In the previous decade, the idea and evolution of DevOps have drastically altered the way IT teams work. When small and big teams convert from traditional software development cycles to a DevOps cycle, they see a difference in terms of quicker innovation, enhanced collaboration, and faster time to market.

We will discuss DevOps as a Service to optimise the Ops resources including DevOps as a Service in the Singapore region and finally answer “how to optimise Ops resources by collaborating with an extended DevOps platform” in this blog.

What is a DevOps platform?#

A [DevOps platform] integrates the capabilities of developing, securing, and running software in a single application. A DevOps platform enables enterprises to optimise their total return on software development by delivering software more quickly and efficiently, while also improving security and compliance.

How to optimise the Ops resources in Extended DevOps Platforms?

DevOps teams are turning to the cloud to optimise their tech stacks and to build and deliver new solutions continually. Extended DevOps Platform teams may have complete visibility into their cloud infrastructure.

The three important areas for Optimising Ops resources with Extended DevOps Platforms are listed below.

Resource Utilization#

The cloud is perfect for fostering fast innovation since teams may add and delete instances and other resources as needed to meet business needs. This flexibility in the cloud assists DevOps in particular. A cloud management platform helps DevOps teams reallocate, resize, and even alter Reserved Instances (RIs) so that they always have the correct workload [(Alonso et al., 2019)].

Cost Management#

The cloud is perfect for enterprises that use varying amounts of data. But, regardless of the size of the budget, no one likes a surprise charge at the end of the month. DevOps teams may better manage and optimise their cloud cost by tackling resource consumption first. The correct automation solutions will assist them in locating these cost reductions without the need for time-consuming manual assessments.

Security & Compliance#

Cloud security is a critical responsibility for every sort of enterprise, including DevOps. Creating and installing the necessary security measures is only the beginning. DevOps teams must regularly monitor their cloud infrastructures to regulate and optimise cloud security. DevOps cloud optimization should also entail detecting any vulnerable areas in the development pipeline, particularly when developing or improving security features.

DevOps as a Service to optimize the Ops resources

DevOps as a Service provides full-service consulting and engineering services ranging from audit and strategy planning to project infrastructure evaluation and development. DevOps as a Service can assist you in expanding or contracting SDLC sections based on your operational requirements. Simultaneously, using on-demand, low-cost DevOps as a service may free up your in-house full-time personnel to focus on more important activities.

Extended DevOps Platform professionals will handle all requirements clarification, risk and opportunity identification, architecture creation, automation and IaaC implementation, and other duties. Instead of doing it yourself, you will receive a thorough roadmap established by specialists, as well as core infrastructure with configured pipelines ready for support administration and growth.

DevOps as a Service in Singapore to optimize IT resources.#

Businesses and DevOps as a Service in Singapore that incorporate security inside DevOps give better value, more responsiveness, and faster service delivery as a collaboration between software development and IT operations teams. The CI/CD pipeline, which enables more dependable and consistent code modifications, is the operational philosophy that raises the standard for Singaporean DevOps teams. NIFE Cloud Computing is among the leading DevOps as services in Singapore.

Recommendations for Optimizing Ops Resources Extended DevOps Platform#

Release often.

DevOps "increase an organization's capacity to deploy applications and services at high velocity," therefore releasing frequently is more than a nice to have; it's essential to the overall function of an extended DevOps Platform. Small additions, such as code modifications and bug repairs, are a fantastic place to start a fast release process since they can be implemented without significantly affecting the overall user experience.

Create a unified code base.

One method for not just streamlining DevOps but also making frequent releases easier is to standardize a single code base. Instead of having many code bases to pull from for various portions of the product or separate development teams, a single code base may make iterating and testing easy for everyone.

Scaling Automation

It may be difficult to believe, but DevOps may be effective with or without humans. In reality, while improving DevOps, you should analyse where automation can replace human involvement.

Engineers should be made responsible.

Putting engineers in charge of the final code push ensures that everything runs well and that any post-deployment issues are identified immediately.

Modern tech in customer support, assistance, and business is generating a lot of buzz. The majority of new technology will only assist customer-facing workers to accomplish their tasks more efficiently. Cloud computing technology, cloud-native application development, Edge Computing for Enterprises, multimedia, real-time messaging, chatbots, and artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, and even self-service, itself all have the potential to deliver a world-class customer experience.

How Cloud computing technology is Transforming Customer Experience?

Retail, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing are all industries that generate massive volumes of data daily. To truly exploit this data, you must first store and analyse it, something traditional data solutions are incapable of doing owing to their fragmented nature.

Cloud computing technologies are a means to many goals that each organisation must identify as part of a unified cloud strategy. There are several ways that Cloud computing technology may have a real-world influence across industries for companies aiming to change the customer experience. The banking, insurance, and healthcare industries all generate massive amounts of data, have regulatory compliance requirements, and have high client demand for services and goods [(Deb, Jain and Deb, 2018)]. They require strategies to provide, track, expand, and enhance such services while also meeting consumers' financial and healthcare demands.

Cloud computing technology is critical to reaching this aim since it provides:

Analytics and data processing#

Compliance with regulatory data protection requirements#

Detection of Fraud#

Elimination of mainframe technological debt through cloud-native app integration#

Loan processing and underwriting examination#

New banking and financial planning goods and services#

Inventory control#

What Edge Computing for Enterprises means for the Customer Experience?

