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Why Should Your Business Choose Cloud Backend As A Service For App Development
28/12/2022
Why Should Your Business Choose Cloud Backend As A Service For App Development
Web or mobile applications are almost a given if you run a tech-backed business. In every domain and for businesses of all sizes- micro, small, medium, and large, technology blurs all the lines. You’re concerned your business isn’t a novel idea nor is it an investor-backed start-up. How do you stand out amidst the crowd? Do you just stay content with earning more than you’re spending? Do you just be content with two new customers each day? You might, but you do not have to.
If your business chooses to transform itself and meet the current industry standards or eliminate your nearest competitor- opt for a suitable backend cloud mechanism. But before we understand what this technology has to offer, and what the cloud entails when it’s used for backend efficiency, let’s take a dig into what the cloud systems and their challenges are for any organization or enterprise.
What is a Backend Cloud Service?
The backend of any app development process and the resultant application is simply what the end-user does not see or have to interact with. It entails the infrastructure used by the business or enterprise that allows it to maintain technological aspects such as storage of data, understanding consumer behavior patterns, maintaining a roster of operations performed over a while, supply-chain management, et al.
However, in today’s world, with the increasing number of applications and management systems, it is almost a given that your business is already using a third-party backend system for information management and inventory purposes. However, there is an alternative that proves to be beneficial for all businesses. This is known as Backend-as-a-Service or BaaS. It includes building the backend management system from scratch to meet the industry standards, aligning it with the vision, mission, and objectives of the company as well as fulfilling all the backend requirements of the organization at large.
In this regard, one of the most sought-after trends is utilizing the power of a cloud-based architecture that is durable, robust, reliable, and cost-effective in the long run. Moreover, cloud systems are famed to have reduced the dead time incurred by organizations during the process of query or data retrieval and also reduced the overall cost of purchasing and deploying physical infrastructure alongside an in-office team of IT experts to update and maintain the same.
So at large, BaaS with cloud refers to a digital infrastructure built with cloud-enabled tools that are deployed for an organization as per their requirements and company policies. Such cloud tools are also said to be highly scalable, faster than usual in-office servers or data storage systems, and quite effective for the end user as well.
Usually, such BaaS apps operate in three interconnected layers, as follows:
- Foundation: At this stage the servers used by the app run and backup discreet information acquired during usage.
- Application: This is usually a part of the front end where the app handles search queries, login requests, etc.
- Connection: This layer facilitates the networking between the cloud system or server to the internet that allows the program to run as per the user and business needs.
Web Services vs Cloud Services for the Backend
Before discussing the challenges faced by cloud-based backend systems let’s understand that there exists a significant difference between standard web apps and cloud apps. The most crucial of which is the fact that web applications require the enterprise to purchase and maintain a web server, web pages, and other requirements in-office. This adds to the overall cost of transforming into a digital enterprise while also increasing the complexity of the services being provided at any time. Besides, web apps are also notoriously prone to downtime, compatibility, and upgradation issues. So how is a cloud system different in this regard and how does it mitigate these innate challenges?
Cloud services for the backend infrastructure at any organization mitigate the following issues especially for the developers and for the business in general as well:
- Cloud service infrastructures reduce the cost of physical infrastructure for enterprises of all sizes. In this regard, there may be a relatively high upfront cost associated with installing a cloud architecture for the backend but it proves to be quite cheap in the long run.
- There is no requirement for hiring, training, and maintaining an in-office team of IT or web service experts which are usually expensive and prone to human errors.
- Developing and maintaining databases, client-service libraries, and useful API-oriented tools are not required when leveraging the use of a cloud service provider for backend systems.
- Administrator access, tracking, monitoring, hosting and server-side infrastructures are not essential as it is all provided through the cloud architecture being employed by the enterprise.
- There are high scalability possibilities when using a cloud-based system as compared to web architecture which is prone to downtimes as stated before. These are faster and adjust the bandwidth requirements depending on the volume of data being transferred through the network.
