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Statistics reveal that more than 50% of corporate data now resides on cloud storage, making its importance clear: If you want to create an app, knowing how to utilize cloud storage will be integral.
This article will outline how to create a cloud-based app based on my experience as a Product manager, while also discussing common development pitfalls associated with cloud-based apps development and how best to avoid these.
Let's get going!
What Are Cloud-Based Apps?
Cloud apps combine data and logic for processing (code) that require both resources and space for running smoothly.
We have two choices here; either store it locally on physical servers, or upload it into the cloud; let's speculate briefly for now!
Assuming we buy a server to store all our data, will it scale easily enough and handle requests from 10,000 users? Scaling our data could present us with quite the challenge; cloud services may offer better options in such instances.
How Does A Cloud-Based App Work?
Remote servers equipped with ample resources manage data processing when users access an application through web browser or mobile.
Cloud storages serve cloud-based apps.
Cloud computing allows the user's device or computer to act merely as an "input device". Digital storage helps free up resources for faster app processing times.
Cloud-based app development is particularly suited for apps which provide real-time interactions among users, where communication and sharing of locations between them is necessary - on-demand deliveries/movements require real time processing capabilities; cloud solutions offer optimal solutions.
What do we mean when we talk about "data"? Essentially, these refer to databases which store user and application-related data (user account IDs, validation rules and transfers of user and app data).
Cloud-Based Applications: Features
Cloud computing can be an immensely effective technology for your business if it is used properly. Understanding its features and characteristics will be vitally important, particularly because cloud applications feature distinct characteristics from web apps.
- Cloud application development entails the storage of user data within its cloud infrastructure; it can also be temporarily cached on their devices temporarily if required by an app's requirements. Therefore, devices used must meet specific specifications in order to run this form of development successfully.
- Cloud infrastructure allows a user to store information temporarily on their device for offline access, with updates coming when connected to the Internet; any accumulated offline data will then be uploaded directly into cloud storage for permanent retention.
- Users have the flexibility of setting their own schedules for data backups, compressions, encryptions and optimization of files.
- Cloud applications can be accessed from any Internet-enabled device - desktop computers, smartphones and tablets are all suitable - offering users freedom from browser capabilities and independence for accessing applications in the cloud.
- Cloud-based apps are easier to customize than web applications and provide access to external cloud computing through API integration.
After considering the characteristics of cloud-based applications, let us now investigate some prominent examples.
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Cloud Computing: Examples And Applications
Cloud computing is used by almost every application on the market today, making possible amazing tools and services that help ease running a small business more seamlessly.
Here are some notable cloud-based applications:
- Google Drive- Using Google Drive and Dropbox, it is simple and safe to store files online for anyone to access from anywhere around the globe.
- Miro- Miro is an innovative digital board designed to facilitate collaborative projects in an engaging and fun manner.
- InfinCE- InfinCE provides centralized management, enhanced collaboration, an almost limitless supply of productivity tools, and streamlined IT infrastructure services for easy deployment.
- Figma- This robust cloud-based application has become more and more favored due to its collaborative features, making Figma ever more appealing among digital artists and businesses alike.
Cloud applications offer the ability to collaborate with users in real time.
Cloud-Based Apps: Benefits
Cloud storage offers many advantages to app users. Cloud-based storage is often superior to hardware servers; let's compare both!
Smart Spending
Traditional hardware servers incur capital and operating expense costs that could prove prohibitively expensive as you scale quickly.
Cloud servers offer more flexible solutions; you only pay for what you use!
Scalable Solution
Cloud services enable your product to scale on demand; all it takes to expand is purchasing more space within the cloud; hardware services do not afford this advantage, since setting up extra servers would take both time and money to accomplish this task.
Opportunity For User Research
Cloud storage offers more than data processing - it also gives you a way to learn which features users appreciate most and which they don't use as much.
By gathering user experience data through cloud storage apps like Salesforce and others, cloud storage gives you access to critical feedback regarding app usage by users - helping identify any shortcomings and identify how best to improve them.
Support From The Provider
Cloud storage makes life simpler by taking care of server maintenance for you - leaving you to focus on managing and improving the product instead of server problems and backups.
Cloud providers will take care in handling bugs, errors, backups and all things server related - letting you focus on keeping up with user service needs while they take over administrative duties from you.
Now let's discuss one of the key aspects in cloud application development - specifically the types of cloud solutions available to digital organizations and companies.
There are two primary forms of cloud models - service models and deployment models.
Let's find out! Let's go discover it all together!
What Are The Different Cloud Deployment Models?
Cloud deployment models come in many varieties. When choosing cloud computing as the solution for their operational and business requirements, companies need to select an approach which best meets those demands.
Five cloud deployment models:
1. Public Cloud
Public clouds allow your data to be securely stored on servers owned by third-parties; their provider handles infrastructure management, resource optimization and resource utilization so organizations don't have to purchase and manage their own hardware.
Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud, Amazon Web Services and Oracle Cloud are among the many public cloud providers.
2. Private Cloud
An organization-only private cloud allows only its organization to control and utilize its infrastructure, providing both internal and external server hosting solutions protected by firewalls monitored by IT departments.
IBM, Dell, Cisco, Red Hat and Amazon are a few of the premier private cloud providers.
Read More: The Major Differences Between Cloud-Based And Cloud-Native Application Development
3. Hybrid Cloud
Hybrid clouds combine the features and functions of both public and private clouds. Your company could host its most sensitive information on a public cloud while more important files remain private - providing cost savings while remaining safe from malicious attacks on private servers.
Hybrid cloud platforms may include Azure Stack (AWS Outposts), Azure Arc, VMware Cloud and Google Anthos.
4. Multi-Cloud
Multi-clouds resemble hybrid clouds; however, multi-clouds use different public cloud providers in order to expand on features available and increase features available to customers compared to using both public and private clouds together.
This may provide greater value.
Google Cloud Platform, AWS and Microsoft Azure are among the various multi-cloud options being considered by organizations today.
5. Community Cloud
Community Cloud is an IT infrastructure where multiple businesses with common background or community share IT resources.
Members typically share similar expectations regarding security, compliance and performance expectations within this type of cloud environment.
Community cloud is an alternative to both public and private clouds in that its access is open to anyone - rather, businesses have control of who uses the services.
You have multiple management options at their fingertips including both internal and external control options.
Let's use an everyday example to better grasp this topic: it is not uncommon for government agencies to share infrastructure for processing systems with tenants allowing them to save money while decreasing data traffic.
This arrangement benefits everyone involved.
Cloud deployment models allow organizations to easily deploy a wide array of services and applications in the cloud.
Businesses have access to an assortment of cloud service models and deployment services for business use in the cloud.
You may wish to delve deeper.
What Are The Different Cloud Service Models?
Three types of cloud application development services are available.
1. IaaS
Infrastructure as a Service, commonly referred to as IaaS, is a cloud-based service that enables your provider to handle every aspect of managing your infrastructure on behalf of its client, such as network connectivity, server performance monitoring, storage management and visualization services.
IaaS cloud providers often also offer various other services specifically aimed at cloud application developers as part of this package of cloud solutions.
Some of these include:
- Tracking system
- Resilience Tools
- Detail bill
- Data encryption and other security measures are available.
- Log entry
2. PaaS
PaaS is used by most organizations for infrastructures, operating systems and development tools. Renting all necessary services and resources necessary for creating applications allows PaaS users to do just that; to develop cloud-based apps however they will require a complete platform (hardware/software).
PaaS cloud-based application development is useful for:
- Database infrastructure
- Middleware
- Operating systems
- Development Tools
3. SaaS
SaaS (Software as a Service) is an approach to custom cloud application development that leverages mobile apps and browsers, giving customers access to SaaS apps online without needing to configure or install anything locally on any device.
SaaS app developers allow customers to utilize these SaaS applications seamlessly without incurring installation charges for using these cloud apps on any of their devices.
You can create cloud-based SaaS applications for:
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and client databases
- Integrating email services, auditing features, etc.
- Document management for file sharing and partnerships
- Registration of services and goods automatically
- Share agendas and calendars to plan future events
These are some of the essential information regarding cloud applications that every person should understand. To gain more knowledge on these three cloud service models, visit our blog: SaaS, PaaS and IaaS.
What is a Cloud Development Platform (CDP)?
Cloud development platforms (CDP) provide cloud services that assist developers with the building, deployment and management of apps on cloud servers.
CDP offers powerful tools that speed app creation by automating deployment processes; providing cloud storage; offering scaling as necessary services -- among many others - plus much more!
Cloud-based platforms have gained widespread acclaim among IT teams due to their flexibility, scalability and affordability.