Processing data at the source rather than a centralized or cloud-based server may appear to be a technical problem, but Edge computing for enterprises only benefits marketers. Marketers can participate in the following activities with data processing occurring closer to the source:

Real-time marketing:#

Because data is analyzed at the source, marketers may create automated systems that respond promptly to customer inputs by using Edge computing for enterprises

Offline experiences:#

Edge computing for enterprises isn't entirely dependent on a connection between an IoT device and a centralized server, actions can be carried out even when no internet connection is available [(Noghabi et al., 2020)].

Personalization and interactive experiences:#

Edge computing for enterprises will be able to react quickly to consumer involvement, resulting in a hyper-personalized experience defined and controlled by the end user.

Cloud-native Software Development for customer experience

To survive the upheaval, businesses need to have access to highly qualified workers, a strong infrastructure, and the flexibility to create high-quality apps. Organizations must embrace new technologies such as DevOps, Agile, microservices, containers, Agile, and platform-as-a-service to implement contemporary techniques such as provisioning, automated testing, and cloud-native application development to thrive in today's digital edge [(Kosińska and Zieliński, 2020)].

Today's businesses rely heavily on software to differentiate their service and product offerings. Businesses are shifting to design such apps for the best performance in the cloud to take advantage of the flexibility and speed of the cloud. As a result, an early user of cloud-native apps has enjoyed exceptional business velocity and growth. Cloud-native Software Development enables companies to fully realize the promise of cloud-native capabilities to achieve maximum speed, agility, and DevOps efficiency and fully embrace the true benefits of Cloud-native Software Development.

How can the latest technologies assist businesses in improving the customer experience?

Understanding customer behaviour is critical for any corporation seeking to become a market leader in today's volatile business environment. Customer experience management may be time-consuming and costly, and it generally necessitates uniformity across channels, such as closed-loop procedures, customer service centre encounters, SMS, website engagement, and so on [(Gellweiler, and Krishnamurthi, 2020)].

Companies are focused on automation and uncovering an organization's latent potential with the assistance of Cloud computing technology, Cloud-native Software Development, and Edge computing for enterprises in the following ways to further simplify these operations and have a direct influence on customers:

Effective business strategy optimization#

In today's fast-paced business world, tapping into uncharted territory might be one of the things that firms can use to ensure long-term success.

Data gathering and review generation#

Businesses must be agile and responsive in their procedures to adapt to today's fast-paced business climate.

Recommendations customized to you.#

With the use of AI and sophisticated data analytics in the business domain, predictive analytics tools may assist businesses in producing informed forecasts by providing wiser ideas and intelligent recommendations for future data-driven strategy creation [(Rekettye and Rekettye, 2019)].

Technology that brings customers closer together.#

AI is the market's next big thing and for all the right reasons. Or perhaps technology has already become an important part of our life without our recognizing it. With a fantastic customer-centric strategy, any firm hopes to generate revenue at the end of the day.

We have access to a common pool of computer resources in the cloud (servers, storage, applications, and so on) when we use cloud computing. You just need to request extra resources as needed. Continue reading as we discuss the various types of cloud deployment models and service models to assist you in determining the best option for your company.

What is a cloud deployment model?#

A cloud deployment model denotes a specific cloud environment depending on who controls security, who has access to resources, and whether they are shared or dedicated. The cloud deployment model explains how your cloud architecture will appear, how much you may adjust, and whether or not you will receive services [(Patel and Kansara, 2021)]. The links between the infrastructure and your users are also represented by types of cloud deployment models. Because each type of cloud deployment model may satisfy different organizational goals, you should choose the model that best suits the approach of your institution.

Different Types of Cloud Deployment Models#

The cloud deployment model specifies the sort of cloud environment based on ownership, scalability, and access, as well as the nature and purpose of the cloud [(Gupta, Gupta and Shankar, 2021)]. It defines the location of the servers you're using and who owns them. The cloud deployment model describes the appearance of your cloud infrastructure, what you may alter, and whether you will be provided with services or must design everything yourself.

Types of cloud deployment models are:

Public Cloud Deployment#

Anyone may use the public cloud to access systems and services. Because it is exposed to everybody, the public cloud may be less secure. The public cloud is one in which cloud infrastructure services are made available to the general public or significant industrial organizations over the internet. In this deployment model, the infrastructure is controlled by the organization that provides the cloud services, not by the user.

Private Cloud Deployment#

The private cloud deployment approach is opposed to that of the public cloud. It is a one-on-one setting for a single user (customer). It is not necessary to share your hardware with anyone. The contrast between private and public clouds is in how all of the hardware is handled. In this deployment model of cloud computing, the cloud platform is deployed in a secure cloud environment secured by robust firewalls and overseen by an organization's IT staff.

Hybrid Cloud Deployment#

Hybrid cloud deployment provides the best of both worlds by linking the public and private worlds with a layer of proprietary software. With hybrid cloud deployment, you may host the app in a secure environment while benefiting from the cost benefits of the public cloud. In this, organizations can migrate data and applications between clouds by combining two or more cloud deployment strategies. The hybrid cloud deployment is also popular for 'cloud bursting.' It means that if a company operates an application on-premises, but it experiences a high load, it might explode onto the public cloud.