While there are several other positives of using a cloud service at the backend these are the few major challenges that are easily mitigated when using a cloud-based system as compared to a web service model or an in-office traditional digital app development process.
Why Choose Cloud as a BaaS for App Development?
As discussed above, there are a plethora of benefits of incorporating a cloud-based model instead of traditional web service architectures into the backend of any enterprise or business. Similarly, here are a few of the major advantages of using cloud services at the backend of any app development process for any business in any domain of the industry:
Higher Productivity Rates
When using cloud technology at the backend during app development for both web and mobile apps, there is almost no downtime incurred. There are fewer redundancies or stop-gaps in the entire development cycle as well as when the product is deployed for the user.
Moreover, by utilizing the cloud at the backend, especially through a top-end offshore app development organization, businesses can continue to focus on the core competencies and business operations instead of dedicating valuable company time and resources to the IT department to manage and debug the app in the long run. This almost always ensures a higher productivity rate for the business and better app performance at large.
Better Compliance Handling
Cloud-based systems at the backend are robust and resilient when handling compliance or regulatory issues. The app in itself is at par or better than the current industry standards.
There are also fewer risks for the business since the app’s data storage and data retrieval processes are secured in the cloud server located offshore. It is constantly updated to meet the cybersecurity, governmental and legal requirements that spring up each day due to the advent of newer technologies and higher awareness among the common mass.
Reduced Overall Cost
One of the most integral benefits of opting for a cloud-based backend system or BaaS is the reduced overall cost that your business incurs in the long run. Although some might argue that cloud services are initially more expensive as compared to a physical in-office app development setup, it proves to be more cost-effective in the long run.
Besides, with a cloud-backed BaaS apparatus, any business can do away with the complexities of hiring in-office IT or cloud service experts, training them into the backend modules in place and improving their revenue per square inch as there is little or no physical infrastructure and hardware required. Beyond that, there is the added advantage of continuous upgrades and maintenance that is provided for by the cloud-based backend service provider, which also adds to the overall advantage of shifting from traditional models of software development to a cloud-based app development procedure.
Enhanced Security Measures
While selecting a cloud service provider, an enterprise must rigorously check the security and encryption methods utilized by the app development team or offshore team employed. With rising awareness among consumers, especially in terms of data security and information transparency, enhancing security protocols have become paramount for enterprises in every domain.
Moreover, it is usually the backend tracking, reporting, and management systems that require higher security architectures rather than the conventional idea of the front end. It is so because backend consoles and dashboards are much more vulnerable to security breaches and data leaks as compared to the front end which remains ubiquitous for all users. Recognizing deficits and gaps in the access control list, systems control panels are crucial in this regard. And, it is recommended that businesses opt for ready-to-use GDPR protocols for their backend when selecting a cloud backend service provider.
Greater Horizontal and Vertical Scalability
Building a mobile or web application is usually easy in today’s world. Businesses can hire developers for pennies on the dollar as freelancers or interns. However, they fail to provide the enterprise with a strong resolution on scaling the app when there is a rise in traffic or a growing consumer base. They may not even understand the backend solutions that allow cross-platform development stages.
Hence, to allow your enterprise to build once and run forever, through an app-based service, utilizing a reputed cloud backend service provider remains significant. Such cloud apps run on any platform with little or no change to the source code, there are no IPR violations, the apps are smooth with simple yet valuable interfaces, they include ready-to-deploy CDNs, offer multi-region deployment, and they also maintain the app beyond the testing, development or deployment phases in the cycle of app development.
Conclusion
While we’ve already discussed the essential elements of why any business must choose a cloud backend service provider for app development, it is also pivotal to understand that such cloud BaaS providers offer proprietary management systems and allow the business’s app development team to focus more on the front-end of the application in development. This means there can be a better UI/UX experience and higher human-centric innovation to make the app more viable, reliable, and easy to use for a regular consumer. To know further about such advantages and the process of app development with the cloud at the backend, reach out to a high-end cloud-backed app development provider such as Focaloid Technologies today.
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