Cloud app development and management

To develop, deploy and manage cloud applications, an organization needs to write and configure apps in ways that meet performance and reliability goals without consuming an inordinate amount of costly cloud resources. These requirements demand that an IT team create -- and commit to -- a realistic cloud app development and management strategy.

Top Stories

Feature 01 Dec 2022
Top 23 cloud computing skills to boost your career in 2023

As cloud adoption increases, so too does the need for IT experts with cloud computing skills. Here are 23 key skills to help you on your journey. Continue Reading
News 29 Nov 2022
Amazon boosts CodeWhisperer, AI and ML tools

AWS rolled out updates to a series of AI tools and services, highlighted by improvements to its CodeWhisperer coding system and Textract AI service for extracting document text. Continue Reading

Tip 11 Oct 2022

Choose the right on-premises-to-cloud migration method

One of the first steps in a cloud migration is to choose a data transfer model. There are two options to consider -- online and offline -- but you need to weigh the pros and cons. Continue Reading
Tutorial 16 Sep 2022

Ease package management with this Azure Artifacts tutorial

An extension of the Azure DevOps service, Azure Artifacts can help developers manage and share packages to streamline the overall development process. Continue Reading
Tip 09 Sep 2022

Compare AWS Glue vs. Azure Data Factory

AWS Glue and Azure Data Factory have key differences despite being similar services. Learn which best suits your organization's data integration and ETL requirements. Continue Reading
Tip 07 Sep 2022

Which should I choose? AWS Shield vs WAF vs Firewall Manager

AWS WAF focuses on Layer 7 protection, while Shield protects against DDoS attacks. Firewall Manager manages the protection. Learn their key features, pricing and use cases. Continue Reading
Tip 20 Jul 2022

When and how to search with Amazon CloudWatch Logs

Logs can reveal important information about your systems, such as patterns and errors. Learn how to search logs with CloudWatch Logs, key concepts and other options. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Jul 2022

Learn the basics of SaaS licensing and pricing models

SaaS licensing can be tricky to navigate, and a wrong choice could cost you. To get it right, examine the different types of licenses and the main pricing models. Continue Reading
Opinion 30 Jun 2022

Cloud-native modernization is on the rise

Research suggests that cloud-native application deployment is becoming more prevalent as organizations continue to embrace public cloud infrastructure. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Jun 2022

A SaaS evaluation checklist to choose the right provider

Replacing a legacy app with a SaaS alternative can be tedious. Create a checklist related to reliability, support and uptime to pick the right SaaS app and provider. Continue Reading
Tip 10 Jun 2022

11 cloud programming languages developers need to know

How do you choose the cloud programming language that best suits your current and future needs? Explore 11 popular options and their use cases. Continue Reading
Tip 06 Jun 2022

What is the resource hierarchy structure in AWS?

Review the resource hierarchy to gain a better understanding of what's happening at each step when you deploy a new service, give it permissions and have an admin manage it. Continue Reading
Tip 26 May 2022

Implement these 4 AWS Organizations best practices

To successfully use AWS Organizations, admins must grasp key concepts related to organizational units, service control policies, and management and member accounts. Continue Reading
Tip 19 May 2022

Evaluate key Azure Data Factory benefits and limitations

Organizations have plenty of options for data integration tools, some on premises and others in the cloud. Find out which type is the better fit and whether Azure is a good choice. Continue Reading
Tip 20 Apr 2022

How to launch an EC2 instance using Terraform

With Terraform, developers can lean on familiar coding practices to provision the underlying resources for their applications. Follow these steps to use the IaC tool to create an Amazon EC2 instance. Continue Reading
News 23 Mar 2022

Nvidia unveils latest 3D sim tech for multiple industries

Nvidia has launched a cloud-based version of its Omniverse platform for 3D simulations. The company also unveiled an Omniverse computing system. Continue Reading
Tip 17 Mar 2022

Compare Amazon ECS vs. EKS

Amazon ECS and EKS are similar, but their differences are enough to set them apart for AWS users. Learn which best fits your needs in terms of flexibility, pricing and more. Continue Reading
News 16 Mar 2022

Kyndryl, Cloudera announce data transformation partnership

Kyndryl has signed another partnership as it continues to forge independence from IBM -- this time with Cloudera, to help accelerate data transformation projects for hybrid clouds. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Feb 2022

Follow these 5 best practices for cloud-native app development

Cloud app developers can strategically create and maintain better applications if they know and follow best practices of cloud-native app development. Continue Reading
Quiz 24 Feb 2022

