Benefits of Serverless Computing for Developers — Azure

Cloud-based services are an integral part of the future of business and computing. The ability to outsource specific services to third parties makes it much easier to complete projects. SaaS (Software as a Service) is a well-known implementation of this, but it is not the only option. You can outsource server-based resources and processes too.

For Azure developers, serverless computing resources make things like automation and DevOps more accessible. When used properly, serverless computing allows developers to focus on creating code while third-party resources handle other issues, such as server management. Let's look at some benefits of serverless computing for developers working in an Azure environment.?

Outsourcing Infrastructure Management

Developing applications in any environment requires developers to do two things: create code and manage infrastructure. While everyone is familiar with developing code, infrastructure management becomes the tricky part. Devs need IT infrastructure to build and test their apps, which means they need to create and maintain server environments for those applications.?

Server management, in particular, is time-consuming — especially since many developers are not as familiar with it as they are with other aspects of their job. This can lead to difficulties setting up and managing the servers needed to complete projects. Rather than forcing devs to be full-stack developers at all times, you can have your dev team outsource server maintenance and management to a cloud-based service.?

Improving Project Cost Management

Paying for server management through a serverless computing structure can be a better option for controlling project costs. Developers may not be as skilled in server management as they are in code development, which can cost time and resources if they have to do both operations. Switching to a serverless computing alternative means your team won’t waste time with server management and can focus on development. This typically results in faster development times and lower project costs.?

Automation Enables Advancement

The underlying key to how beneficial the serverless computing model is is the fact that it relies on automation. Engaging the cloud systems is an automated process on its end. The system automatically creates and maintains servers as needed for projects, with the only input from users being a request for resources from your team. From there, it handles everything automatically. This can lead to several benefits that you may not be expecting.?

Automation Means Information Security

One of the leading reasons companies dislike outsourcing systems is a lack of information security. With a third-party company involved, there are more chances for someone to view your data without your permission. This is not the case with systems that rely on automation.?

Automation allows systems to run without user intervention. There are no users involved with setting up the servers that you need, limiting access to only your team. You don’t have to worry about prying eyes because there is no one to interfere.?

Automation Facilitates Rapid Scalability

Another benefit of automation is that it facilitates rapid scalability. If your team develops an app that needs more resources than allotted, an automated server management system can adjust within seconds. It can instantly have more servers online to handle your team's work, scaling rapidly to meet your needs. This reduces downtime and/or potential service problems caused by overextending resources.?

Support From Leading Organizations

Serverless computing is becoming more popular thanks to support from leading organizations. There are services that can give your teams the development support they need to get all the benefits of serverless computing.?Microsoft is developing services for Azure that add serverless features, making it easy for Azure developers to make the?transition.

Microsoft Azure Serverless Platform Options

Major service providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft divide their serverless platforms into components. That way, you can get just the services that you need. Microsoft Azure already has these platforms available.

Azure’s goal is to make it easier for developers to focus on development rather than infrastructure management. The internal services that are set up for users make it possible to keep all the DevOps support in one ecosystem and within the same familiar systems that Azure developers already use.

Azure Functions

Azure Functions helps devs write code while hosting it on a cloud-based server system. Azure Functions creates an environment where developers can create their code and automatically send it to the Cloud to be hosted on Microsoft’s servers. It is easy to set up, and it lets developers remain focused on their code. It is a powerful tool, but may not fit every project's needs. However, there are two other setups that you can choose from.

Azure Functions is not limited by programming languages. You can use any language that you like, making it quick and easy to move to a serverless architecture without extensive retraining or changes to operations. Simply write your code and deploy it to the Cloud.

Azure Kubernetes

Azure Kubernetes works in a similar fashion, but it lets you deploy host containers to house your code. It is perfect for code that needs a container to run properly. You can deploy the entire container, making it possible to customize the environment that your project is deployed to. With containers hosted online, developers can try new code instantly in a functioning environment. It makes proving concepts and testing development much faster and easier to do.

Azure App Environments

Another service is the Azure App Environments. You can completely customize the deployment environment, which is perfect for testing different situations for your app. It also means that you can deploy complete apps for advanced testing. Teams nearing the end of a project and who need to perform full-scale testing can take advantage of this system to make testing much easier.

Any development team that is considering switching to a serverless development environment has a decent selection of services to choose from now, but there will be even more to choose from in the future. It is important to take advantage of advancements in technology and development practices. This newest trend means faster development, more flexible conditions, and advanced support that can lead to better project results.