The Importance of Cloud-Native Infrastructure in Modern Businesses

Cloud-based technologies are transforming the way organizations operate and interact with customers. From mobile shopping to online gaming, cloud applications play a vital role in our daily lives. However, cloud-native technology takes this a step further by enabling the development of entire software solutions in distributed systems.

As cloud-native technologies evolve, they are not limited to applications alone. A recent report from Gartner highlights the emergence of new cloud-native products and services, indicating that more infrastructure will continue to migrate to the cloud. This transition opens up endless possibilities for building innovative solutions accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

Cloud-native technologies according to Gartner

The “Emerging Tech Impact Radar” series from Gartner Research offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cloud-native technologies. Experts like Mark Driver, Lawrence Pingree, Elizabeth Kim, Bill Ray, Ed Anderson, and Adam Gavish contribute their perspectives on how these innovations are reshaping business operations.

In the report titled "Emerging Tech Impact Radar: Cloud-Native" Gartner states that;

The cloud-native concept is revolutionizing not only application architectures but also operations, security, and developer experience. Business leaders must understand these trends to seize opportunities arising from market disruptions.

Similar trends have been observed over the past few years. For further insights, check out our previous article, Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms. Gartner emphasizes the need for continued investment in cloud-native architecture and platforms to meet the demands of an evolving marketplace.

Why SaaS requires cloud-native infrastructures‍

Cloud-native applications have become the standard in today’s tech environment. According to a survey by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and The Linux Foundation, approximately 79% of organizations utilize containers for some or all of their production applications.

Shifting from on-site servers to cloud-hosted containers aligns with the current emphasis on mobile access and frequent application updates. Nearly half of the container-using organizations release new code daily. Hosting applications in the cloud enables seamless access to the latest features without requiring users to download updates manually.

However, this increased reliance on cloud-native apps presents new challenges. As organizations transition to developing most of their applications in the cloud, they require a cloud-native infrastructure that can scale with their evolving needs. Without scalable infrastructure, businesses risk compromising the performance of the applications that users rely on.

Moving infrastructure to the cloud is a logical solution. In the coming years, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platforms-as-a-service (PaaS) are expected to become as prevalent as software-as-a-service (SaaS). This shift is a natural consequence of shorter application life cycles and increased user demand.

Making security everyone’s responsibility‍

Despite the growing significance of cloud-native technologies, not all organizations have adopted hybrid cloud strategies. Approximately 40% cite security concerns as a barrier to fully embracing cloud-native applications and infrastructure. Cybersecurity is a valid concern, the number of security incidents in the U.S. rose from 1,108 in 2020 to 1862 in 2021.
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Organizations can mitigate these risks by fostering a culture where security is a shared responsibility across all IT teams. Traditionally, data protection has been the domain of specialized security teams. A more effective approach involves adopting an "all hands on deck" mentality that integrates site reliability engineering (SRE), automation, and security measures at every level of development.

While security teams will continue to play vital roles, a comprehensive responsibility model should encompass systems engineering, operations, development, and data-driven responses to potential threats.

Enhancing the developer experience

Transitioning to cloud-native ecosystems presents challenges but also creates opportunities for improved developer and end-user experiences. Advanced automation becomes more achievable in a cloud-native environment, reducing reliance on costly tools that individual companies must maintain.

Developers can leverage diverse automation testing solutions to assess integrations, functionality, and performance. By automating routine tasks like testing older code components, developers can focus on creative problem-solving instead of tedious manual processes.

For example, integrated development environments (IDEs) like Microsoft Visual Studio and PyCharm can automatically identify and highlight missing elements in real-time, allowing programmers to avoid errors that could escalate into larger issues later in the development cycle. Scaling these automation techniques to a broader environment shows why so many companies are eager to adopt cloud-native technologies that enhance productivity and accuracy.

The future of emerging cloud technologies

To thrive in a cloud-native world, organizations must assess their current technologies and determine if they possess the necessary assets. Falling behind could give competitors a significant advantage.

Gartner indicates that many businesses are already leveraging cloud-native technologies, including API mediation, container management, and DevSecOps. In the near future, we expect to see wider adoption of cloud-native architectures capable of scaling with application demand. Serverless PaaS, event stream processing, and immutable infrastructure are anticipated to become more common.

As computing continues to migrate to the cloud, we will likely witness an influx of new cloud-native products and services by the end of the decade. Look for increased reliance on distributed cloud solutions, GitOps, container-native storage, policy as code, site reliability engineering as a service, observability, and event-driven architectures.

If you find some of these concepts overwhelming or confusing, we’re here to help you identify the cloud-native assets that best suit your evolving technology stack. ‍

Contact us today to learn more about how emerging technologies can benefit businesses of all sizes. We’re excited to discuss how we can support your journey toward cloud-native transformation.