How can IT organizations leverage the cloud in app development?

Cloud computing has changed the way IT companies build their applications. It has become easier for organizations to build enterprise-grade applications on the cloud. With that being said, many organizations are still not using the cloud technology to create the web and mobile applications. This article highlights the exciting opportunities which the cloud brings to the world of application.

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IT Organizations leverage the cloud in app development

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The cloud opportunities in the space of app development 

Enterprises are looking for apps with a faster response time and global access facilities. They do not like to be limited by the hardware constraints which would impact the operation of the app. This is where cloud comes to the rescue. The applications developed on the cloud will be accessible from anywhere. Additionally, following are the opportunities offered by cloud in terms of app development. 

Speed: Applications built on cloud can be tested and deployed quickly. When it comes to data accessibility in cloud, there is minimum lag. This ensures that organizations are able to use these apps in real time without any delay. 

Scalability: The cloud can be scaled up to provide necessary resources to the apps. There is no need for any extra hardware installation. Each server in the cloud environment is always online. So with the click of a button, the management team can change the bandwidth and the resources allocated to the app. This makes sure that the app doesn’t go down due to the unavailability of resources. This is a unique advantage of the cloud platform. 

Cost-Effective: The servers and the data centers necessary on the cloud are rented by the cloud provider. The customer pays only for the resources which are used. Since this cost is not upon the customer, the overall cost incurred is lower. This ensures the affordability of developing applications using the cloud technology. 

Easy functioning: The businesses using cloud applications need not worry about the cloud infrastructure, since the maintenance is carried out by the cloud infrastructure company. This point proves that the cloud technology is easier to use without any hassle. 

A revolution in app development 

The cloud offers quite a few features which the conventional app development platforms do not provide. Some of the unique features include: 

A fully integrated solution: When you develop an application on the cloud platform, the solution is fully integrated with the platform. Every feature of the app, employs the features of the cloud too. This not only results in a fully integrated app but also a secure app. The power of a single centralized cloud platform accelerates the app performance as compared to the traditional platforms. 

Plug-and-Play features: The cloud provides various readymade features like social media networking and geolocation usage for app developers. This enable IT companies to develop apps seamlessly and integrate different functions into the app. 

Steps to build a cloud-ready application 

1. Developing a collection of services 

One of the methods to deploy a cloud application is to develop the app as a collection of services. You can use APIs to provide access to the services. Under such cloud architecture, you can also decouple the data if required. This makes it easy to deliver the services as a package or as individual services. 

2. Decoupling the data 

Tight coupling of data is never a solution in the cloud platform, since it is a distributed network. After designing the application, the data can be stored on one server while the process can be run on another server. This makes it easy to operate the application on the hybrid cloud platform rather than just operating on a public or private cloud platform. 

3. Optimized for inter-component communication 

If the various parts of the application are constantly communicating with each other, the performance of the application decreases. Whereas, if the communication is optimized between the different components, the overall performance would be streamlined. 

4. Model the app for scalability 

When you’re creating the app model, it is mandatory to consider the scalability factor. The design of the app should support multiple users when they log in at the same time without any considerable lag. Also, the app should be able to handle high traffic load and requests. These features pave the way to a truly scalable app. 

5. Security Integration 

Completing the app development and then focusing on the security part is a traditional method. With the cloud in the scene, you can make security an integral part to every step of the app development. Generally, the cloud platform uses the identity and access management system to guarantee the security, which also keeps the cost on the lower side. 

Following these 5 steps during the development of a cloud-based application, makes it easy to run the application on hybrid as well as public and private clouds. 

Issues facing cloud development 

The cloud platform is robust and versatile, still there are a few issues you need to consider while using the cloud. Following are some of the prominent issues to consider: 

Reliability 

There are rare chances that your cloud platform may go down, and in that case your application will also go down. So you need to have a backup plan in place and choose your cloud provider carefully. 

Learning curve 

If you have been developing applications on premises till now, you will realize the difference in technologies when it comes to a cloud platform. Your team would have to learn new technologies like SQL, XML, and other command line tools. 

Licensing limitations 

Before narrowing down on the cloud service provider, it is necessary to check the licensing limitations and the number of users supported in the application. 

Integration with on-site apps 

In case of pre-installed onsite apps, there should be a seamless integration between cloud-based apps and onsite apps. This can be an issue during initial phase of cloud app development, however you can use APIs to resolve this issue. 

The necessity of cloud in app development 

Cloud based app development has become a necessity for most of the organizations. Some of the important factors on the rising popularity of the cloud include: 

Globalization 

With traditional technologies organizations cannot use different resources across different geolocations. Thanks to the cloud, now businesses can access those multiple resources, and the access can be provided to different users over the globe. Cloud applications can be accessed with seamless communication methods between global teams. 

Cost advantage 

Considering the dynamic business requirements, it is tedious to maintain the servers or the network for each and every customer. The cost implications would also significantly increase the cost of product development. On the other hand, with the cloud on your side, you would not have to care about infrastructure maintenance. And, you will gain the cost advantage over your competitors. 

High uptime 

The cloud provides a better uptime compared to legacy hosting solutions. The high uptime gives companies the ability to provide round-the-clock services to their customers. This gives the competitive edge against players who are still running on-site applications or conventional hosting solutions. 

Conclusion 

The cloud has brought forth Herculean changes to how tech companies develop applications. Currently most of the companies are either already developing apps on the cloud or they are still assessing their IT infrastructure or planning for the cloud app development. Now, the cloud has become an absolute necessity for enterprises due to its efficiency and success. The cloud platform is creating new opportunities as well as transforming app development. It is high time to leverage the cloud, stay updated, and increase the usability of your apps.