Test your platform-as-a-service knowledge with this PaaS quiz

PaaS offerings continue to evolve, with a range of vendors and tools available to enterprise development teams. Use this quiz to see the strength of your PaaS knowledge. Continue Reading
Tip 15 Feb 2022

Use Amazon CloudWatch metrics to monitor Aurora

Application owners need to know the vital metrics that affect database health. CloudWatch and DevOps Guru monitor Amazon Aurora performance to give users valuable insights. Continue Reading
Tip 01 Feb 2022

Compare Google Cloud Run vs. App Engine for enterprise software

Google's Cloud Run and App Engine both aim to accelerate app development and simplify deployment. Developers will want to choose between the services on a case-by-case basis. Continue Reading
Feature 31 Jan 2022

The state of the PaaS business model and market in 2022

PaaS fills the gap between IaaS and SaaS for developers and comes with its own benefits and challenges, which inform the PaaS business model and market. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Jan 2022

Dig into Oracle Cloud's Always Free offerings

Oracle's Always Free services let developers build and experiment with cloud-native apps without incurring costs. There are, however, important limitations to note. Continue Reading
Feature 28 Jan 2022

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of PaaS?

PaaS can be a good choice for developers who don't want to worry about the underlying infrastructure or operational tasks, but it's not always the best option for app development. Continue Reading
Feature 28 Jan 2022

6 open source PaaS options developers should know in 2022

Open source PaaS is a good option for developers who want control over application hosting and simplified app deployment, but not all open source PaaS options are created equal. Continue Reading
Feature 27 Jan 2022

3 best practices to achieve high availability in cloud computing

High availability is the crucial test of whether a business can continue to access data and applications when things go wrong in a cloud-based IT infrastructure. Continue Reading
Guest Post 27 Jan 2022

Cloud resiliency: What it is and why it matters

Cloud resiliency is critical to ensure IT services and resources can recover quickly -- and without data loss. Continue Reading
Tip 09 Dec 2021

5 centralized logging best practices for cloud admins

Centralized logging -- particularly within hybrid and multi-cloud environments -- can boost an IT team's monitoring strategy and accelerate troubleshooting. Continue Reading
News 09 Dec 2021

AWS CDK v2, Construct Hub now generally available

AWS unveiled general availability of a major version release of its Cloud Development Kit, as well as Construct Hub. One user described the tools as a time saver for developers. Continue Reading
Tip 08 Dec 2021

An introduction to migrating apps with AWS SaaS Boost

Explore the benefits and drawbacks of migrating applications using AWS SaaS Boost. Learn how the Boost framework aids migration and how to get started. Continue Reading
Tip 03 Dec 2021

Break down the Google Cloud resource hierarchy

Admins can use Organizations, Folders, Projects and Resources to manage employee access within Google Cloud. But first, they must understand the distinctions between each level. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Nov 2021

How to transition to the cloud: 7 best practices

The cloud can help improve an app's performance and cost, but businesses need to plan for success. Follow these best practices to ensure cloud migration success. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Nov 2021

Explore cloud-native vs. cloud-based vs. cloud-enabled apps

While it's tough to make a clear distinction between cloud-native, cloud-based and cloud-enabled apps, they differ in terms of development practices, performance and other factors. Continue Reading
Tip 19 Nov 2021

12 key steps for a successful cloud migration

Ready to move your on-premises apps to the cloud? From rehosting vs. redesigning to testing and monitoring, follow these key steps for a successful cloud migration. Continue Reading
Feature 18 Nov 2021

Top cloud migration and adoption trends for 2022 and beyond

Cloud migrations are inevitable for some enterprises as they navigate a move off premises or between clouds. Evaluate some of the latest migration trends and the pros and cons that come with each. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Nov 2021

4 key items to add to a SaaS agreement checklist

SaaS apps can save enterprises time and money, but a bad SLA could reverse those benefits. Focus on these four items to optimize performance and uptime. Continue Reading
News 07 Oct 2021

VMware launches integrated services for multi-cloud operations

VMware Cross-Cloud services for multi-cloud environments faces competition from startups and in-house operational tools supplied by public cloud providers. Continue Reading
Tutorial 30 Sep 2021

How to create EC2 custom metrics with Amazon CloudWatch

Amazon CloudWatch provides useful monitoring information with its built-in capabilities, but for additional data, it might be time to consider custom metrics. Continue Reading
Tip 15 Sep 2021

Operational strategies for isolation in cloud computing

While it's inevitable that certain cloud-hosted applications will share resources, the vulnerabilities these connections expose make isolation strategies an absolute necessity. Continue Reading
Tip 14 Sep 2021

