Cloud Native: Your path to modern software development

What is cloud native, and why does it play such an important role in modern software development? Cloud-native applications enable companies to respond flexibly, scalably and efficiently to change. This guide provides a concise introduction to the world of native cloud computing and shows why cloud-native development is a driving force behind digital transformation.

Cloud native refers to an approach to developing, deploying and scaling applications that is specifically optimised for cloud environments and makes optimal use of cloud resources. Cloud-native applications use modern technologies such as containers, microservices, declarative APIs and orchestration tools to be flexible, scalable and fault-tolerant.

Through automated processes, continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD) and a DevOps culture, cloud-native architectures enable rapid development and deployment of new features. They are independent of the underlying infrastructure and run in public, private or hybrid clouds.

Cloud native is often referred to as ‘native cloud computing’. The term emphasises that these applications are not simply migrated to the cloud after the fact, but are optimised for cloud environments from the ground up.

Cloud-native applications offer a range of benefits that help businesses thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape:

A cloud-native architecture consists of several central building blocks that enable efficient use of the cloud.

Containers package applications into portable, isolated units. These run independently of the underlying infrastructure. This means they can be executed reliably anywhere – whether in a public cloud, a private cloud or locally.

Orchestration tools such as Kubernetes are used to manage containers efficiently. They automatically start, stop andscale containers and ensure that cloud-native applications run smoothly – even under high loads or partial failures.

Instead of developing an application as a large, monolithic system, cloud-native architectures divide it into small, independent services (microservices). Each microservice performs a specific task and communicates with other services via APIs.

The advantage? Greater flexibility and scalability. Each microservice can be developed, updated or scaled independently without affecting the entire application. This facilitates innovation and makes updates significantly more efficient.

In a microservices architecture, numerous services have to communicate with each other – this is exactly where a service mesh comes into play. It ensures secure, reliable and efficient communication between the microservices and offers important functions such as:

• Traffic control (load balancing, service routing)
• Encryption for secure data transmission
• Observability for monitoring and error analysis

Popular service mesh technologies such as Istio and Linkerd help companies better manage the increasing complexity of distributed applications. Predictive maintenance also helps to avoid unplanned downtime.

Instead of laboriously defining how an application or infrastructure should be deployed, declarative APIs simply define the desired end state.

Example: The declarative API states: ‘Three containers should always be running.’ Orchestration tools then automatically take care of implementation and respond to changes by starting new containers or replacing missing instances.

The result? More automation, less manual intervention, and greater stability.

With immutable infrastructure, existing systems are not simply modified or updated – instead, every change is implemented as a new, tested version that replaces the old one. This offers the following advantages:

• Greater stability: The deployment process is identical every time, which prevents unexpected errors.
• Greater security: Since infrastructure components are not modified but replaced directly, the risk of misconfiguration is reduced.
• Automated updates: New versions are rolled out quickly and securely without compromising the running system.

The biggest difference between cloud-native structures and traditional architectures lies in their flexibility, scalability and agility.

Traditional applications are usually monolithic, meaning that all functions are integrated into a single, large system. This makes changes, scaling or updates complicated and risky, as every modification affects the entire application. These architectures often rely on fixed infrastructures such as on-premises data centres and require manual intervention for maintenance and scaling.

Cloud-native architectures are modular and based on microservices that can be developed and updated independently of each other. They use container technologies and are automatically managed and scaled by orchestration tools.

Cloud Native offers significant advantages, especially for fast-growing and globally active companies. Start-ups and scale-ups benefit from high flexibility and scalability, as they can grow quickly and cost-effectively without large initial investments in infrastructure. Companies with high scaling requirements rely on Cloud Native architectures to automatically absorb peak loads and ensure stable performance. In competitive markets, cloud native enables the rapid development and delivery of new features, significantly increasing companies' innovative strength. Multinational companies are also increasingly turning to cloud native technologies to deliver applications globally in a consistent, efficient, reliable and rapidly available manner.

To successfully deploy cloud-native technologies, companies should pursue a clear cloud strategy and consider best practices. The following best practices will help you get the most out of cloud native and overcome challenges in a targeted manner:

• Prioritise a cloud-native strategy: Companies should clarify early on which workloads are best suited for cloud native.
• Introduce DevOps: Close collaboration between development and operations enables faster deployments and greater efficiency.
• Ensure observability: Tools such as Prometheus or Grafana help monitor cloud-native applications and identify problems early on.
• Consider security aspects: Zero-trust models, condition monitoring and regular security checks are essential.

