Nowadays lots of software solutions and development services are divided into two huge groups: created with already predefined cloud-based architecture; thinking on choosing and implementing cloud migration strategy.
So let’s discuus the topic of cloud-based development (or cloud computing) and what it has to do with mobile applications and the reasons why businesses are spending millions on choosing between monolith vs microservices architecture for their products. The idea of cloud computing (or in other words cloud-based development) is basically a technology that allows providing convenient and all-time available access to networks to all components of configurable resources. Among components or resources we usually understand hardware devices; connectivity networks (including different types of IoT networks); data collection and storage devices; servers; software applications and services. They can work together (as a holistic solution) as well as separately (as unit, or feature). Offcorce, such complicated systems were created to advance digital companies, but with lots of advantages they bring disadvantages to the market as well. Below we are going to cover the main ones.
Pros of the cloud-based development for mobile apps:
- Cloud computing always includes some level of information security (IS)
- The technology has very high-level of data collection and processing
- It takes off some level of pressure from your own hardware
- Cloud technologies do not have a need of PC (or mobile device, or tablet) power when you are using any preferred browser
- Since lots of important programs and microservices are already included into the package, choosing cloud computing does not require additional spendings for both sides (business & consumer)
- And the last bonus of a cloud-based application is fault tolerance
And the hidden cons of the cloud-based development for mobile apps:
- one of the major concerns related to cloud technologies is that you need to be online to be able to access files, documents, and systems. A while ago everyone could partially work without the Internet connection. Now, you have to be full time-connected
- Cloud computing carries lots of concerns related to data storage and usage, especially when it comes to sensitive or highly secure data, because cloud services are always provided by a third party company that stores all this data
- I guess it would be common, but still serious disadvantage – the danger of hacker attacks that directly company can not stop immediately, since lots of data stores on the third party companies servers
- monopoly is a well known disadvantage for small companies as well. Since we all know that there are up to 10 world known cloud service providers that serve more than 80% of the market. So it alway contains danger in terms of pricing policy, terms and conditions, contract negotiation, etc.
- The possibility of a data growth on the business side (consumer database; historical data; number of connected devices and data they collect) carries better and more expensive cloud services
Let’s summarise. Overall there are two main things to take into consideration when discussing advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based development and services:
Point1. From the user’s (or supplier) point of view, due to the pooling of resources and nature of consumption by users (or consumers), cloud computing technologies in mobile application development save lots of resources for the company that owns this mobile application. By resources we mean the following: when we talk about scaling, using less resources of the hardware than it would be required if to use a dedicated hardware capacity for each consumer separately, and by automating processes to modify resources allocation significantly reduced the cost of the service provided for each consumer.
Point 2. From the user’s (or consumer) point of view, all the features of mobile application that were described in this article above allow users to receive information and services with a high level of availability and low-level risks of incapacity, to provide twenty four – seven availability and fast scaling of mobile applications thanks to elasticity without the need of creation, service and modernization of in-house hardware infrastructure. Versatility and convenience of use of online access is enabled thanks to the full availability of information, services and support of various devices (computers, smart phones, tablets).