Community Cloud Deployment#

It enables a collection of businesses to access systems and services. It is a distributed system formed by combining the services of many clouds to meet the special demands of a community, industry, or enterprise. The community's infrastructure might be shared by organizations with similar interests or duties. In this deployment model of cloud computing, cloud deployment is often handled by a third party or a collaboration of one or more community organizations.

Cloud Computing Service Models#

Cloud computing enables the delivery of a variety of services defined by roles, service providers, and user firms. The following are major categories of cloud deployment models and services:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)#

IaaS refers to the employment and use of a third-party provider's IT Physical Infrastructure (network, storage, and servers) [(Malla and Christensen, 2019)]. Users can access IT resources via an internet connection because they are hosted on external servers.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)#

PaaS provides for the outsourcing of physical infrastructure as well as the software environment, which includes databases, integration layers, runtimes, and other components.

Software as a Service (SaaS)#

SaaS is delivered through the internet and does not require any prior installation. The services are available from anywhere in the world for a low monthly charge.

Conclusion#

Over time, the cloud has changed drastically. It was initially only an unusual choice with a few modifications. It is available in a variety of flavors, and you can even establish your Private cloud deployment or Hybrid Cloud deployment in your data center. Each deployment model of cloud computing offers a unique offering that may considerably boost your company's worth. You may also change your Cloud deployment model as your needs change.

A hybrid cloud environment combines on-premises infrastructure, private cloud services, and a public cloud, with orchestration across multiple platforms. If you use a mixture of public clouds, on-premises computing, and private clouds in your data center, you have a hybrid cloud infrastructure.

We recognize the significance of hybrid cloud in cloud computing and its role in organizational development. In this blog article, we'll explore the top five characteristics that define powerful and practical hybrid cloud computing.

What is Hybrid Cloud Computing?#

A hybrid cloud computing approach combines a private cloud (or on-premises data center) with one or more public cloud products connected by public or private networks [(Tariq, 2018)]. Consistent operations enable the public cloud to serve as an extension of a private or on-premises system, with equivalent management processes and tools. Because nearly no one nowadays relies solely on the public cloud, hybrid cloud computing options are becoming increasingly popular. Companies have invested millions of dollars and thousands of hours in on-premises infrastructure. Combining a public and private cloud environment, such as an on-premises data center and a public cloud computing environment, is a common example of hybrid cloud computing provided by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

Hybrid Cloud Providers#

The digital revolution has radically changed the IT sector with the introduction of cloud computing. There are several hybrid cloud providers on the market, including:

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
2. Microsoft Azure
3. Google Cloud
4. VMware
5. VMware Cloud on AWS, VMware Cloud on Dell EMC, HCI powered by VMware vSAN, and VMware vRealize cloud management
6. Rackspace
7. Red Hat OpenShift
8. Hewlett Packard Enterprise
9. Cisco HyperFlex solutions
10. Nife Cloud Computing

Characteristics of Hybrid Cloud Computing#

Characteristic #1: Speed#

The capacity to automatically adjust to changes in demand is critical for innovation and competitiveness. The market expects updates immediately, and rivals are optimizing rapidly. Hybrid computing must be quick and portable, with maximum flexibility. Technologies like Docker and hybrid cloud providers such as IBM Bluemix facilitate this agility in a virtualized environment.

Characteristic #2: Cost Reduction#

One advantage of cloud computing is lowering expenses. Previously, purchasing IT assets meant paying for unused capacity, impacting the bottom line. Hybrid computing reduces IT costs while allowing enterprises to pay only for what they use. This optimization frees up funds for innovation and market introduction, potentially saving enterprises up to 30%.

Characteristic #3: Intelligent Capabilities and Automation#

Creating a digital experience in hybrid cloud computing requires integrating various technologies, which can be challenging for DevOps teams traditionally relying on numerous tools [(Aktas, 2018)]. Leveraging intelligent, unified, and centralized management capabilities enhances productivity and flexibility. IT automation in hybrid computing reduces human error, enforces policies, supports predictive maintenance, and fosters self-service habits.

Characteristic #4: Security#

Hybrid computing provides critical control over data and enhanced security by reducing data exposure. Organizations can decide where to store data based on compliance, regulatory, or security concerns. Hybrid architectures also support centralized security features like encryption, automation, access control, orchestration, and endpoint security, which are crucial for disaster recovery and data insurance [(Gordon, 2016)].

Characteristic #5: Lightweight Applications#

The final characteristic pertains to application size. DevOps teams need to develop agile apps that load quickly, boost efficiency, and occupy minimal space. Despite inexpensive storage, the focus should be on managing and understanding client data. Hybrid cloud computing supports DevOps in creating applications for global markets while meeting technological demands.

References#

Aktas, M.S. (2018). Hybrid cloud computing monitoring software architecture. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 30(21), p.e4694. doi:10.1002/cpe.4694.

Diaby, T. and Rad, B.B. (2017). Cloud computing: a review of the concepts and deployment models. International Journal of Information Technology and Computer Science, 9(6), pp.50-58.

Gordon, A. (2016). The Hybrid Cloud Security Professional. IEEE Cloud Computing, 3(1), pp.82–86. doi:10.1109/mcc.2016.21.

