Cloud Native Technology

Cloud native technologies, also referred to as the cloud native stack, are the technologies used to build cloud native applications. These technologies enable organizations to build and run scalable applications in modern and dynamic environments such as public, private, and hybrid clouds, while leveraging cloud computing benefits to their fullest. They are designed from the ground up to exploit the capabilities of cloud computing and containers, service meshes, microservices, and immutable infrastructure exemplify this approach.

Problem it addresses

The cloud native stack has many different technology categories, addressing a variety of challenges. If you have a look at the CNCF Cloud Native Landscape, you’ll see how many different areas it touches upon. But on a high level, they address one main set of challenges: the downsides of traditional IT operating models. Challenges include difficulties creating scalable, fault-tolerant, self-healing applications, as well as inefficient resource utilization, among others.

How it helps

While each technology addresses a very specific problem, as a group, cloud native technologies enable loosely coupled systems that are resilient, manageable, and observable. Combined with robust automation, they allow engineers to make high-impact changes frequently and predictably with minimal toil. Desirable traits of cloud native systems are easier to achieve with the cloud native stack.