Introduction To The Serverless World
Serverless computing has been one of the most talked about topics in the cloud computing world in recent years. It promises to revolutionize the way developers build and deploy applications and services, and has been heralded as the future of cloud computing.
But what is serverless computing and how can it benefit businesses? In this article, we’ll look at the basics of the serverless world, the pros and cons of the technology, and how businesses can make the most of it.
What is Serverless Computing?
Serverless computing is a form of cloud computing that allows developers to use cloud resources and services without having to manage or provision any servers. It is sometimes referred to as “Function-as-a-Service” (FaaS) or “Backend-as-a-Service” (BaaS). In serverless computing, developers upload their code to the cloud and the platform, such as Amazon’s Lambda Functions or Google’s Cloud Run, and it automatically provisions, runs, and scales the code without any manual intervention.
When a request is made, the code is executed and the results are returned to the user. The cloud provider then charges the user for the amount of execution time the code takes and the resources it is using, such as RAM, disk space or network traffic.
The Good
The main benefit of serverless computing is that it removes the need for developers to manage and maintain servers, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with development. Developing an infrastructure around an application’s backend can be very complex, and handing off a big part of that complexity to a cloud provider for a fraction of the cost is quite attractive, especially for SaaS scale-ups or startups with a lot of traffic.
In addition to this, serverless computing can also be scaled up and down automatically depending on the load, making it an ideal solution for applications that experience spikes in traffic. This makes it a great choice for applications that require high availability, such as web and mobile applications.
Finally, serverless computing is also highly secure. The cloud provider is responsible for securing the underlying infrastructure, and they usually do a way better job at it than the average SaaS company.
The Bad
Despite its many advantages, serverless computing does have some drawbacks. One that might rub the developer crowd wrong is the total lack of control over the underlying infrastructure. This means developers can’t customize it to their needs, and rely on the cloud provider to provide the necessary services. If the provider doesn’t support something that would otherwise work in a different architecture, then there isn’t much that can be done about it.
On top of that, serverless architectures are quite a bit more complex and less transparent than traditional software architectures. If something isn’t working as it should, spotting the issue could be difficult. You’ll have to look through all the available dashboards and hard to access logs, just to see some hints about what could have gone wrong.
Money-wise, serverless computing can also be more expensive in the long run, as the cost of running the code can add up quickly. Some vendors lock their clients into long-term agreements as well, which makes it quite hard to get out of recurring costs, even when they are no longer necessary.
We shouldn’t forget that it solves a specific set of problems. Usually, companies run into scalability issues only after encountering really high traffic spikes, and serverless is an excellent solution for them, but maybe smaller startups that have no need for high computational power or don’t need automatic scaling because of predictable traffic should look at more traditional architectures, and only design serverless functions where it’s really needed.
If you’re looking for a more traditional architecture for web applications, check out the article below!
How Businesses Can Make the Most of Serverless Computing
Serverless computing can be an incredibly powerful tool for businesses, but it’s important to understand the pros and cons before making the switch.
When used correctly, serverless computing can significantly reduce the time and cost associated with development, as well as provide scalability, reliability, and security. It’s ideal for applications that require high availability and experience spikes in traffic, such as web and mobile applications.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that serverless computing does come with some drawbacks, such as the lack of control over the underlying infrastructure, the added complexity and the potential for higher costs in the long run.
If your business is looking to take advantage of serverless computing, make sure you do your research and understand the implications of the switch. With the right planning and implementation, serverless computing can offer many benefits and help your business reach its goals.