Lee, I. (2019). An optimization approach to capacity evaluation and investment decision of hybrid cloud: a corporate customer's perspective. Journal of Cloud Computing, 8(1). doi:10.1186/s13677-019-0140-0.

Tariq, M.I. (2018). Analysis of the effectiveness of cloud control matrix for hybrid cloud computing. International Journal of Future Generation Communication and Networking, 11(4), pp.1-10.

Read more on Hybrid Cloud Computing: All You Need to Know About Hybrid Cloud Deployment

Cloud computing companies may assist IT executives in laying the groundwork for success, such as increasing deployment speed and assuring future flexibility. However, the landscape is complicated. While technology is rapidly changing the corporate landscape, technology investment procedures have not always kept up. Let's look at how cloud computing may affect CIO budget predictability.

Role of CIOs in Cloud Budget Predictability#

CIOs will need to remain up to date on the newest innovations to make the best decisions on behalf of their businesses to drive their digital transformation. Because of the cloud's influence, as well as the DevOps movement, software development and IT operations have been merged and simplified. As infrastructure and applications are no longer independent, the CIO is no longer required to manage manual IT chores [(Makhlouf, 2020)]. Cost-effectiveness and efficiency must be prioritised in their strategy to save cloud budgets, which will bring a new dimension to their conventional job inside a company.

CIOs must also become more adaptable and agile. There are now so many distinct cloud providers that enterprises must employ a multi-access edge computing-cloud approach.

This implies:

• Businesses will be free to select cloud solutions based on their merits rather than being dependent on a single source.
• The CIO will be in charge of expanding a multi-access edge computing-cloud strategy, which means they must think about things like security, service integration, and cost.

Cloud computing companies will increasingly rely on their CIO to develop useful solutions to support digital transformation as cloud computing platforms evolve. As demand grows more than ever, businesses will have a broader selection of cloud-based solutions to choose from. As a result, the CIO's function will be expanded to include both technical expertise and business-oriented strategic thinking.

CIOs Perspective: From Cost to Investment#

CIOs have long struggled with the impression of IT as a cost centre. The convergence of technology and business strategy might provide CIOs with the chance to abandon a cost-cutting attitude in favour of an investment philosophy that values strategic expenditure to boost revenue, growth, stock price, or other measures of company and shareholder value.

As the technology function assumes a more prominent role, CIOs may need to address critical issues such as core modernization, cloud business models, investment governance and value measurement, the incompatibility of fixed budgets with Agile development, and the impact of automation on the workforce to save cloud budgets [(Liu et al., 2020)].

Cloud Computing Affecting Core Modernization#

Many CIOs acknowledge that old core systems lack the agility required to build and scale creative and disruptive new technology solutions. Legacy systems can be rehosted, re-platformed, rearchitected, rebuilt, or replaced—strategies that vary in impact, cost, risk, and value. However, core modernization should be considered as a technological investment with other options. A big distribution company's CIO opted to postpone a modernization initiative and shift funding to a bespoke warehouse management program that provided the firm with a competitive edge.

Cloud Business Models on OPEX/CAPEX#

Cloud computing companies have welcomed cloud solutions with open arms, drawn by their ease of use and deployment. Cloud computing platforms may foster innovation and encourage experimentation by removing the burden of purchasing and maintaining technological infrastructure [(Kholidy, 2020)]. However, every investment involves risks, and cloud computing platforms are no exception. Because the cloud switches technology spending from the capital expense column to the operating expense column, rushing to the cloud might have a significant impact on firm financials. Finance and IT divisions may collaborate to properly identify these expenses and analyze and maximize the impact to save cloud budgets.

Governance and Value Assessment#

Technology leaders may improve their capacity to create convincing business cases that properly anticipate technology project ROI and assess the performance and value of each investment [(Liu et al., 2018)]. It can be beneficial to have a specialized financial team responsible for modeling, administering, and analyzing the value of IT investments to save cloud budgets.

Taking such actions can help decrease the notion that technology is an incomprehensible black box, make it simpler for technology executives to justify spending, and help them create closer connections with CFOs.

Incompatibility of Fixed Budgets#

Agile and other flexible delivery techniques are on the increase. CIOs may manage investment portfolios in the same way that venture capitalists do, but only if financing mechanisms are changed to favor Agile, product-focused settings. A flexible budgeting methodology may provide product teams with the necessary creativity and responsibility to achieve business value and save cloud budgets.

Automation Impact#

Automation and robotics' ability to streamline and accelerate IT delivery is changing the way technology and cloud computing companies work, collaborate, and create value [(Raj and Raman, 2018)]. Better workflows and various resource needs might drive increased production output and save cloud budgets as automation enables teams to exchange manual and repetitive jobs for those requiring higher-order abilities.

5G and edge computing are creating plenty of new income opportunities in industries like manufacturing, transportation, and gaming. How can communication service providers acquire a competitive advantage? Everything you need to know is provided here.

