Serverless is a significant breakthrough in the IT industry and has gained popularity in the past few years. Arguably, it is the next big thing that will play a role in an organisations IT strategy and deliver business results. New technology has stimulated the need for IT to focus on the outcome instead of trivial details and mechanics of technology.
This technical revolution will allow developers to focus on service logic and integration, which will reduce the development period and lower costs. Primarily, this emerging software architecture is aiming at creating value for customers. Thus, it is the next generation cloud for its value to organisations and cloud-vendors.
Serverless
This technological revolution in cloud-computing allows IT to allocate compute, storage, and memory based on a request for a higher-order service such as a function code. Therefore, it will not be necessary for end-users to manage servers that run their specific codes. Like in public infrastructure service, the end-user will not physically manage the servers.
Additionally, this computing executes the code written by a developer using an exact amount of computing resources to complete a task and nothing more. Thus, the platform executes the task if an event happens and stimulates the code. The event must be predetermined to trigger an event. However, end-users will not communicate to the computing platform how many times the functions will occur. Also, developers will pay for what they use. Interestingly, services are automatically managed on the platform thus reducing operational overheads.
Fortunately for the next generation-cloud will be functional as a utility. There are various benefits of this platform that cannot be ignored. However, there are a few risks that cannot be overlooked but can be overcome. Developers will be able to pursue greater business agility.
Benefits
Management
Developers never deal with servers even though computing takes place on the servers. The vendor does all management work. The serverless-ultimate goal is to create value for the customer and hence creating new opportunities for them. Therefore, developers will not have to invest in practices or tools to enhance the business’s ability to deliver at a higher velocity, like in traditional computing. This eliminates the difficulty in building DevOps and reduces the cost. In addition to managing, the cloud-provider also offers infrastructure security, and thus the enterprise will not worry about maintaining it. Hence, using this platform will help in quick iteration and evolution without being limited by the server-capacity.
Function Compute is automatic
In traditional development, developers would use a considerable amount of glue to integrate various cloud-products and process various errors. Luckily, through the integration of Function Compute with OSS, deletion, object upload, or any other event generated in the OSS will automatically stimulate Function Compute reliably. Hence, developers can simultaneously process a massive amount of data in a shorter period. Similarly, Function Compute will be integrated with other services such as massages, and a developer will process a large amount of data. Thus, it is the next generation-cloud since it will capture and process all events.
Payment is on resource utilization
Interestingly, payment in this platform is not fixed. The pricing is based on the capacity used, not the capacity provided on cloud-computing. In a Pay-as-you-go plan, enterprises are charged on space used. If some capacity is idle but rented out, it is a server-problem and not the customer. Codes run when database server-functions are required by the application of the platform. This helps for easy manipulation, and the code automatically scales up. The backend functions make the services exact thus reducing charges dramatically. Accordingly, the developer is charged on the space used instead of paying for massive space periodically that they might never use.
Architectures are Scalable
Any application that is built with this infrastructure will automatically scale when usage increases. This means it can increase the size when the end-user base grows. If a function requires being run in various instances, the platform server-starts up, runs the functions, and ends them as they are required. Therefore, the server-application handles many requests and efficiently runs them as it would if the number of requests were reduced.
Traditional applications cannot support such a flexible scale. Such a structure would be overwhelmed by increased usage, especially when the applications’ space is fixed and limited. With this architecture, you can shrink or scale applications on a usage basis or on-demand basis. Hence, this new technological revolution is crucial to the future of cloud-computing.
Reduced latency
Advantageously, using the platform decreases latency. Since the application is not primarily hosted on an original server, codes can be run from anywhere. Therefore, end-users can run application functions from servers near them instead of actual servers, depending on the vendor the developer uses to run functions. It saves time since the users will not travel to an original server and thus reducing latency.
Adding value to cloud-vendors
Besides enterprises, vendors are bound to benefit from this platform as well. They will acquire competitive advantages and build this competitiveness in various dimensions. A primary factor that will influence the competitive edge is the price since end-users will only pay for capacity utilised and reduce build-up costs for applications. Also, with serverless-cloud services will be programmable, and cloud-services are able to extend core capabilities. Additionally, vendors can improve utilisation and enhance hardware innovation. Thus, scaling and placement will be accurate and real-time.
Limitations
Monitoring and debugging is a challenge
Due to its ephemeral nature, monitoring and debugging become a challenge. For example, it will be difficult to capture data with this model since you cannot log onto a machine. Therefore, developers cannot test codes in the application and see how they will perform after deployment. In addition, developers lack visibility into backend processes making the debugging process even more complicated.
Deploying apps at scale is risky
Serverless is not for everybody as it requires a determined end-user. For instance, an end-user who wants to move to this computing revolution will often be needed to re-architecture applications or swap significant system components, such as databases. This process can be disruptive and costly.
Vendor lock-in
A significant number of users may be hesitant in fear of allowing the wrong vendor to provide the services. Ideally, the vendor that an end-user selects will provide their business with backend services for the application, which will, in return, enhance their overreliance on the vendor. When an enterprise sets up this architecture with one vendor, it makes it challenging to switch to another vendor even in situations where they must, especially if the case is due to different features and workflow. This lack of standards has raised concerns, especially among early adopters.
In conclusion, an essential value of this revolution in cloud-computing is the success of businesses on the cloud. With the cloud-services, enterprises will build elastic, available, and less costly cloud-based applications, enhance delivery period and grow their business through platform integration. Also, serverless-takes the responsibility of hosting, securing, and executing applications. Thus, reducing the burdens of businesses and making IT strategy more accurate and effective. Furthermore, developers who aim to reduce their go-to-market time and build flexible applications that they can update or expand quickly will significantly benefit from this computing. It will also reduce cost and latency.
