We live in a world run by a volatile business environment and constantly changing customer demands. So, organizations are always on the lookout for ways to release and deploy applications more frequently and faster. This is where serverless computing steps in, and this is the reason why it is gradually becoming a mainstream technology. 

According to research, the global serverless architecture market will reach USD 21,988.07 million by 2025. It owes the growing popularity to its benefits that allow developers to build applications with ease, at scale, without worrying about the management of infrastructure, and cost-effectively. 

As a cloud-based service, serverless computing includes a cloud provider managing the server and taking care of the infrastructure so that all your teams have to do is write code. It is an efficient, resource-effective, and affordable way to build applications. 

In this article, we will talk about how serverless computing works, its pros, and its cons. Let’s begin.

HOW DOES SERVERLESS COMPUTING WORK?

Serverless computing is a way through which organizations can outsource their operations related to backend components, such as:

  • Databases
  • Processing of Data Flows
  • Storage
  • Calculations, etc. 

Technically, servers still exist. However, the way they are implemented and managed changes. In contrast to traditional servers, serverless computing doesn’t use fixed resources which enables it to run multiple applications from one server. 

The provider:

  • Provisions the server
  • Maintains server uptime
  • Creates test environments on the server
  • Ensures its functionality
  • Manages the virtual machine and containers
  • Takes care of specific tasks like multithreading 

It is event-driven, implying that a function is executed whenever an event occurs. The entire process is automated, hence faster and more efficient than traditional servers.  

Presently, serverless computing generally refers to APIs or apps that heavily rely on microservices while hosting code on FaaS (Function as a Service) platforms. However, in practice, it represents an evolved model of PaaS (Platform as a Service) that suits applications with cyclical or volatile workloads. 

Some essential components of serverless computing and architecture are:

  • Software Containers –Software containers empower serverless technology and allow computing to leverage the exceptional benefits of containerized microservices. They act as a virtual repository for serverless code and simplify the process of writing serverless code for more platforms. 
  • BaaS – Backend as a Service is very similar to Function as a Service (FaaS). A well-known example of BaaS is AWS Lambda which provides developers with guidelines to follow while submitting code. It also leverages automated procedures to enter code into containers and provide backend development procedures in the form of a managed service. 

Serverless computing is built on the foundation of serverless architecture. Two vital components of the serverless architecture are:

  • Serverless Databases –Serverless databases can store data indefinitely. As a vital component of serverless architecture, it allows developers to leverage the benefits of serverless computing without giving up on data storage options. 
  • Serverless Framework – As open-source and free software for coding, serverless frameworks build, compile, and package code for serverless implementation and deployment to the cloud. It simplifies and quickens the coding process for teams while facilitating scaling and decreasing configuration time. 

Usually, platforms offering serverless computing provide a pay-as-you-go pricing package. 

WHY USE SERVERLESS COMPUTING – THE PROS AND CONS. 

In comparison to traditional or server-centric computing, serverless computing offers a variety of advantages. These benefits range from greater scalability to reduced costs. However, this does not imply that this technology has no pitfalls. 

Like every other technology solution, serverless computing also has its own set of both pros and cons that you must be aware of in a detailed manner. Let’s take a look. 

PROS

  • Developers don’t have to manage servers.
  • Development teams get more time to create, innovate, and expand applications.
  • The constraints of server capacity are removed. 
  • You’re only charged for the space you use, following a ‘pay-as-you-go’ plan.
  • Code can be scaled up automatically according to the requirement, and provisioning can be precisely done in real-time. 
  • It is inherently scalable, allowing your applications to scale with the growth of your user base. 
  • Containers enable a function to run in multiple instances. 
  • It facilitates quick deployments. 
  • The application is a collection of functions that the vendor provisions, so developers can upload bits of code quickly to release new applications. 
  • Quick updates are possible, as developers can update one function at a time. 
  • You can run code from anywhere as the application isn’t being hosted on an origin server.
  • Latency is reduced as user requests don’t have to go to an origin server. 
  • It is cost-effective.
  • It offers flexibility. 

CONS

  • Testing and debugging procedures become harder. 
  • There is a dependency on third-party vendors.
  • It is impossible to thoroughly vet the vendor’s security, leading to more security concerns. 
  • Multitenancy impacts application performance. 
  • It may become difficult to switch vendors, more commonly known as the challenge of vendor lock-in. 
  • It may cost you more for applications that have long-running processes. 
  • Developers lack visibility into backend operations, thus increasing debugging complexities. 
  • There’s a lack of privacy, which is even more concerning if the application deals with critical data.

CONCLUSION

Serverless computing has been widely adopted by organizations across all industry verticals lately. Its growing popularity is owed to its benefits, the impact of which depends on how well an organization can manage its challenges. 

Developers that wish to decrease their time to market and build flexible applications that can be expanded quickly must look into serverless computing. These architectures cost less, especially for applications that have inconsistent usage and shorter processes. 

Partnering with the right vendors to leverage serverless computing can do wonders for your organization. Hence, you must invest a fair share of time in researching for a vendor as the dependency on one is necessary for serverless computing.