Cloud development: A roadmap to unlocking business growth
By Max Ikaheimo
24th April, 2023
Cloud development is a game-changing technology enabling businesses to build, deploy, and manage applications and services using various cloud computing platforms. By leveraging the power of the cloud, organizations can improve their efficiency, scalability, and flexibility, leading to increased productivity and growth.
As businesses continue to rely more heavily on technology to drive innovation and stay competitive, cloud development has become an essential aspect of modern IT strategies. By transitioning to cloud-based solutions, businesses can access a vast array of resources, tools, and services that empower them to keep up with the evolving demands of the market.
Additionally, cloud development allows organizations to reduce costs, streamline operations, and respond quickly to changing business needs, making it a critical investment for businesses of all sizes and industries.
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Understanding cloud computing
Cloud computing refers to delivering computing resources, such as storage, processing power, and software applications, over the internet.
This technology allows users to access these resources on an on-demand basis, eliminating the need for businesses to invest in and maintain their own physical hardware and software infrastructure.
Cloud computing enables greater efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in managing IT resources.
Types of cloud computing services
Cloud computing services can be broadly classified into three main categories, each offering different levels of control, flexibility, and management for businesses. These categories are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS provides businesses with virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking. In this model, users can provision and manage their own infrastructure resources, while the cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining the underlying physical hardware. IaaS is ideal for businesses that require a high level of control and customization over their computing environment.
Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS offers a cloud-based development environment where businesses can build, test, and deploy applications without worrying about managing the underlying infrastructure. PaaS provides tools, services, and frameworks that simplify the development process, allowing developers to focus on writing code and creating innovative solutions. This model suits businesses looking to streamline their application development and deployment processes.
Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS refers to cloud-based software applications that are delivered over the internet and accessed through a web browser. In this model, the cloud service provider manages all aspects of the application, including infrastructure, maintenance, and updates. SaaS solutions offer businesses an easy and cost-effective way to access essential software applications, without the need to purchase, install, or maintain the software themselves. This service model is popular among businesses for functions such as customer relationship management (CRM), human resources management (HRM), and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
What is cloud development?
Cloud development refers to designing, building, and deploying applications and services specifically designed to run on cloud computing platforms.
This approach involves leveraging the advantages of cloud computing, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, to create applications that can easily adapt to changing business needs and grow with the organization.
Cloud development encompasses a wide range of technologies, tools, and practices that enable developers to build cloud-native applications and migrate existing applications to the cloud.
The anatomy of cloud development
Cloud-based development environments
Cloud-based development environments, or Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) or Development Platforms as a Service (DPaaS), provide developers with a suite of tools, services, and resources to build, test, and deploy applications directly in the cloud.
These environments enable developers to access resources on-demand, collaborate effectively with team members, and streamline the development process, improving efficiency and productivity.
Cloud-native applications
Cloud-native applications are designed specifically to run on cloud computing platforms, taking full advantage of the underlying cloud infrastructure.
These applications are built using a combination of modern development practices, technologies, and architectural patterns, such as microservices, containers, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and resilience in the cloud.
Microservices architecture
Microservices architecture is an approach to designing and building applications as a collection of small, independently deployable services that communicate with each other through APIs.
This architectural pattern enables developers to break down complex applications into smaller, more manageable components, which can be developed, tested, and deployed independently. Microservices architecture promotes greater flexibility, scalability, and fault tolerance, making it an ideal choice for cloud-native applications.
Containers and container orchestration
Containers are lightweight, portable units that package an application's code, dependencies, and runtime environment together, enabling the application to run consistently across different computing environments. Containers provide high isolation and consistency, making it easier to develop, test, and deploy applications in the cloud.
Container orchestration is the process of automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. Container orchestration tools, such as Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, and Apache Mesos, help manage the lifecycle of containers, ensuring that they are running efficiently, securely, and reliably across multiple cloud environments.
These tools are critical in managing complex, distributed applications built using microservices architecture and running on cloud platforms.