Furthermore, these platforms help IT departments reduce reliance on traditional programming languages while streamlining application lifecycle processes.
Cloud Development Platform: Benefits
Cloud development platforms offer a wide range of benefits. Here are a few of them:
- Increased Agility Cloud-based platforms allow teams to quickly create apps that are tailored to the needs of customers.
- Reduced Costs: Cloud-based platforms can reduce operating costs for businesses by removing the need for expensive infrastructure.
- Scale-on-Demand: Cloud Development Platforms make it simple to scale up or down cloud applications as required. This allows teams to quickly adapt their cloud deployments in response to changes and growth.
- Automation: Most platforms provide automated deployment. This makes it easier to set up cloud applications.
- Storage in the Cloud: Platforms that offer cloud services also allow teams to securely store and access their data.
- Improved Security: Cloud platform provides organizations with enhanced security, allowing them the ability to manage cloud permissions and control cloud access.
- Improved Collaboration: Cloud-based platforms allow teams to work together on cloud-based projects by sharing files and working simultaneously in real time.
Cloud Development Platform: Challenges
These platforms are not without their challenges.
- Complexity: Cloud development platforms are complex to configure and maintain. This is especially true for people with little cloud experience. Cloud applications also require regular maintenance and support in order to achieve optimal performance.
- Interoperability: It may be challenging for cloud apps to be connected with existing cloud infrastructure since cloud development platforms may not be interoperable with other cloud-based services.
- Security: Cloud platforms can introduce new security threats as they become more complex.
- Vendor Lock-In: Cloud platforms are difficult to leave, since they are tied to specific vendor ecosystems. Cloud services are expensive. Teams must weigh carefully the benefits and costs of vendor lock-in.
Cloud-based Application Architectures: Fundamental Components
Let's dive into the specifics to support cloud-based apps.
Once you understand how to build your cloud application architecture, its basic building blocks remain unchanged; then more intricate configurations or custom architectures may follow.
Let's go back over some fundamentals first.
- Application: The application layers act as the link between backend resources that process requests and user interface, enabling the user to receive data and results over the internet.
- Services: Services are where user requests and calculations take place within applications. Cloud-based apps utilize APIs connected by cloud servers in order to connect components, gather information and fulfill requests from customers.
- Storage: This is where your data resides in the cloud; multiple clouds may be utilized for enhanced flexibility and performance.
- Data Management & Communication Logic: To achieve peak performance in any situation, proper organization of your data storage must take place, while optimizing communication among storage services and service providers.
- Security: This component of the architecture implements data encryption, firewalls, and identity management measures to keep data loss at a minimum and protect the overall health and integrity of your system.
How To Develop A Cloud-Based App In 6 Steps?
When we talk about cloud-based apps, we will highlight six steps.
Step 1: Market Research
In any process, the first thing you should do is to explore what's currently happening. This means determining what is happening in the niche and market you're about to enter.
What can be done now?
- What's happening globally?
- What can you do to differentiate yourself from your competitors?
- Who are your users? What is their problem?
- What is your value? What can you do to solve the problem?
Validate your hypothesis to answer the final question.
Step 2. Finding Your Team Of Developers
You cannot do everything by yourself. You will need to hire cloud application developers who can help you with the technical side of your project.
The situation is even more complex when it comes time to develop a startup. You need not only a team of highly-trained programmers but also product development experts. A team should be formed to determine the positioning of your product and its technical implementation.
My experience has shown that the cloud-based app team should have these qualities:
- Concentrate on the product and not just programming
- Cloud providers are a dime a dozen.
- Plan the architecture of your app with flexibility and foresight.
What You Can Do To Find The Perfect Team:
- Clutch, Wadline, GoodFirm and VenturePact have all been reviewed by users.
- Check freelancing websites, like Upwork, Toptal, Guru;
- Find company websites, blogs and articles like this.
- Check the background and cases of companies.
Step 3. Make A List Of Product Requirements
Now is the time to list out all of the features that will comprise your MVP. Don't simply create these requirements by yourself: Work together with your product manager on setting a scope of the app before beginning its creation.
Our article Functional Vs Nonfunctional Requirements: Why Both Matter can help guide this process further.
After you have determined the requirements, create a list with product features that correspond with them; these should be those which meet needs most simply while reflecting your product concept in its essence.
Furthermore, developing these will take the least amount of time possible.
