Lionel Sujay Vailshery
Research expert covering cloud computing and emerging tech industries
Cloud native - statistics & facts
Cloud native in cloud computing refers to an approach to building applications that emphasize speed and agility. Often, cloud native applications are built-in for the cloud to get ideas to market more rapidly. Indeed, a cloud native approach to running applications exists in conjunction with users’ expectations for rapid responsiveness, zero downtime, and innovative features. This highlights the fact that the cloud is the backbone of strategic transformation that accelerates business velocity.
On the technical side, microservices and containers are often applied to this approach. Microservices are an architectural approach to application development, breaking applications into a collection of small services. Each service runs its process, thereby implementing business capabilities. Notably, more prominent organizations are already utilizing microservices in their operations.
Furthermore, containers are helpful cloud native enablers, as the technology offers more efficiency than standard virtual machines. The low overhead connected to building and managing containers consistently across environments makes them a capable vehicle for deploying microservices. For this reason, Kubernetes, a renowned container orchestration platform, is an essential aspect of organizations’ cloud native strategies.
What is typical of cloud native?
Continuous delivery, enabled by a strong DevOps culture, is essential to delivering cloud native applications. The close collaboration between IT operations and software developers creates an environment where software can be built, tested, and released more frequently and consistently. This points to an operational and cultural shift aiming to de-silo teams and automates software development processes as part of a cloud native approach.On the technical side, microservices and containers are often applied to this approach. Microservices are an architectural approach to application development, breaking applications into a collection of small services. Each service runs its process, thereby implementing business capabilities. Notably, more prominent organizations are already utilizing microservices in their operations.
Furthermore, containers are helpful cloud native enablers, as the technology offers more efficiency than standard virtual machines. The low overhead connected to building and managing containers consistently across environments makes them a capable vehicle for deploying microservices. For this reason, Kubernetes, a renowned container orchestration platform, is an essential aspect of organizations’ cloud native strategies.
Companies applying the cloud native approach
Organizations, including Netflix and Uber, are already using the cloud native approach, having several hundred or thousands of services in production and deploying them constantly. This allows these companies to respond to market conditions quickly, as they can easily update parts of live applications and scale them as needed. Cloud native refers to interlocking several different technologies and capabilities to increase agility and efficiency.
