Cloud Native in 2021: Beyond Containers

Core Concepts

1. Cloud Native Architecture

Cloud native architecture is a critical aspect of cloud native development. It encompasses various components that work together to ensure the smooth operation of applications in a cloud environment. The key elements of cloud native architecture include:

Platform

• Orchestration: This involves the automation of deployment, scaling, and management of containers and other resources. Kubernetes is a popular choice for orchestration in cloud native architectures.
• Service Mesh: A service mesh is a configurable infrastructure layer for microservices applications that makes it easy to manage service discovery, traffic management, and security. Istio and Linkerd are examples of service meshes.
• GitOps: GitOps is a set of practices that combines Git and DevOps to manage infrastructure and application configurations. It enables version control and automated deployment of infrastructure and applications.

Observability

• Metrics: Metrics provide insights into the performance and health of applications and infrastructure. They are essential for monitoring and troubleshooting. Prometheus and Grafana are popular tools for metrics collection and visualization.
• Tracing: Tracing allows developers to track the flow of requests through complex systems, enabling them to identify performance bottlenecks and troubleshoot issues. OpenTelemetry and Jaeger are examples of tracing tools.
• Logging: Logging is critical for understanding the behavior of applications and identifying errors. It involves collecting and analyzing log data to gain insights into system performance and troubleshoot issues. ELK Stack and Fluentd are popular logging tools.

Security

• Policy: Security policies define the rules and guidelines for securing applications and infrastructure in a cloud native environment. They ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Identity: Identity management involves authenticating and authorizing access to resources and applications. It ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data and systems.
• Compliance: Compliance involves ensuring that applications and infrastructure meet regulatory requirements and industry standards. It includes auditing, risk management, and compliance monitoring.