Cloud Application Architecture Patterns

Chapter 1. Cloud Applications

Cloud computing is revolutionizing information technology. As the IT environment evolves, application architectures need to evolve to take advantage of the new technology, and IT professionals need to evolve their skills to succeed with the new technology. These cloud application techniques apply to developing a new application so that it will run well on the cloud, as well as migrating an existing application from traditional IT to cloud computing.

Introduction to Cloud Applications

Some readers may wonder why applications need to be structured differently for the cloud. To explain why, let’s cover a couple of background topics:

• In Cloud Computing Defined, beginning on this page, we’ll discuss how IT infrastructure in the cloud works.

• In Cloud Computing Practices, we’ll discuss IT practices for making applications work with cloud computing.

Then, once we’re all on the same page, we’ll go to the first pattern, which is the root pattern for this entire book, Cloud Application.

Cloud Computing Defined

Let’s begin with what we mean by “the cloud.”

As the saying goes, the cloud is just someone else’s computer. However, the cloud is way more than just a computer—and far more useful as well. What makes a cloud valuable is the large number of computers available for you to use, your ability to manage your own usage, and the ability for your team members to readily access the computers.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides ...