Best Practices for Modern Cloud-Based App Development

Why It’s Beneficial to Develop a Cloud App: Comparison with Traditional Applications

Traditional applications, installed directly on a user’s device, have served businesses well for many years. However, the rise of cloud computing offers a compelling alternative for application development. A study by OpsRamp found that operational scalability and flexibility is the biggest benefit of public cloud, with 62% of respondents citing it as a key factor. The same study claims that 47% of respondents appreciate the budgeting flexibility of public cloud, allowing them to avoid large upfront capital expenditures. 

Cloud applications, delivered over the internet, provide several more advantages over traditional applications:

• Accessibility: Cloud applications can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection and any device, promoting remote work, flexibility, and collaboration. Traditional applications are limited to the specific device they are installed on.
• Scalability: Cloud applications can easily scale up or down based on user demand. Scalable cloud app architecture allows businesses to pay only for the resources they use and avoid the upfront costs of extensive hardware. Traditional applications require additional hardware or software licenses to accommodate growth.
• Cost savings: Cloud applications often have a pay-as-you-go pricing model, eliminating the need for expensive upfront investments in hardware and software licenses. Additionally, the cloud provider handles maintenance and updates, further reducing IT overhead for businesses. Traditional applications require upfront costs for hardware, software, and ongoing maintenance.
• Security: Cloud providers invest heavily in security measures to protect user data. Cloud applications benefit from these robust security systems, while traditional applications rely solely on the user’s device security.
• Automatic updates: Cloud applications are automatically updated by the provider, ensuring users always have access to the latest features and security patches. Traditional applications require manual updates, which can be time-consuming and leave users vulnerable if not done promptly.
• Deployment Speed: Cloud applications can be deployed quickly and easily, allowing businesses to get their applications to market faster. Traditional applications often have longer deployment times due to hardware and software installation requirements.

Here’s a table summarizing the key differences:

Types of Cloud-Based Apps 

Cloud computing offers a variety of services that can revolutionize your application development and business processes. Understanding these core cloud services and their functionalities is the first step towards harnessing the potential of cloud native app development to benefit your business. These services cater to different cloud app deployment strategies by providing varying levels of control, flexibility, and deployment strategies:

• Software as a Service (SaaS) is a fully functional application delivered through the cloud. You essentially “rent” the servers, databases, and processing power needed to run the software. Multi-tenant SaaS architecture means the cloud provider handles all the IT management, freeing you from those burdens.

Examples: Gmail, Dropbox, Salesforce

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides a virtualized IT environment, including servers, storage, and networking features. It essentially offers the building blocks to power your business operations. IaaS also provides the highest level of control, allowing you to manage everything from operating systems to applications.

Examples: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform

• Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a complete platform dedicated to cloud application development. It provides the hardware, operating systems, frameworks, and development tools you need to build, test, deploy, and update your cloud-based products. PaaS acts as a foundation to streamline the entire development process.

Examples: Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine

• Low-code platforms are specialized PaaS environments focused on building software with minimal coding. Low-code platforms utilize drag-and-drop interfaces, templates, and pre-written code snippets to simplify development, potentially even for non-programmers.

Examples: Mendix, Appian, Zoho Creator

• Backend as a Service (BaaS) allows you to outsource backend functionalities to a cloud provider. BaaS platforms offer features like user authentication, social media integration, notifications, and cloud storage through APIs and SDKs (software development kits).

Examples: Firebase, AWS Amplify, Kinvey 

What to Consider in Cloud App Development Before You Start?

Before diving into cloud app software development, it’s crucial to consider the various approaches available. Carefully selecting the best practices in cloud native app development is essential, as they can significantly enhance your application’s functionality and success. 

By carefully weighing the factors we’ll explore below, you can choose the most appropriate approach to avoid common pitfalls and ensure your cloud app thrives.

Business needs assessment

Is the cloud the right fit? Meticulously evaluate if your core business idea truly necessitates the cloud’s inherent scalability and flexibility. Can a traditional on-premise application adequately address your current needs? Cloud-based applications excel when dealing with fluctuating user bases or data volumes, geographically dispersed teams, or the need for remote accessibility. However, on-premise solutions may be sufficient for stable needs and in-house control preferences.

Target audience definition

Who are your users and what devices will they primarily use to access your application (smartphones, tablets, desktops)? Will they have consistent and reliable internet access? Understanding your target audience is critical: all of these factors significantly influence the design choices and potential limitations of your cloud app development platform.

Development expertise

Developing and maintaining a cloud application requires a specific skillset. Your team must possess the necessary expertise in cloud technologies, security protocols, and API integrations. Consider outsourcing cloud based app development to a qualified cloud development team that can leverage their experience and expertise to deliver a robust and secure application.

Security & compliance imperative

Security in cloud app development is paramount. Carefully evaluate the cloud provider’s security measures and ensure they align with your application’s specific data security requirements. The cloud provider’s location and data storage practices may also impact your compliance obligations. Ensure your cloud development process adheres to all relevant data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) to avoid legal issues and maintain user trust.

Cost considerations

While cloud services offer a pay-as-you-go model, which can be initially cost-effective, ongoing fees can accumulate over time. Thoroughly evaluate your budget and resource needs for the long term to avoid unexpected financial burdens down the road. Consider factors like storage requirements, processing power needs, and potential user growth when estimating cloud service costs.

Existing infrastructure integration

Can your cloud application seamlessly integrate with your existing systems and data infrastructure? Evaluate the compatibility between your cloud-based application and your on-premise systems. You may need to implement additional APIs or data migration strategies to ensure smooth information flow.

Scalability planning

Even though cloud applications are inherently scalable, you need to plan for future needs. Think of how your application will handle potential growth in users and data volume. Choose a cloud provider that offers flexible scaling options to accommodate your application’s growth trajectory.

Vendor lock-in awareness

Be mindful of potential vendor lock-in to a specific cloud provider’s platform. While some cloud providers offer migration tools, it can be complex and costly to switch providers in the future. Consider your long-term plans and choose a provider that offers open standards and portability options if vendor flexibility is important.

Best Practices for Cloud App Development

Having explored cloud app development approaches, it’s crucial to delve into modern cloud app development best practices for building and deploying these powerful applications. While the cloud offers inherent security and efficiency, proper management remains key. Following these best practices will help you minimize potential drawbacks and maximize the benefits of cloud-based development.

Achieve portability

Don’t restrict your application to a specific cloud provider’s services. Steer clear of PaaS offerings that limit portability if vendor independence is crucial. Instead, consider open-source or cloud-agnostic solutions whenever possible.

Choose the appropriate design

While functionality is important, your application’s design plays a vital role in user engagement. Choose a design that showcases your app’s value proposition, attracts new users, and reflects your company’s identity. Experiment with different design approaches or create a unique blend that resonates with your target audience.

Use serverless computing

Serverless cloud app benefits include streamlined development, cloud app performance optimization, and automatically scaled resources up or down based on real-time demand. This translates to significant cost savings, as you only pay for the resources you actually use. If scalability is a top priority for your cloud app, incorporating serverless components into your architecture is a no-brainer.

Provide security

Integrate security best practices from the very beginning of your development process. Implement robust security policies to safeguard your development environment and application data. Regularly conduct security audits and penetration testing monitoring cloud apps performance to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Consider different IT environments

Cloud applications aren’t limited to the cloud. Explore hybrid deployments and frameworks for cloud app development that combine cloud-based services with on-premises infrastructure. Following this approach will get you cost benefits and enhanced security for specific data or functionalities.

Architect for agility

Embrace microservices architecture: break down your application into smaller, independent services that can be scaled independently. Microservices in cloud apps allow you to easily add resources to specific parts of your app experiencing high demand without impacting the entire application.

Leverage autoscaling

Utilize cloud provider features that automatically scale your serverless functions based on real-time demand,  preventing bottlenecks during peak usage. This ensures you only pay for the resources you actually use.

Implement load balancing

Distribute incoming traffic across multiple serverless instances to prevent overloading any single instance. This improves responsiveness and ensures a smooth user experience even during high traffic periods.

Monitor and optimize

Continuously monitor your application’s performance to identify potential bottlenecks and areas for optimization. Use cloud provider tools and third-party services to gain insights into resource utilization, response times, and error rates.

Embrace Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Automate infrastructure provisioning and configuration using tools like Terraform or CloudFormation. This ensures consistent and repeatable deployments, simplifies scaling, and reduces human error.

Challenges You May Face When Developing a Cloud App 

Building cloud applications unlocks a world of potential, but it’s not without its challenges. Here are some common hurdles you may encounter, along with strategies to overcome them:

Security

Security tops the worry list for many, with Flexera 2024 State of the Cloud Report citing it as a major concern. This concern is justified, as the IBM Data Breach report shows that nearly 50% of breaches are cloud-based. The rise of intelligent cloud computing systems introduces new security challenges, such as vulnerabilities in AI models, data privacy concerns, and adversarial attacks.

Data breaches can be devastating, causing financial losses and reputational damage. Companies in healthcare and finance face hefty fines for violating data privacy regulations (HIPAA, PCI DSS). 

To avoid this, prioritize cloud app compliance standards throughout development. Implement multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and automatic log-off. Remember to encrypt data, communication channels, and regularly back up your data and have robust recovery plans in place.

Performance

While cloud platforms boast reliability, performance issues can arise due to factors like data location and network latency. These factors can lead to frustrated users and a negative perception of your application. So, how can you keep things running smoothly?

• Consider geographically distributed deployments. Store your data and application instances closer to your user base. Many cloud providers offer regional deployments, allowing you to strategically place your app for optimal performance.
• Utilize cloud-based performance monitoring tools. Knowledge is power. Utilize cloud-based monitoring tools to identify performance bottlenecks. These tools can pinpoint slow queries, resource limitations, and network issues, allowing you to take corrective action.