The introduction of cloud-native technologies offers companies scalability, agility and innovation, but also presents them with challenges. Complexity, a lack of expertise and high conversion costs make implementation particularly difficult. Without experience with cloud environments, there can also be a barrier to entry, as uncertainties and concerns delay or complicate the decision. However, with the right solutions, these hurdles can be overcome.

Cloud-native architectures consist of distributed systems, microservices and containers, which place new demands on development and operations. Without in-depth knowledge of Kubernetes, CI/CD or service meshes, it is difficult to manage these structures efficiently. To overcome these challenges, companies should focus on the following measures:

• Implementation of CI/CD: Automated pipelines ensure fast and error-free delivery of new features.
• Infrastructure automation: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) enables consistent and efficient management of cloud environments.
• Targeted training and knowledge sharing: Companies should provide further training for internal specialists or bring in external experts.

Cloud-native systems distribute data across different cloud providers and regions, making it difficult to comply with data protection guidelines such as GDPR, HIPAA or ISO 27001. A lack of security mechanisms also puts sensitive data at risk. The following measures are recommended to ensure data protection and compliance:

• Zero-trust architectures: Every request is verified before access is granted.
• Data encryption: Sensitive data is protected by end-to-end encryption.
• Observability and monitoring: Real-time monitoring helps to identify compliance violations and cloud security risks at an early stage.
• Automated audits: Regular checks ensure that all legal requirements are met.

The transition to cloud native requires significant investment in infrastructure, tools and skilled personnel. Without a clear strategy, unnecessary operating costs can arise, for example due to underutilised resources or heavy dependence on specific cloud providers. To keep costs under control and increase efficiency, companies should pursue the following strategies:

• Serverless computing: Companies only use resources when needed, thereby reducing costs.
• Automatic scaling: Systems adapt dynamically and respond flexibly to changes in demand.
• Multi-cloud strategies: Companies distribute workloads across multiple providers to avoid dependencies and better control costs.
• Cost monitoring: Cloud cost analysis tools provide transparency and help reduce unnecessary spending.
• FinOps approach: By integrating FinOps, companies can enable effective collaboration between finance and operations teams to optimise cloud spending and ensure continuous cost control.

Native cloud computing will play an even more central role in digital transformation in the coming years. Companies are increasingly focusing on automation, efficiency and innovation in order to remain competitive. Hybrid and multi-cloud strategies are becoming more important as they offer greater flexibility and independence. The further development of open source technologies and support from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) are driving this trend forward.

Several key trends will have a lasting impact on native cloud computing:

• Edge computing: Data processing is moving closer to the end user to reduce latency. This is particularly relevant for IoT, autonomous driving and smart cities.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): Cloud native enables the efficient development and deployment of AI models with specialised cloud services. AI has particular potential in industry and AI in manufacturing.
• Serverless computing: Serverless architectures simplify the operation and scaling of applications because the infrastructure is managed automatically.
• Automation and observability: The increasing complexity of cloud-native systems makes better monitoring and analysis mechanisms essential.
• Sustainability: Dynamic resource utilisation in the cloud optimises energy consumption and reduces CO₂ emissions.
• Security innovations: Zero-trust models, container security tools and AI-powered security solutions ensure better protection for applications and data.

Cloud native is more than just a technological approach – it is a paradigm that enables companies to operate flexibly, efficiently and innovatively. The most important points can be summarised as follows: Cloud-native applications are based on highly available architectures with containers, microservices and declarative APIs that enable applications to be scaled dynamically, designed to be resilient and operated cost-efficiently.

These challenges can be addressed with solutions such as CI/CD, a DevOps culture and security strategies such as DevSecOps, but success requires the holistic integration of these approaches, which entails not only technical but also organisational changes within the company.

The outlook shows that native cloud computing will remain a central component of digital transformation in the age of Industry 4.0. Trends such as edge computing, artificial intelligence, serverless computing and sustainability are significantly shaping the further development and spread of cloud-native technologies. By enabling companies to adapt quickly to market changes, deliver innovative solutions faster and use resources efficiently, cloud-native technologies allow them to operate in a future-proof and resilient manner in an increasingly dynamic, digitalised world. Companies that embrace this approach early on will secure strategic advantages in an increasingly digital and connected world. Cloud native is therefore not only a pioneer for the IT of the future, but also a key to sustainable competitiveness.