality improvements are available.
Maintenance responsibilities — With an on-premise system, you’re in charge of server hardware and software, data backups, storage, and disaster recovery. This might be a problem for smaller businesses with limited financial and technical resources.
Longer implementation times — On-premise implementations take longer due to the time required to finish server and computer/laptop installs.
AWS Cloud-Native Application Development
AWS is a cloud computing platform that provides infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and packaged software as a service (SaaS) services. It has over 1 million active customers in 190 countries and generates $6.1 billion in sales.
It provides various services, solutions, and training programs that allow development teams to focus on the product rather than on the infrastructure needed to run an application. If you’re planning to build a cloud-native app on AWS, these are some of the top services that can help you improve application speed.
1. Simple Storage Service by Amazon (S3)
Amazon S3 is a web-based cloud storage service used for online backup and preservation of data and application programs. It is scalable and low-cost. S3 is an object storage service that differs from traditional cloud file or block storage systems. The object is saved as a file in S3, and its metadata assigns an ID number. Applications can use this ID number to access an object using Rest APIs. S3 allows you to upload, store, and download files and objects up to 5GB in size.
2. Amazon CloudFront Content Delivery Network
Amazon CloudFront is a worldwide content delivery network (CDN) that ensures low latency and high transfer speeds for data, videos, apps, and APIs. The CloudFront CDN supports static and dynamic content and application and network-level security. AWS CDN can properly manage traffic’s abrupt rise (or spikes).
3. Amazon Web Services Lambda
AWS Lambda is a service that lets developers run code without having to manage servers. This service runs code just when needed and scales up and down automatically. From a few requests per day to thousands per second. AWS supports a wide range of programming languages. Developers can utilize compiler tools like Gradle and Maven.
4. Elastic Load Balancing on Amazon (ELB)
Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) is a load-balancing solution for AWS deployments that distributes incoming traffic and scales resources in response to demand. Containers, EC2 instances, and IP addresses spread application traffic across numerous channels.
5. Amazon Notification System (SNS)
Amazon SNS is a cloud service that coordinates the delivery of push notifications to subscribing endpoints or clients for applications. The SNS service employs APIs or the AWS Management console to push messages to Google, Apple, Windows, or internet-connected smart devices.
6. Amazon Simple Queue Service (Amazon SQS)
Developers can use Amazon SQS to decouple and grow microservices, distributed systems, and serverless applications. SQS removes the overhead associated with message-oriented middleware management and operations, allowing messages transmit, saved, or received at any volume between software components.
7. Amazon Simple Email Service
Amazon SES allows you to integrate email functionality into your AWS applications. SES sends emails with a high delivery rate using API calls or SMTP, and it also provides instant access to email-sending analytics.
8. Amazon Cognito
Amazon Cognito is an AWS offering that helps developers speed up the creation of mobile apps. It manages user authentication and app access on internet-connected mobile devices. Developers can concentrate on creating code rather than managing backend infrastructure by synchronizing end-user data with Cognito services.
9. Amazon Route53
Amazon Route53 is a scalable Domain Name System (DNS) solution that allows organizations and developers to guide end-users to applications safely. This is accomplish by converting domain names into numeric IP addresses used to connect computers.
10. Amazon Machine Learning
Amazon Machine Learning is a managed service that allows developers to create machine learning models. In addition to this, it makes predictions without needing a deep understanding of ML algorithms and techniques. Data analysis, model training, and evaluation are all part of building ML models using Amazon Machine Learning, and developers are given interactive, visual tools to help them do so.
In conclusion, while these AWS services are invaluable in developing cloud-native apps, designing and deploying apps on AWS differs from that of typical on-premises apps. AWS Consulting Partners can help with cloud-native application development or migrating existing applications to the cloud.