6 steps to build a comprehensive cloud tagging strategy

A poorly executed cloud resource tagging strategy, or having no strategy at all, can cost a bundle down the road. Build the best tagging strategy with these six steps. Continue Reading
Tip 10 Sep 2021

How to use Google Cloud Operations suite

Follow along to set up Google Cloud Operations' Monitoring and Logging services, try Google's Monitoring Query Language and automate dashboard creation with the API. Continue Reading
Tip 07 Sep 2021

Compare AWS Cloudtrail vs. Config for resource monitoring

When your IT team needs more detailed info about resource activity in AWS, they have options. See how AWS Cloudtrail and Config resource monitoring tools compare. Continue Reading
News 25 Aug 2021

Microsoft launches Azure Government Top Secret cloud

Microsoft's Azure Government Top Secret offers more than 60 cloud services to U.S. spy agencies, the Department of Defense and federal civilian organizations. Continue Reading
Tip 23 Aug 2021

Don't let your IT team make these 4 mistakes in cloud

As cloud adoption surges in popularity, it's important that your cloud team is well equipped to handle their next project. However, there are mistakes that can derail a project. Continue Reading
Tip 23 Aug 2021

Get to know 8 core cloud team roles and responsibilities

To fully realize the benefits of cloud, you're going to need to create a structure that puts the right people in the right places. Here are the key roles involved. Continue Reading
Tip 05 Aug 2021

Pick a load balancer: Azure Front Door vs. Application Gateway

Every cloud infrastructure requires a solid network architecture and Azure has two load balancers that can improve network performance. Discover where each one will fit the best. Continue Reading
Tip 19 Jul 2021

An introduction to big data in the cloud

As enterprises add big data projects in the cloud, IT admins need to adjust their skills accordingly. Dive into this comprehensive guide to see what makes a cloud shift so attractive. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Jul 2021

Should you migrate your on-premises app or go cloud-native?

Learn how cloud-native application development differs from traditional architecture, as well as the benefits and challenges in making the switch. Continue Reading
Feature 12 Jul 2021

Best practices for defining a cloud monitoring strategy

Uptime. Downtime. Security protections. There are plenty of things to watch for, so an effective cloud monitoring strategy requires an organization to set some priorities. Continue Reading
Tip 07 Jul 2021

A beginner's guide to cloud-native application development

Cloud-native applications have become ubiquitous in IT environments. Learn what it takes to create cloud-native apps and which development tools are available. Continue Reading
Tip 30 Jun 2021

5 open source cloud monitoring tools to consider

IT teams need visibility into their cloud environments. If your team wants more than its cloud providers offers, see if an open source monitoring tool is a better fit. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Jun 2021

5 cloud design patterns to create resilient applications

Review five popular design patterns for cloud application development and how they solve a range of common challenges that IT teams face. Continue Reading
Tip 09 Jun 2021

Build apps with these cloud architecture diagram examples

Cloud changes the way IT teams build an application's architecture. Follow these diagram examples, using top cloud providers, to help guide your project. Continue Reading
News 07 Jun 2021

Oracle Cloud lures developers with 'Always Free' services

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure lags rivals, but the company hopes that a broader set of free services will draw interest from a critical constituency – developers. Continue Reading
Tip 27 May 2021

Cloud vs. DevOps: What to know for your next career move

Cloud and DevOps can go hand in hand, but they don't have to. Learn the differences so you can see which path is best for your future IT role. Continue Reading
Answer 26 May 2021

Compare EMR, Redshift and Athena for data analysis on AWS

Trying to decide between Amazon EMR, Amazon Redshift and Amazon Athena? Check out this overview of capabilities and use cases to help narrow down your choice. Continue Reading
News 13 May 2021

IT pros see AWS SaaS Boost as a rudimentary start

AWS SaaS Boost may give developers a place to begin, but the new open source project needs work to become more than a lock-in tool for AWS, according to industry observers. Continue Reading
Tip 05 May 2021

Top types of cloud testing organizations need to perform

Move to cloud-based testing to reduce overhead and avoid production missteps. Learn about testing types and some notable vendors to get your IT team started. Continue Reading
Tip 12 Apr 2021

Choose the right serverless container service

Many IT pros consider serverless containers to be largely hype, while others say it offers real advances in serverless computing. See how the major cloud providers take their swing at this class of service. Continue Reading
Feature 25 Mar 2021

Metrics that matter in cloud application monitoring

Error rates, compute cost, requests per minute -- there are many metrics to look at as part of a strategy for cloud application monitoring. Which ones should you prioritize? Continue Reading
News 03 Mar 2021