Benefits of cloud development
Scalability
Cloud development allows businesses to easily scale their applications and infrastructure up or down in response to changing demands. This ensures that resources are allocated efficiently without overprovisioning or underutilizing resources. This dynamic scaling capability enables businesses to meet their needs while optimizing resource usage and minimizing costs.
Cost savings
By leveraging cloud-based resources, businesses can reduce their upfront investment in IT infrastructure and shift to a pay-as-you-go model. This helps control costs and optimize resource usage, as businesses only pay for the resources they actually use. Additionally, cloud development enables businesses to save on expenses related to maintenance, power, and cooling of physical hardware.
Flexibility
Cloud development provides developers easy access to a wide range of tools, services, and technologies, making it easier to experiment with new ideas and rapidly respond to evolving business requirements. This flexibility allows businesses to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and stay competitive. Furthermore, cloud development platforms often offer seamless integration with other cloud services, further enhancing the applications' capabilities.
Enhanced collaboration
With cloud-based development environments, teams can collaborate more effectively across geographical boundaries, increasing productivity and innovation. Cloud development platforms enable real-time collaboration, version control, and streamlined workflows, allowing teams to work together efficiently and consistently, regardless of physical location.
Better security and compliance
Cloud development platforms often have built-in security features and compliance tools that help businesses protect their data and ensure regulatory compliance. Cloud providers invest heavily in security measures, such as data encryption, access controls, and monitoring systems, to protect their infrastructure and customers' data. Moreover, many cloud providers offer compliance certifications and attestations, helping businesses meet industry-specific regulatory requirements more easily.
Cloud development vs traditional development
| Aspect | Traditional development | Cloud development |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Dedicated, on-premises hardware and infrastructure | Cloud computing platforms with a wide range of resources and services over the internet |
| Investment & Maintenance | Requires businesses to invest in and maintain their own IT infrastructure, which can be costly and time-consuming | Reduces upfront investment in IT infrastructure and shifts to a pay-as-you-go model |
| Flexibility | May lack the flexibility and scalability needed to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions | Allows developers to easily access and integrate a wide range of tools, services, and technologies |
| Scalability | Limited by dedicated hardware and infrastructure | Enables applications to easily scale up or down in response to changing demands |
| Deployment Speed | Slower build, test, and deployment process | Rapid build, test, and deployment process, enabling quicker time-to-market for new products and services |
| Collaboration | Can be limited by on-premises infrastructure and geographical boundaries | Enhanced collaboration across geographical boundaries with cloud-based development environments, leading to increased productivity |
Popular cloud development platforms and tools
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS is a leading cloud computing platform offering a wide range of services and tools for cloud development, including computing resources, storage, databases, machine learning, and more. AWS provides a comprehensive suite of developer tools, such as AWS Lambda for serverless computing, Amazon EC2 for virtual server instances, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk for platform-as-a-service (PaaS) capabilities.
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform offering diverse services and tools for cloud development, including infrastructure, data management, analytics, and artificial intelligence. Azure provides developers various tools and services, such as Azure Functions for serverless computing, Azure App Service for web and mobile app hosting, and Azure DevOps for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
GCP is a cloud computing platform that provides a wide array of services and tools for cloud development, including computing, storage, databases, machine learning, and more. GCP offers various development tools and services, such as Google Cloud Functions for serverless computing, Google App Engine for platform-as-a-service (PaaS) capabilities, and Google Kubernetes Engine for container orchestration.
IBM Cloud
IBM Cloud is a cloud computing platform offering comprehensive services and tools for cloud development, including infrastructure, databases, analytics, and artificial intelligence. IBM Cloud provides developers various tools and services, such as IBM Cloud Functions for serverless computing, IBM Cloud Foundry for platform-as-a-service (PaaS) capabilities, and IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service for container orchestration.
Vercel
Vercel is a cloud development platform that provides an optimal environment for deploying, scaling, and hosting front-end web applications. Vercel offers a simple and efficient workflow for deploying applications built using popular JavaScript frameworks, such as Next.js, React, and Angular, with features like serverless functions, automatic SSL, and global content delivery.