Integration complexity

The cloud offers a plethora of pre-built applications and services, yet stitching them together with your existing on-premises systems and APIs can be a labyrinthine endeavor. A 2024 study by CloudBees found that integration challenges significantly plagued surveyed organizations.

This complexity arises from several factors: disparate data formats, incompatible protocols, and evolving APIs can create roadblocks in the integration process. Furthermore, security considerations add another layer of complexity, as ensuring secure data flow between various systems requires careful planning and implementation. What is the solution?

• Cloud-native mindset: By adopting cloud-native development practices like microservices architecture and containerization, you can design applications that are inherently more modular and easier to integrate.
• Pre-built integrations: Most cloud providers offer a rich library of pre-built connectors and integrations. These pre-built solutions can significantly reduce development time and effort by providing standardized ways to connect your cloud applications with existing systems.
• Standardization: Establish clear standards for data formats, APIs, and security protocols. This will ensure consistency across your application ecosystem and simplify integration processes.

Cost management

Cloud costs can spiral out of control if not carefully monitored. Implement cost-saving measures like auto-scaling, rightsizing resources, and utilizing cloud cost management tools to optimize your spending. A study revealed that a staggering 30% of cloud expenses are wasted due to idle or underutilized resources.

The culprit behind cloud cost sprawl often lies in a lack of visibility. Unlike traditional IT infrastructure with predictable costs, cloud billing can be complex, with charges accruing for various services and usage patterns. However, there are strategies to optimize your cloud spending:

• Embrace cost-saving measures: Utilize features like auto-scaling, which automatically adjusts resources based on demand. Rightsizing resources involves constantly evaluating your cloud infrastructure and ensuring you’re using the most optimal instance types for your workloads.
• Cloud cost management tools: Leverage cloud-provided cost management tools that offer detailed cost breakdowns, anomaly detection, and budgeting forecasts. These tools empower you to identify areas for optimization and make data-driven decisions about your cloud spending.
• FinOps adoption: Implement the FinOps framework, a collection of best practices for cloud financial management. FinOps promotes collaboration between finance, engineering, and DevOps teams to ensure cost awareness and responsible cloud resource utilization.

Expertise gaps

The cloud’s ever-evolving nature presents a unique challenge: expertise gaps. Even though the cloud offers a vast array of services and features, keeping pace with this constant innovation can be difficult for in-house development teams.  

Teams may struggle to select the most appropriate cloud services for their needs, leading to inefficiencies and wasted resources. Development efforts might be hampered by a lack of knowledge about specific cloud features and functionalities. Plus, security vulnerabilities can arise if teams lack the expertise to implement robust cloud security practices.

Consider partnering with a cloud development company like us to bridge these gaps and gain access to a team of experienced professionals. Contact us today to discuss your cloud development needs and ensure your project’s success.

Inoxoft’s Experience in Delivering Cloud Apps

A healthcare startup approached our team with a revolutionary concept: using vocal intonations to diagnose cardiovascular disease. The challenge was to create a platform that could collect patient voice data, and integrate it into a powerful AI system for disease prediction, while maintaining the highest level of security and privacy for patient information.

Throughout this process, patient privacy remained our top priority. After conducting a thorough discovery phase, our team implemented stringent security measures to protect sensitive patient information, and put robust safeguards in place to guarantee the highest level of transaction security for all data transfers. HIPAA-compliant data storage ensures the security of sensitive information.

We delivered a comprehensive AI-powered solution, adhering to strict HIPAA regulations: 

• Improved patient experience: Patients benefit from a convenient and non-invasive method for cardiovascular disease screening — a user-friendly mobile app.
• Enhanced diagnostics for doctors: Doctors gain access through web-based platform to valuable voice data and AI-powered insights, leading to more accurate diagnoses
• Secured data management: HIPAA-compliant data storage ensures patient privacy and information security.
• Continuous improvement: As the database grows with patient voice records, the accuracy of voice analysis and disease prediction continues to improve.

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Final Thoughts

Before choosing top-notch practices of cloud app development, you should take into consideration the following factors:

• Conduct thorough research to understand your target users and their needs. This will guide your application’s features and functionalities.
• Partner with a skilled development team that possesses expertise in cloud technologies, including web and cloud development, as well as UI/UX design.
• Choose a cloud platform that aligns with your project’s requirements and your team’s comfort level.
• Prioritize portability and design for flexibility. 
• Consider serverless computing for scalability and the ability to run the application across different IT environments.
• Ensure robust security measures are implemented to protect your application and user data.

If you’re seeking a development partner with a proven track record in cloud technologies, we can be your one-stop shop. Our team leverages cutting-edge technologies like Node.js and Python Django to build secure and automated cloud applications. 

Our commitment to user experience ensures your application will be not only functional but also user-friendly. Be sure in choosing the best approach for your application development and getting to know the best practices that will stand the test of time.