The demand for more cloud native app development is just growing, and so is the need for more cloud developers. cloud based application development has now become one of the popular choices among businesses looking to leverage cloud solutions for delivering scalable and reliable solutions. 

But what is a Cloud native app development, and how to build cloud-native applications with serverless architecture?

It’s essential to begin with core principles and clarify what cloud-native truly means. Like many tech terms, cloud-native is often misinterpreted, similar to how cloud computing was, and still is to some extent. Hosting an application on a remote server doesn’t make it a cloud application. Today, in this blog, we will explore how to build cloud-native applications with serverless architecture.     

What is Cloud Native App Development?

Almost anything can be run in the cloud. Take virtually any of the apps randomly, set up a virtual machine, and you’ll see a cloud provider that can host it. Cloud-native applications are particularly developed and structured to function within cloud environments. Unlike conventional applications that are usually tightly integrated, cloud-native applications are built with modularity that monolithic systems lack. Cloud native app development is not just about building an application stack but rather building a loosely connected application architecture.

At the most fundamental level of a cloud-native application is the container. This could be a Docker container, though any container that adheres to the Open Container Interface specifications functions equally well. Even though containers can run across various host environments, the standard way to deploy containers and microservices is via an orchestration platform. One of the popular container orchestration platforms today is Kubernetes, which is open source and backed by all the leading public cloud vendors.

Serverless Architecture

Serverless architecture refers to a design method where applications run only when required. When an event activates the app code, the public cloud provider assigns resources to execute it. Charges stop once the code completes execution. Serverless also removes the need for developers to handle tasks related to app scaling and server setup. Regular operations like operating systems, file system management, and handling capacity are all managed by a cloud service provider. You can create a fully serverless application or one that combines serverless functions with traditional microservices components.

Why Use Serverless Architectures?

With serverless architecture, developers can concentrate more on their product’s basic functionality rather than server or runtime management. By minimizing overall operational burden, serverless architecture helps developers solve complicated issues and become more efficient, saving their time and energy invested in managing servers.

Benefits of Serverless Computing for Building Cloud Native App Development 

Below we have listed a few benefits of serverless computing for developing Cloud-Native Applications:

Cost Effective

One of the major benefits of serverless computing for cloud based application development is that with a serverless architecture, developers can build scalable cloud-native applications in a cost-effective way.  Unlike conventional architectures, where developers had to pay for servers no matter if they are actually using them or not.  

Scalability

Serverless architecture offers improved scalability by easily maximizing and minimizing resources as per the growing needs. With conventional architectures, developers have to deal with the servers if the workload increases, which is a time-consuming and costly process.   

Quicker Deployment

Serverless architecture enables developers to concentrate more on coding and delivering builds faster. The cloud provider takes care of the infrastructure, eliminating the need to set up servers. This leads to saving overall time taken to develop and deploy the application. 

Prioritize Core Features

Another major benefits of serverless computing for developers is that, as they don’t have to deal with the hardware and servers, developers can focus more on the critical functionalities of the application. This leads to improved product quality and responsiveness.

How to Build Cloud-native Applications Using Serverless Architecture 

Utilizing a serverless architecture approach for cloud based application development offers several benefits, including offering more scalability and flexibility. Follow the steps below to build cloud native applications using serverless architecture:     

1. Understand the Use Case

Before you start building, identify whether your application or service benefits from the particular approach you are choosing or not. It could be based on the target audience and the features you want in your application. Serverless works best for:

APIs
Microservices
Real-time data processing
Scheduled tasks
Lightweight backend functions

2. Choose a Cloud Provider

Now it’s time to look for the right cloud provider that can provide you with the best cloud application development services. Select a cloud platform offering the best serverless services. Top options include:

AWS Lambda
Azure Functions
Google Cloud Functions

3. Design the Architecture

Once you choose your cloud provider, it’s time to design the architecture. Adopt a microservices or function-based structure:

Break the application into independent, stateless functions
Use event triggers (e.g., HTTP requests, file uploads, database updates)
Ensure loose coupling and modularity

4. Select the Right Services

Pair serverless functions with other cloud-native services:

Storage: Amazon S3, Azure Blob Storage
Database: DynamoDB, Firebase, Cosmos DB
Authentication: AWS Cognito, Firebase Auth
Messaging/Queueing: SNS, SQS, Pub/Sub

5. Write and Deploy Functions

Once you choose the cloud provider, have done with the architecture, select services, now you can develop your application functions in supported languages (Node.js, Python, Go, etc). Use frameworks like:

Serverless Framework
AWS SAM
Google Cloud Functions Framework
Deploy using CI/CD pipelines

6. Implement API Gateway

This allows communication between frontend apps and backend services.

AWS API Gateway
Azure API Management
Google API Gateway

7. Secure Your Application

Use role-based access controls (IAM)
Manage secrets with services like AWS Secrets Manager or Azure Key Vault
Protect APIs with rate limiting and authorization

8. Monitor and Debug

Enable logging and monitoring:

AWS CloudWatch
Azure Monitor
Google Cloud Operations
Track performance, errors, and invocations

9. Test and Optimize

Perform unit and integration testing
Optimize function memory, timeout, and cold-start performance
Minimize vendor lock-in by following best practices

10. Scale and Manage

Serverless platforms auto-scale based on demand
Use tools like Terraform or Pulumi for Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Monitor costs and apply budget alerts