Cloud Components and Services for Building Microservices Architecture

In this section, we will get into a few cloud services that we can use to build microservices architecture so we know what service or cloud component to choose during microservices architecture design and implementation.

Microservices and Multi-Cloud Environments

Nowadays, there is no option to avoid talking about microservices during architectural calls, especially if you want to design cloud or multi-cloud, modular, scalable, and multi-user applications. In this article, I will explain microservices and how to design applications based on the multi-cloud scenario. I will walk you through the microservice design pattern and wrap this information into an architectural example.

Container engines are essential to building microservices as they allow for separation, orchestration, and management of the microservices within various cloud providers. 

 is a widely used container engine that allows one to wrap each microservice into a container and put it into a cloud-based container orchestration system like Kubernetes (AKS, EKS) or directly spin up the application. 

 is the same as Docker but has a lightweight and more secure architecture.

 is a popular open-source system for orchestrating, automating deployment, and scaling the containers apps. It contains and automates the deployment. 

 have their own managed orchestration services that already include load balancing, auto scaling, workload management, monitoring, and a 

 is a distributed platform to orchestrate microservices. For several years, the main goal was to provide the best support for .NET Core/Framework- and Windows-based microservices; we can see it in the 

. Microsoft claims that Service Fabric supports other languages and platforms like Linux as well.

 is a service that is based on the FIFO (first in, first out) principle. All message bus systems are based on this service. For example, Azure has 

 that contains simple business logic. If you have a simple architecture that needs centralized message storage, you can rely on the queue. AWS and Google Cloud also have the 

, respectively. These allow you to send, store, and receive messages between microservices and software components.

 is based on the same approach as a queue. However, a Message Bus has more features on top — it contains a dead-letter queue, scheduled delivery, message deferral, transactions, duplicate detection, and many other features. For example, 

 are highly available message brokers for enterprise-level applications that can deal with thousands of messages.

Serverless allows us to build microservices architecture purely with an event-driven approach. It’s a single cloud service unit that is available on demand with an intended focus on building the microservices straight away in the cloud without thinking about what container engine, orchestrator, or cloud service you should use. AWS and Azure have 

Now we understand microservices architecture and can start developing the application using microservices. We also understand the benefits of using microservices and how to refactor applications to support this architecture. The best point to start with building the app is to know microservices design patterns.

) is more than a pattern — it is a set of principles to design and scope a microservice. A microservices domain should be designed using the following rules:

A single microservice should be an independent business function. Therefore, the overall service should be scoped to a single business concept.

Business logic should be encapsulated inside an API that is based on REST.

A legacy system may have unmaintainable code and an overall poor design, but we still rely on the data that comes from this module. An anti-corruption layer provides the façade, or bridge, between new microservices architecture and legacy architecture. Therefore, it allows us to stay away from manipulating legacy code and focus on feature development.

The circuit breaker provides mechanisms to stop a cascade from failing and automatically recovering to a normal state. Imagine we have service A and service B that rely on data from service C. We introduce a bug in service C that affects services A and B. In a well-designed microservices architecture, each service should be independent of the other.

However, dependencies may occur during refactoring from monolith to microservices. In this case, you need to implement a circuit breaker to predict a cascade failure. Circuit breakers act as a state machine. They monitor numerous recent failures and decide what to do next. They can allow operation (closed state) or return the exception (open or half-open state).

A service mesh implements the communication layer for microservices architecture. It ensures the delivery of service requests, provides load balancing, encrypts data (with TLS), and provides the discovery of other services. A service mesh also:

Provides the process to manage traffic control, network resilience, security, and authentication

Has a proxy that integrates with microservices using a sidecar pattern

It allows you to not only manage the service but also collect telemetry data and send it to the control plane. We implement a service mesh such as 

, which is the most popular service mesh framework for managing microservices in Kubernetes.

Sidecar is a utility application that is deployed alongside the main service. Sidecar is helpful in:

To demonstrate the power of microservices, we will migrate our monolithic travel application (see Figure 1) to the microservices architecture.

We will use the serverless approach and Azure cloud.

API Gateway — Using API Management to expose the endpoints of the back-end services
so the client application can consume them securely.

Entry points — The public-facing APIs that the client application will be using, powered by
Azure Functions responding to HTTP requests.

Async queue — Messaging service to handle services intercommunication and pass along
information and data between the different services, represented by Azure Event Grid.

Backend services — The services that are directly operating with the data layer and other
components of the solution, isolated from the rest, and easily replaceable if needed.

Building highly available, scalable, and performant applications can be challenging. Microservices architecture provides us the option to build not only independent services but also create several teams to support each service and introduce the DevOps approach. Microservices and all popular cloud providers allow us to build multi-cloud microservices architecture. This saves money, as some services have different pricing strategies. But be sure to choose the most appropriate service that’s suited for specific microservices domains. For example, we can use 

. Multi-cloud allows us to apply cloud-native DevOps to deliver services independently.