Netlify
Netlify is a cloud development platform that provides a seamless experience for deploying, hosting, and managing modern web applications. Netlify offers an intuitive platform for deploying static sites, single-page applications, and serverless functions, with features like continuous deployment from Git repositories, automatic SSL, and global content delivery.
Adopting cloud development for your business
Assessing your current IT infrastructure: Before adopting cloud development, assessing your current IT infrastructure is essential to determine which applications, services, and resources can be migrated to the cloud. This assessment should consider factors such as current hardware, software, network requirements, and existing processes and workflows. Identifying the areas that can benefit most from cloud development will help prioritize your migration efforts.
Identifying the right cloud development platform: With various cloud development platforms available, choosing the one that best aligns with your business needs and objectives is crucial. Factors to consider when selecting a platform include the range of services and tools offered, integration capabilities with your existing systems, cost structure, and the platform's reputation for reliability, performance, and security.
Developing a cloud migration strategy: Once you've assessed your current IT infrastructure and identified the right cloud development platform, it's time to develop a migration strategy. This strategy should outline a phased approach for migrating applications and services to the cloud, prioritizing those most benefit from cloud development. Considerations should include the level of customization required, potential downtime during migration, and any necessary staff training.
Building a skilled cloud development team: Adopting cloud development requires a team with the right skills and expertise to build, deploy, and manage applications and services in the cloud. This may involve training existing staff, hiring new team members with relevant experience, or partnering with third-party cloud development experts. Ensuring that your team has the necessary skills and knowledge will help maximize the benefits of cloud development for your business.
Monitoring and optimizing cloud resources: After successfully migrating to a cloud development platform, it's essential to continuously monitor and optimize your cloud resources to ensure efficient resource utilization, cost control, and optimal performance. This may involve using monitoring tools provided by your cloud platform, setting up alerts for unusual activity, and regularly reviewing performance metrics to identify areas for improvement. By proactively managing your cloud resources, you can ensure that your business continues to reap the benefits of cloud development in the long term.
Case studies: Successful cloud development in business
UJET
Our team worked with UJET, the world’s most advanced cloud contact center, to migrate their old WordPress website to Next.js and Agility CMS. By migrating to the Jamstack architecture and Headless solutions, we optimized the site for 4x the performance compared to the WordPress implementation.
Lessons learned
Embracing a cloud-native approach can provide significant scalability benefits for businesses experiencing rapid growth.
By leveraging cloud development, businesses can shift their focus to core competencies, driving innovation and improving customer experience.
Hotel Radio
We built a complete hosting system and delivered massive online live streaming experiences on Hotel Radio. In addition to live streams Hotel Radio offers e-commerce through Shopify, fully integrated into the site. Headless Shopify enables seamless shopping experiences on-site and during the streams.
Lessons learned
Cloud development can help financial services companies improve their agility, security, and compliance, while reducing costs.
Adopting a cloud-first strategy can drive innovation and help businesses stay competitive in the fast-paced financial industry.
Closing thoughts
As businesses continue to adapt to the ever-evolving digital landscape, cloud development will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of business operations. With the continuous advancement of cloud technologies and the growing adoption of cloud-native architectures, businesses will be able to build more robust, scalable, and secure applications, while benefiting from reduced costs and increased agility.
We can expect to see more businesses adopting multi-cloud strategies, leveraging the strengths of different cloud providers to optimize their IT infrastructure and meet their unique requirements.
Emerging technologies such as edge computing, serverless computing, and artificial intelligence will continue integrating with cloud development platforms, further enhancing the capabilities of cloud-based applications and services.
Embracing cloud development can be a key driver of business growth and innovation. By adopting cloud technologies, businesses can scale their operations more effectively, respond rapidly to changing market conditions, and optimize their resource utilization.
By taking advantage of cloud development's flexibility, scalability, and cost savings, businesses can position themselves for long-term success and maintain a competitive edge in the increasingly digital world.
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