Microsoft ACS going GA with preview of Teams integration

Microsoft Azure Communication Services is now in preview, with deep integration with Microsoft Teams so developers can build real-time user experiences. Continue Reading
Tip 01 Mar 2021

Modernize and migrate mainframe apps to the cloud

Mainframe apps are typically difficult to move to the cloud without modernization. Review migration options and determine if it will be worth the effort. Continue Reading
News 26 Feb 2021

HPE acquires CloudPhysics, targets cloud migration projects

Hoping to up its visibility in the cloud computing market, HPE acquired CloudPhysics this week in hopes of simplifying cloud migration projects by leveraging AI. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Feb 2021

Compare Azure DevOps vs. GitHub for CI/CD pipelines

GitHub is a more recognized name in the development community than Azure DevOps, but now that Microsoft owns both tools, developers need to see how they differ and work together. Continue Reading
Feature 16 Feb 2021

Cloud computing conferences in 2021 you won't want to miss

Cloud industry players are preparing to showcase the latest developments at digital and in-person events this year. Plan your next round of cloud conferences with this guide. Continue Reading
Feature 28 Jan 2021

Learn from these real-world AWS serverless examples

Check out how Equinox Media and BMW use AWS serverless tools and technologies to process and analyze data as part of their IT strategies. Continue Reading
Video 15 Jan 2021

How to migrate from AWS to Azure using Azure Migrate

Watch how to set up and configure Azure Migrate to easily convert your existing Amazon EC2 instances into Azure VMs. Continue Reading
Tip 08 Jan 2021

How to build a cloud center of excellence

Learn how to create an effective cloud center of excellence for your company with these steps and best practices. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Dec 2020

Review these top FAQs on cloud development APIs

APIs offer two capabilities central to cloud -- self-service and automation. APIs simplify application development, but there are limitations imposed by a lack of standardization. Continue Reading
Tip 10 Dec 2020

How to become a cloud administrator

Although the cloud admin role varies from company to company, there are key skills every successful one needs. Explore seven areas of expertise and how they relate to this role. Continue Reading
Tip 08 Dec 2020

Myth or emerging trend? Cloud repatriation explained

Cloud customers may look to move workloads off the public cloud because of cost, security, availability and staff skill sets. But how common is the move itself? Continue Reading
Answer 19 Nov 2020

Amazon ECS vs. Kubernetes: Which should you use on AWS?

How can you approach container orchestration on AWS? Learn the basics about ECS, EKS, DIY Kubernetes and Fargate before you choose an application architecture for your workloads. Continue Reading
Tip 17 Nov 2020

How to containerize legacy applications in an Azure migration

There are many benefits to containerization as part of a migration, but only for the right type of app. If you're moving to Azure, follow these steps to ensure it's a success. Continue Reading
Tip 29 Oct 2020

5 machine learning skills you need in the cloud

Put your IT team in the best position to succeed with AI. Develop these machine learning skills and see how they translate to the major cloud platforms. Continue Reading
Guest Post 26 Oct 2020

5 key ways to avoid overspending on enterprise cloud adoption

Companies that take a careful approach to enterprise cloud adoption aligned with business objectives can help optimize spending and get the most from cloud investments. Continue Reading
Feature 16 Oct 2020

Cloud performance testing is necessary for app migration

So, you're moving your app to the cloud. Is it ready for that? Here's how to test it to see if it will meet performance goals once deployed off premises. Continue Reading
Feature 09 Oct 2020

The importance of cloud capacity management and how to do it

Running workloads in the cloud gives an organization access to unlimited resources. That's a good thing, but only if the IT team adopts good capacity management practices. Continue Reading
Tip 06 Oct 2020

How to approach a GCP-to-AWS migration

Before you move your GCP workloads to AWS, you need a clear cloud migration plan in place and a framework to understand the challenges and additional costs. Continue Reading
Feature 16 Sep 2020

Get to know low-code/no-code tools from major cloud vendors

With the help of low-code or no-code services, application development doesn't have to be so painstaking or strenuous. Learn why cloud providers are getting in on the action. Continue Reading
Tip 15 Sep 2020

Explore cloud computing's effect on application development

AWS and cloud computing changed the way organizations build and run applications. Explore why that happened and see what to expect in the future as more businesses jump on board. Continue Reading
Tip 20 Aug 2020

Public cloud metrics and KPI tools your business should know

Metrics and KPIs for public cloud deployments can be overwhelming. Learn how cloud architects can track usage of compute, storage, database resources and more. Continue Reading
Feature 19 Aug 2020