What is Telco Edge?#

Telecommunications companies frequently associate edge computing with mobile edge computing or multi-access edge computing - computing at the network's edge. Telco edge computing, on the other hand, comprises workloads operating on client-premises equipment and other points of presence at the customer site. The term "telco edge" refers to distributed computation maintained by the operator that may extend beyond the network edge and onto the customer edge. Telco Edge combines the advantages of both local and cloud computing. Telco edge computing should be adaptable and scalable. Telco edge computing can handle unexpected surges in workloads caused by increased end-user activity or answer organizations' need to grow fast while building, testing, and deploying new applications [(Klas, 2017)].

What exactly is Telco Edge Cloud (TEC)?#

The Telco Edge Cloud is a worldwide platform solution for exposing, managing, and marketing Edge Computing, Network resources, and capabilities across multiple operators and national borders, utilising existing and future network assets. Telco Edge Cloud is building a platform built on open technologies and telecom standards. MNOs may monetize their edge resources thanks to Telco Edge Cloud.

The Telco Edge Cloud idea and architecture are beneficial not only to MNOs but may also be utilised by other service and edge providers to improve their services since capabilities like NaaS are made available to these third parties [(Baliosian et al., 2021)]. Other edge and cloud providers can give methods to their application development communities to optimise edge application performance and experience by consuming Telco Edge Cloud NaaS capabilities and implementing them into their platform offerings.

Telco Edge Computing#

Telco Edge computing is also known as Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) or Multi-Access Edge Computing (MAEC). Telco Edge computing provides execution resources for applications that need networking close to end users, often within or near the operator network's boundary [(Gebhardt et al., 2012)].

Telco Edge computing may also be installed on corporate premises. Communication service providers or service providers can manage or host the edge infrastructure. Several use cases necessitate the deployment of distinct apps at multiple locations. In such cases, a distributed cloud may be viewed as an execution environment for applications spread over numerous sites, with connections maintained as a single solution. The key advantages of Telco Edge computing are low latency, high bandwidth, device processing, and data offload, and trusted computing and storage.

What is a 5G Telco Cloud?#

A 5G Telco Cloud is a software-based cloud architecture that allows for the placement of 5G network functions/applications and the division of a single infrastructure into various network slices for the delivery of a wide variety of services ranging from eMBB to URLLC [(Gebremariam et al., 2021)]. It enables you to swiftly add services, respond fast, and manage resources efficiently and automatically.

Network function virtualization, software-defined networks (SDN), edge computing, and microservices are components of 5G Telco Cloud.

1. Network Functions Virtualization of 5G Telco Cloud enables you to abstract operations from hardware. This enables conventional servers to execute operations that would otherwise necessitate the utilization of hardware.

2. Software-Defined networking (SDN), a new backhaul/mid-haul design of 5G Telco Cloud, is adaptive, manageable, and versatile. It is perfect for the fluidity of 5G applications. This design isolates network control from forwarding services, allowing network control to be programmed directly.

3. Microservices are a method of separating applications and network operations into loosely linked systems. DevOps cycles or CI/CD can be used to manage them.

5g and Edge computing#

5G and edge computing are intricately related technologies: both are set to greatly increase application performance and enable massive volumes of data to be handled in real-time. 5G speeds can be up to 10 times faster than 4G, while mobile edge computing minimises latency by putting computational capabilities closer to the end user.

5G and edge computing are technologies that can work together to power a new generation of smart devices and apps. 5G's enhanced performance can improve edge computing applications by lowering latency, improving application response times, and enhancing organizations' capacity to gather and analyze data.

Benefits of the Relationship between 5G and Edge Computing#

Ultra-low latency use cases: The combination of 5G with edge computing is important for achieving ultra-low latency in a variety of edge devices and use cases.

Near real-time performance: Using 5G and edge computing together allows organizations to collect and process large amounts of real-time data to optimize various operational processes and increase productivity and customer experiences.

Improved bandwidth usage: The connection between 5G and edge computing influences the success of 5G network technologies.

The lack of a standardized methodology for evaluating Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), along with the reality that no two Cloud Service Providers are alike, complicates the process of picking the best one for your firm. This post will help you work through the characteristics you may use to pick a supplier that can best meet your organization's technological and operational demands.

So, how do you go about selecting a Cloud hosting provider? To begin, it is useful to understand who the primary players are today.

The Players#

The sector is crowded, with the big three — AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Services — as well as smaller specialized firms. Of course, AWS, Google Cloud Services, and Azure reign supreme. There are many cloud providers in Singapore such as NIFE, which is a developer-friendly serverless platform designed to let businesses quickly manage, deploy, and scale applications globally.

Criteria for Primary Evaluation#

When deciding which Cloud Service Providers to utilize, consider the alternatives that different providers supply and how they will complement your specific company characteristics and objectives. The following are the main factors to consider for practically any business:

1. Cloud Security#

You want to know exactly what your security objectives are, the security measures provided by each provider, and the procedures they employ to protect your apps and data. Furthermore, ensure that you properly grasp the exact areas for which each party is accountable.

Security is a primary priority in Cloud Computing Services, therefore it's vital to ask specific questions about your specific use cases, industry, legal needs, and any other issues you may have [(Kumar and Goyal, 2019)]. Do not fail to assess this key element of functioning in the cloud.

2. Cloud Compliance#

Next, select a Cloud Computing Service that can assist you in meeting compliance criteria specific to your sector and business. Whether you are subject to GDPR, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, or another standard, ensure that you understand what it will take to accomplish compliance once your apps and data are housed on a public cloud architecture [(Brandis et al., 2019)]. Make sure you understand your duties and which parts of compliance the supplier will assist you in checking off.

3. Architecture#

Consider how the architecture will be integrated into your processes today and in the future when selecting a cloud provider. If your company depends heavily on Amazon or Google Cloud Services, it could be wise to go to such Cloud hosting providers for ease of integration and consolidation. When making your selection, you should also consider cloud storage designs. When it comes to storage, the three major suppliers have comparable architectures and offer a variety of storage options to meet a variety of demands, but they all have various forms of archive storage [(Narasayya and Chaudhuri, 2021)].

4. Manageability#

You should also spend some time establishing what different [Cloud hosting providers] will need you to handle. Each service supports several orchestration tools and interfaces with a variety of other services. If your firm relies heavily on certain services, ensure that the cloud provider you select has a simple method to interface with them.

Before making a final selection, you should assess how much time and effort it will take your team to handle various components of the cloud infrastructure.

5. Service Levels#

This aspect is critical when a company's availability, reaction time, capacity, and support requirements are stringent. Cloud Service Level Agreements (Cloud SLAs) are an essential consideration when selecting a provider. Legal considerations for the security of data hosted in the cloud service, particularly in light of GDPR rules, should also be given special consideration [(World Bank, 2022)]. You must be able to rely on your cloud service provider to do the correct thing, and you must have a legal agreement in place to protect you when something goes wrong.

6. Support#

Another factor that must be carefully considered is support. In certain circumstances, the only way to receive help is through a chat service or a contact center. You may or may not find this acceptable. In other circumstances, you may have access to a specialized resource, but there is a significant likelihood that time and access will be limited. Before selecting a Cloud Computing Services, inquire about the amount and type of assistance you will receive. The cloud providers in Singapore like NIFE provide excellent customer support.

7. Costs#

While cost should never be the sole or most essential consideration, there is no disputing that price will play a significant influence in determining which cloud service providers you use.

8. Container Capabilities#

If your company wants to move its virtual server workloads to containers, container orchestration, managed containers, and/or serverless architecture, you should thoroughly examine each Cloud hosting provider's container capabilities. The cloud providers in Singapore like NIFE use Docker Containers.

References#

Brandis, K., Dzombeta, S., Colomo-Palacios, R. and Stantchev, V. ([2019]). Governance, Risk, and Compliance in Cloud Scenarios. Applied Sciences, online 9(2), p.320. doi:10.3390/app9020320.

Kumar, R. and Goyal, R. ([2019]). On cloud security requirements, threats, vulnerabilities and countermeasures: A survey. Computer Science Review, 33, pp.1-48. doi:10.1016/j.cosrev.2019.05.002.

Narasayya, V. and Chaudhuri, S. ([2021]). Cloud Data Services: Workloads, Architectures and Multi-Tenancy. Foundations and Trends® in Databases, 10(1), pp.1-107. doi:10.1561/1900000060.

World Bank. ([2022]). Government Migration to Cloud Ecosystems: Multiple Options, Significant Benefits, Manageable Risks.

Wu, Y., Lei, L., Wang, Y., Sun, K. and Meng, J. ([2020]). Evaluation on the Security of Commercial Cloud Container Services. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp.160-177. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-62974-8_10.

DevOps is the answer if you want to produce better software quicker. This software development process invites everyone to the table to swiftly generate secure code. Through automation, collaboration, rapid feedback, and iterative improvement, DevOps principles enable software developers (Devs) and operations (Ops) teams to speed delivery.

What exactly is DevOps as a Service?#

Many mobile app development organisations across the world have adopted the DevOps as a Service mindset. It is a culture that every software development company should follow since it speeds up and eliminates risk in software development [(Agrawal and Rawat, 2019)].

The primary rationale for providing DevOps as a service to clients is to transition their existing applications to the cloud and make them more stable, efficient, and high-performing. The primary goal of DevOps as a service is to ensure that the modifications or activities performed during software delivery are trackable. Applying DevOps practices such as Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery enables businesses to generate breakthrough results and outstanding commercial value from software [(Trihinas et al., 2018)].

As more organisations adopt DevOps and transfer their integrations to the cloud, the tools used in build, test, and deployment processes will also travel to the cloud, thereby turning continuous delivery into a managed cloud service.

DevOps as a Managed Cloud Service#

What exactly is DevOps in the cloud? It is essentially the migration of your continuous delivery tools and procedures to a hosted virtual platform. The delivery pipeline is reduced to a single site in which developers, testers, and operations specialists work together as a team, and as much of the deployment procedure as feasible is automated. Here are some of the most prominent commercial choices for cloud-based DevOps.

AWS Direct DevOps Tools and Services#

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has established a strong worldwide network to virtualize some of the world's most complicated IT settings [(Alalawi, Mohsin and Jassim, 2021)]. AWS Direct DevOps is a quick and relatively straightforward option to transfer your DevOps to the cloud, with fibre-connected data centres located all over the world and a payment schedule that measures exactly the services you use down to the millisecond of computing time. Even though AWS Direct DevOps provides a plethora of sophisticated interactive capabilities, three specific services are at the heart of continuous cloud delivery.