Step 4. Tech Research & Choosing The Provider
The cloud provider is one of the most crucial steps when developing cloud-based apps. Cloud providers vary in terms of price, service, and territory.
- Amazon Web Service (AWS)
- Google Cloud Provider (GCP);
- Azure
Cloud services are available in many popular cloud platforms. These solutions can be integrated into your app. This is an example of authorization in AWS.
Cloud providers are also trying to keep up with the latest tech trends like Big Data or IoT.
How do you choose the best provider for your product or service? Consider the following criteria:
- Data protection: Does the provider provide the required level of data security?
- Scalability: Can you scale up the service?
- The price of the storage is important.
- Does data processing speed slow down your app or website?
Step 5. Launch MVP And Run Tests
It's now time to move on to the next stage of development. Your team of developers will be working on the technical implementation for the first version.
This basic version will allow you to test out your idea and find out if it:
- Your idea is liked by users
- Your implementation of this concept is ready for users.
Get feedback from users, then improve the product and launch it again.
Step 6. Iterate And Maintain Your App
You should test the app after it launches, fix any bugs and update it. Sometimes, you'll need to create customized updates for specific users or companies.
You can also add features, scale your app, enter new markets, etc.
Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Cloud Application
Take These Into Consideration Before Building A Cloud-Based App
Cloud-based apps are a unique area of development, which requires a team approach. Before you start developing cloud-based applications, consider these factors.
Data Security
When working with databases, the issue of security becomes very apparent. This issue is particularly acute for cloud-based apps.
It is not uncommon for apps related to the government to be prohibited from using a cloud platform due to security concerns.
There are many robust security measures you can implement to protect your cloud storage. Here are a few of them:
- Using a Private Cloud: You can create your own cloud that only includes your services and is only available to you. Gateways are required to access any exits outward.
- Access Rules: You can restrict access to certain services. People with a subscription to a premium service, for example, have access.
- Firewalls: They are "barriers", which you place between your internal network traffic and that from outside sources. These barriers usually work according to rules you set up;
- Alarm System: In the event that an unauthorized action has been taken, it is important to notify authorities as soon as possible. Every minute counts in such an instance. The sooner you receive this notice, the less financial damage you will suffer.
Architecture Arrangement
App architecture is of paramount importance when considering cloud apps. App architecture must contain details regarding data classification for cloud providers; an architecture is constructed by organizing communication among services and data and then turning this service into fully-fledged applications.
Cashing in Data
Does all data reside in the cloud? No. Some app data may be temporarily stored locally on devices and "cashed out" using processors - enabling an app to operate offline - with this data moving quickly back into the cloud once users regain Internet connectivity.
Think About Scalability
Scalability should also be kept in mind when developing cloud apps, to avoid losing customers if your app cannot scale when traffic increases.
Cloud-Based Applications: Testing
Do not release an application that contains security issues or fails key functions without first performing rigorous testing prior to deployment.
Make sure the app passes all essential tests thoroughly prior to making its way onto users.
Cloud computing enables you to test out various features, interoperability and performance characteristics as well as security measures of cloud-based apps before making their debut in production environments.
- Testing should be complete; your cloud-based app must be assessed from every possible angle. Here are eight tests you should conduct before unveiling it to the world.
- System testing (also referred to as feature testing) ensures that an application's features and functions work appropriately.
- Interoperability tests aim to establish whether an app will still function if changes to cloud infrastructure occur, for instance a data source being relocated elsewhere or cloud provider switching over.
- Performance testing measures an application's capacity under heavy loads, such as multiple simultaneous users or large data requests.
- An availability test ensures that an application will continue functioning even if its cloud provider makes changes or upgrades on their system.
- Multi-tenancy Testing works similarly to Performance Testing by ensuring an app does not lag under pressure of multiple users accessing it at once.
- One of the most essential tests that you will undertake is security testing. A good security audit will thoroughly examine both code and data to detect security gaps - giving your team time to address them before you release software to users.
- Be confident in knowing that, should your cloud go down, no data or files will be lost and any negative repercussions won't arise as a result.
Browser and device performance testing is an interoperability test used to compare how apps run across various combinations of devices, operating systems and internet browsers, to ensure they deliver consistent user experiences.
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Wrap-Up
If you want to create an application, cloud development could be your answer. Though difficult, this approach allows more opportunities.
Cloud solutions focus on business processes while the provider takes care of maintenance duties; furthermore, cloud computing tends to be cheaper and quicker.
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