Adopt and secure the cloud in a work-from-home world

Set up a remote work infrastructure with the cloud. This article highlights cloud adoption strategies for beginners, tips to reduce latency and the benefits of cloud backup. Continue Reading
Tip 17 Aug 2020

Third-party cloud services for ETL and application testing

Don't default to your cloud provider's ETL and app testing services. Get to know third-party offerings and explore the advantages of using these tools in your cloud environments. Continue Reading
News 03 Aug 2020

Google, Microsoft add to their cloud migration toolkits

New cloud migration tools and services from Google and Microsoft seek to meet customer demand for easier, faster deployments amid rising favor for multi-cloud deployments. Continue Reading
Feature 30 Jul 2020

How certifications, remote work affect cloud computing salaries

How many certifications you have and where you live will likely drive what you make as a cloud engineer. Catch the latest cloud salary and hiring trends. Continue Reading
Tip 20 Jul 2020

Learn how to deploy the Bottlerocket container OS in EKS

Bottlerocket is an open source, Linux-based container OS. Explore its role in AWS containerization and how it fits alongside EKS. Continue Reading
News 10 Jul 2020

SUSE buys Rancher Labs for Kubernetes expertise

Linux provider SUSE will buy Rancher Labs, a notable company in the Kubernetes management market, to help customers manage their Kubernetes-based workloads. Continue Reading
Quiz 25 Jun 2020

Test your cloud knowledge: VMs vs. containers vs. serverless

Take this quiz to help guide your choice between virtual machines, containers and serverless functions. Identify the uses, features and services associated with each computing approach. Continue Reading
Tip 23 Jun 2020

Cloud onboarding best practices for users and applications

There are a number of ways organizations can prepare both users and applications for the cloud. Use these onboarding best practices to ensure a smooth transition -- even during uncertain times. Continue Reading
Video 15 Jun 2020

How to deploy machine learning models on Google's AI Platform

Follow along with this video demo, which walks through how to build and deploy machine learning models on Google Cloud with the scikit-learn framework. Continue Reading
Opinion 09 Jun 2020

Third-party cloud services for images, search and authentication

Don't limit your cloud services to just what your provider offers. Consider these third-party alternatives to handle images, search and authentication. Continue Reading
Tip 04 Jun 2020

How to apply serverless in front-end cloud computing

As application front ends move to the cloud, it's important for app designers and cloud users to understand how serverless and other models affect performance and cost. Continue Reading
News 03 Jun 2020

AWS Marketplace update eases SaaS contract changes

Customers who buy software from ISVs through AWS Marketplace now have an easier way to update contract terms during the span of an existing agreement. The feature should help customers manage contract sprawl, analysts say. Continue Reading
Tip 05 May 2020

Design a cloud application with portability in mind

Writing apps for easier portability between clouds takes some work and comes with tradeoffs. Yet, the effort required to design a portable app can pay off in the long run. Continue Reading
News 05 May 2020

IBM, Red Hat move users toward edge computing, 5G networks

IBM and Red Hat have jumped into the edge computing market debuting a slew of products and services that work hand in glove with the existing hybrid cloud strategy it shares with Red Hat. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Apr 2020

4 DIY cloud projects to make your business more cloud-friendly

Show your business there's value in doing more in the cloud. Even in a work-from-home world, you can start small with projects that will be catalysts for broader adoption. Continue Reading
News 23 Apr 2020

AWS launches Amazon AppFlow for SaaS integration

The newly launched Amazon AppFlow gives AWS an answer to the likes of Microsoft's Azure Logic Apps, for tying together its native services with SaaS application data. Continue Reading
News 22 Apr 2020

Google Anthos multi-cloud platform now GA on AWS

Kubernetes-based Anthos is generally available on AWS, giving customers the ability to manage workloads there, as well as across Google Cloud and on-premises environments. Continue Reading
Tip 22 Apr 2020

Navigate uncertainty with a SaaS migration strategy

SaaS migrations can be tricky in the best scenarios. But in a crisis, IT has to act fast. Prioritize the essential data and communicate with users to get the best outcome. Continue Reading
News 17 Apr 2020

New fast-launch tool aims at SAP on AWS deployments

SAP on AWS projects could get easier for customers with the release of a new fast-launch tool native to the public cloud platform. AWS' move aims to attract more of these valuable ERP workloads. Continue Reading
Tip 08 Apr 2020

An overview of how AWS changed Lambda for the enterprise market

Learn how AWS Lambda has been updated over the years to address shortcomings in its serverless computing platform, and how enterprises have become savvier about when to use it. Continue Reading