Don’t rush into it. In today’s article, we’re going to take a closer look at exactly what serverless computing is, and how it differs to the classic server system. While there are certainly advantages to making the switch to serverless computing, there are drawbacks that need to be considered as well.
It might not make sense for every business, but for others it offers a smart, streamlined, and sensible approach. Our experienced team at The PC Support Group will guide you with expert advice and IT support recommendations for your business.
What is Serverless Computing?
You might be surprised to discover that serverless computing still involves using servers. Commands and codes still need to be processed somewhere, after all. However, with serverless computing, you don’t have to worry about where the servers are or what they’re capable of.
With a traditional server system, your network is running 24/7 and is constantly listening for requests, ready to carry them out at any moment. This server is likely to be located within your premises but could be at a third party data centre.
This type of computing operates with cloud technology, with servers at an external location but instead of being for your dedicated use, running every minute of the day, and having a fixed capacity, they provide the required resource on demand.
This means that functions are event-driven and code is only used when it is driven by a direct request.
With a serverless computing architecture, your business doesn’t need to focus on any of the hardware that your code runs on. The same goes for your operating system. Your service provider will instead take care of this for you and will manage, maintain, and handle the physical servers.
Your developers will still be able to write the code required to address business problems, but they won’t need to concern themselves with the site’s infrastructure. This results in a streamlined operation with much-reduced costs. That, however, can come at a price, as we’ll discuss.
The Advantages of Serverless Computing
Many businesses are shifting towards this type of system and it’s easy to see why.
The single biggest advantage of serverless computing is the cost saving. Physical servers are expensive to purchase and maintain, and you’ll often need a full IT team to properly manage them.
Then there’s the software, the licences, and other operating costs. On top of that, the provider will only charge for actual computing time in a serverless system. There’s no monthly fee since you only pay for the time used per execution.
This makes a serverless system much cheaper to run than a traditional server system.
Scalability isn’t an issue with serverless computing either as you don’t need to worry about the physical servers. Computing processes and applications don’t need to run in the background and your system is simple.
Additionally, your team will be a more productive one. Your developers can spend their time writing effective and efficient code without the need to worry about the infrastructure that depends on it. You can operate with fewer staff members and much lower overheads.
The Disadvantages of Serverless Computing
And yet, there are still a few significant drawbacks of serverless computing that your team will need to consider.
One of the biggest concerns is security and control. With a traditional server system, you have greater control of your servers – you have a dedicated team that manages them and they’re located on-site too. You can choose the exact software and OS you wish to install. This makes the system more flexible and easier to adjust to your exact business needs. With a serverless system, you need to work with the platform that your provider shares with you.
Then there’s the security. Although serverless systems are secure and can be relied on, many companies simply feel more assured when they store sensitive customer data on site. The truth is that both systems need to carefully manage data and follow procedures to reduce security risk.
Serverless code can also take several seconds to ‘spin up’ and, finally, it’s more difficult to forecast regular plans and costs when you only pay for what you use each month.
Cloud Services with PC Support Group
Hopefully we’ve made it clear that there are various advantages and disadvantages when it comes to serverless computing. Whether you’re looking to make the switch to a cloud system, or you would just like some more information about how your current setup could be optimised, our professional team will be happy to help.
We’re dedicated to helping you maximise the use of your business IT solutions. Get in touch today and find out more about the services we provide.