AWS CodeBuild: AWS CodeBuild is a completely managed service for generating code, automating quality assurance testing, and delivering deployment-ready software.

AWS CodePipeline: You define parameters and develop the model for your ideal deployment scenario using a beautiful graphic interface, and CodePipeline handles it from there.

AWS CodeDeploy: When a fresh build passes through CodePipeline, CodeDeploy distributes the functioning package to each instance based on the settings you specify.

Google Cloud DevOps Tools and Services#

The search engine giant boasts an unrivalled global network, user-friendly interfaces, and an ever-expanding set of features that make the Google Cloud DevOps option worthwhile to explore.

Google Cloud DevOps also offers comprehensive cloud development suites for a broad range of platforms, including Visual Studio, Android Studio, Eclipse, Powershell, and many more [(Jindal and Gerndt, 2021)]. In a cloud environment, use the development tools you already know and love.

Let's take a look at some of the most powerful StackDriver development tools available from Google.

Stackdriver Monitoring: Get a visual representation of your environment's health and pain areas.

Stackdriver Debugger: Zoom in on any code position to see how your programme reacts in real-time production.

Stackdriver Logging: Ingest, monitor, and respond to crucial log events.

StackDriver Trace: Locate, examine, and show latencies in the Google Cloud Console.

Microsoft Azure DevOps Tools and Services#

Microsoft Azure DevOps, Microsoft's cloud management platform, is bringing a powerful punch to DevOps as a managed service area. Azure, like AWS Direct DevOps and Google Cloud DevOps, provides a remarkable range of creative and compatible DevOps tools.

With so many enterprises already invested in Microsoft goods and services, Microsoft Azure DevOps may provide the simplest path to hybrid or full cloud environments. Microsoft's critical DevOps tools include the following:

Azure Application Service: Microsoft Azure DevOps App Service offers an infinite number of development alternatives.

Azure DevTest Labs: Azure DevTest Labs simplifies experimentation for your DevOps team.

Azure Stack: Azure Stack is a solution that allows you to integrate Azure services into your current data centre [(Soh et al., 2020)].

The Advantages of DevOps as a Service#

[DevOps as a Service] has several advantages. Some of the more notable advantages are listed below:

• Better collaboration
• More rapid testing and deployment
• Reduces complexity
• Product of the highest quality
• Internal DevOps coexists

Final thoughts#

Choosing DevOps as a service will allow you to develop your business faster and provide more value to your clients. Choosing DevOps as a service is your route to customer success, whether you're developing a new application or upgrading your legacy ones.

Are you curious about cloud development? You've come to the perfect location for answers.

In this Blog, we will discuss what is Cloud Development, Cloud Native Development, Cloud Native Application Development, Cloud Application Development, and Cloud Application Development Services. Let's get started.

What is Cloud Development?#

Cloud development is the process of creating, testing, delivering, and operating software services on the cloud. Cloud software refers to programmes developed in a cloud environment. Cloud development is often referred to as cloud-based or in-cloud development. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and others are well-known Cloud application development services. The widespread use of cloud services by businesses has resulted in numerous forms of cloud development based on their commercial viability.

Businesses can incorporate the most recent cloud technologies into their web apps and other Cloud application development services by utilising cloud such as multiple remote data centres, development tools, operating systems, and so on via a cloud platform as a service, software as a service, or infrastructure as a service. The Cloud application development services are based on speed, security, and resource and infrastructure flexibility. For business-driving results, cloud application development services employ cutting-edge technology and the finest of all private, public, and hybrid cloud services. Cloud application development services offer a high level of security and risk management.

Cloud Application Development#

Cloud application development is the process of creating a Cloud-based programme. It entails many stages of software development, each of which prepares your programme for launch and market acceptance. DevOps approaches and tools such as Kubernetes are used by the finest Cloud application development teams. When utilised effectively with software development processes, cloud application development on cloud infrastructure allows web and PWA development services to cut development costs, open up the potential of working with remote teams, and shorten project timeframes.

What is Cloud Native Development?#

Cloud Native development is designed to work seamlessly in the cloud. Developers create the architecture of Cloud Native application development from the start or heavily restructure existing code to function on the cloud utilising cloud-based technologies [(Gilbert, 2018)]. Developers can continually and effectively deploy new software services. Cloud Native Development includes features such as continuous integration/continuous development, containers, microservices, and so on.

Cloud Native Development is centred on breaking down large software programmes into smaller services that may be utilised wherever they are needed. This guarantees that Cloud Native application development is accessible, scalable, and flexible. Microservices, cloud platforms, containers, Kubernetes, immutable infrastructure, declarative APIs, and continuous delivery technologies are commonly used in Cloud Native application development, along with approaches such as DevOps and agile methodology.

Cloud-enabled Development#

The movement of traditional software to the cloud platform is known as cloud-enabled development. Cloud-enabled apps are created in a monolithic approach on on-premises hardware and resources. Cloud-enabled programmes are unable to achieve the optimum scalability and resource sharing that cloud applications provide.

Cloud-based Development#

Cloud-native application development is balanced with cloud-based software development. They provide the availability and scalability of cloud services without needing major application changes. This cloud development strategy enables enterprises to use cloud benefits in certain of their services without having to change the entire software application code.

What distinguishes cloud application development from traditional app development?#

Historically, software engineers would create software applications on local workstations before deploying them to the production environment. This technique increases the likelihood of software products not functioning as intended, as well as other compatibility difficulties.

Today, developers utilise agile and DevOps software development approaches, which allow for improved collaboration among development team members, allowing them to generate products effectively and follow user market expectations [(Fylaktopoulos et al., 2016)]. Cloud application development services such as Google App Engine, code repositories such as GitHub, and so on enable developers to test, restructure, and enhance codebases in a collaborative environment before immediately deploying them to the production environment.

The Advantages of Cloud Development#

Among the many advantages are:

• Cloud developers may automate several developments and testing activities.

• A cloud developer may quickly rework and enhance code without interfering with the production environment. It makes the development process more agile [(Odun-Ayo, Odede and Ahuja, 2018)].

• Containers and microservices enable cloud developers to create more scalable software solutions.

• DevOps development methodologies enable cloud app developers, IT employees, and clients to continually enhance the software product.

• When compared to on-premises software development, the entire process is more cost-effective, efficient, and secure.

Conclusion#

The cloud computing business is massive and likely to explode in the coming years. The reason for this is the cost-effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility it brings to business processes and products, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. A cloud-native, cloud-based, or cloud-enabled development requires a capable team of software developers that understand cloud migration and integrate best practices.

As a developer, you're likely familiar with new technologies that promise to enhance software production speed and app robustness once deployed. Cloud computing technology is a prime example, offering immense promise. This article delves into multi-access edge computing and deployment in cloud computing, providing practical advice to help you with real-world application deployments on cloud infrastructure.

Why is Cloud Simplification Critical?#

Complex cloud infrastructure often results in higher costs. Working closely with cloud computing consulting firms to simplify your architecture can help reduce these expenses [(Asmus, Fattah, and Pavlovski, 2016)]. The complexity of cloud deployment increases with the number of platforms and service providers available.

The Role of Multi-access Edge Computing in Application Deployment#

[Multi-access Edge Computing] offers cloud computing capabilities and IT services at the network's edge, benefiting application developers and content providers with ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and real-time access to radio network information. This creates a new ecosystem, allowing operators to expose their Radio Access Network (RAN) edge to third parties, thus offering new apps and services to mobile users, corporations, and various sectors in a flexible manner [(Cruz, Achir, and Viana, 2022)].

Choose Between IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS#

In cloud computing, the common deployment options are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). PaaS is often the best choice for developers as it manages infrastructure, allowing you to focus on application code.

Scale Your Application#

PaaS typically supports scalability for most languages and runtimes. Developers should understand different scaling methods: vertical, horizontal, manual, and automatic [(Eivy and Weinman, 2017)]. Opt for a platform that supports both manual and automated horizontal scaling.

Consider the Application's State#

Cloud providers offering PaaS often prefer greenfield development, which involves new projects without constraints from previous work. Porting existing or legacy deployments can be challenging due to ephemeral file systems. For greenfield applications, create stateless apps. For legacy applications, choose a PaaS provider that supports both stateful and stateless applications.

Select a Database for Cloud-Based Apps#

If your application doesn't need to connect to an existing corporate database, your options are extensive. Place your database in the same geographic location as your application code but on separate containers or servers to facilitate independent scaling of the database [(Noghabi, Kolb, Bodik, and Cuervo, 2018)].

Consider Various Geographies#

Choose a cloud provider that enables you to build and scale your application infrastructure across multiple global locations, ensuring a responsive experience for your users.

Use REST-Based Web Services#

Deploying your application code in the cloud offers the flexibility to scale web and database tiers independently. This separation allows for exploring technologies you may not have considered before.

Implement Continuous Delivery and Integration#

Select a cloud provider that offers integrated continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) capabilities. The provider should support building systems or interacting with existing non-cloud systems [(Garg and Garg, 2019)].

Prevent Vendor Lock-In#

Avoid cloud providers that offer proprietary APIs that can lead to vendor lock-in, as they might limit your flexibility and increase dependency on a single provider.

References

Asmus, S., Fattah, A., & Pavlovski, C. ([2016]). Enterprise Cloud Deployment: Integration Patterns and Assessment Model. IEEE Cloud Computing, 3(1), pp.32-41. doi:10.1109/mcc.2016.11.

Cruz, P., Achir, N., & Viana, A.C. ([2022]). On the Edge of the Deployment: A Survey on Multi-Access Edge Computing. _ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR).

Eivy, A., & Weinman, J. ([2017]). Be Wary of the Economics of ‘Serverless' Cloud Computing. IEEE Cloud Computing, 4(2), pp.6-12. doi:10.1109/mcc.2017.32.

Garg, S., & Garg, S. ([2019]). Automated Cloud Infrastructure, Continuous Integration, and Continuous Delivery Using Docker with Robust Container Security. In 2019 IEEE Conference on Multimedia Information Processing and Retrieval (MIPR) (pp. 467-470). IEEE.

Noghabi, S.A., Kolb, J., Bodik, P., & Cuervo, E. ([2018]). Steel: Simplified Development and Deployment of Edge-Cloud Applications. In 10th USENIX Workshop on Hot Topics in Cloud Computing (HotCloud 18).