Microservices and Containerization Trend Report

In this section, we will get into a few cloud services that we can use to build microservices architecture so we know ...

MultiCloud (Continued) 

Part 2: Multi-Cloud Strategies Using Microservices Architecture (Continued)

The Cloud Revolution allows businesses to operate their IT without investing in costly physical infrastructure, instead paying for just the resources they really need.

Managing cloud infrastructure is not an easy job. If you don’t have the right infrastructure, cloud apps with complicated setups can fall apart when used on a large scale. But cloud computing and virtualization tools have a lot of benefits. One of the best may be that they make it easier to manage infrastructure in a way that is consistent and easy to copy.

A significant paradigm change has taken place in the field of information technology as a result of the rapid adoption of cloud computing during the last few years. A growing number of small and large organizations and companies all over the world are now using cloud-based platforms to host their infrastructure and utilized tools such as Terraform in order to deploy and manage it.

This trend is being driven by the lower total cost of ownership and flexibility that come along with using cloud-based platforms. In this blog post, we examine the advantages that cloud-native infrastructure management tools have over tools like Terraform, which are used to manage cloud computing environments.

Terraform is an IAC tool that DevOps teams mostly use to automate different infrastructure tasks. One of the most common ways Terraform is used is to set up resources in the cloud. It is an open-source provisioning tool written in the Go programming language that can be used with any cloud. It was made by HashiCorp.

You can write code to describe your whole infrastructure with Terraform. Even if your servers come from different providers like AWS or Azure, Terraform helps you build and manage these resources in parallel across providers. Think of Terraform as the glue that holds your IT stack together and the common language you can use to manage it all.

Terraform does not have configuration management features like other declarative tools. But it works with configuration management tools and support to automatically set up infrastructure in the state described by configuration files and to change or update provisioning as needed when configuration changes.

Terraform has Blocks, Comments, Arguments, and built-in functions. Variables, locals, and data sources allow for clear, reusable code. Modules and Templates are Terraform’s biggest advantage. A Terraform module groups resources for easier, less repetitive programming. Terraform modules are comparable to libraries, packages, or modules in most programming languages and provide similar advantages. These modules may be saved locally or shared through the Terraform Registry, version control systems, HTTP URLs, etc. Engineers may share reused codes with other teams, saving time and money.

Existing infrastructure migration to Terraform provides various advantages, including:

UNINTERRUPTED, SIMPLE, TRANSFER OF ALL CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE CLOUD

SIMPLE ADMINISTRATION OF CLOUD-BASED RESOURCES WITH CHANGE TRACING

SECURE RESOURCE DEPLOYMENT IN THE TERRAFORM CLOUD

TERRAFORM IS A RELATIVELY NEW TECHNOLOGY, SO USING IT TO MANAGE A COMPANYS CLOUD RESOURCES MAY REQUIRE SOME TIME AND WORK

Terraform requires particular expertise and training to operate cloud infrastructure successfully. Additionally, it may be difficult to utilize when dealing with ideas such as a remote backend. Despite these drawbacks, Terraform gives DevOps teams significant benefits for infrastructure management.

Scale your company with Cloud Astro’s cost-effective cloud solution. We support both our own applications and current IT systems as industries reshape, companies must operate and compete at record speed and scale.

The Cloud Revolution allows businesses to operate their IT without investing in costly physical infrastructure ...

Terraform

Cloud Management via Terraform

Build highly available, scalable, and performant applications by following this complete guide to building microservices in Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.

In 2005, Dr. Peter Rodgers addressed micro web services during a presentation at a Web Services Edge conference, where the first generation of micro web services was based on 

 (SOA). SOA is a “self-contained” software module that performs as a task, and this allows the service to communicate based on SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). The main SOAP idea is, “Do the simplest thing possible.”

This is an article from DZone’s 2022 Microservices and Containerization Trend Report. For more: 

Before we jump into microservices architecture, patterns, and how you can build microservices-based applications that support multi-cloud deployment, let’s define the terms. A microservice is an architectural pattern that allows applications to consist of loosely coupled modules. However, microservices designs should follow these rules:

Each module or microservice has its own data and therefore should have an
independent database.

Each microservice should be developed by its own team. This doesn’t mean that
microservices-based applications can’t be developed by one team, however, having
one team per microservice shows how independent microservices can be.

Microservices should have an independent deployment process.

Microservices should give better control over resources and compute power so you
can scale each service independently and according to the service needs.

Microservices can be written in different languages, but they should communicate
with a single protocol like 

Multi-cloud (i.e., hybrid cloud) means there are two different approaches to spreading an app through multiple cloud providers. For example, we can build core applications in AWS, and there are some parts that we can deploy to Azure and Google Cloud. Another multi-cloud example is when an app that was designed for one cloud can be migrated to another with minor changes.

Before we jump into examples, let’s look at a brief list of the pros and cons of microservices and monolithic architecture:

Scalability — As we have all separate services, we can scale each service independently.

Isolation — A large project may be unaffected when one service goes down.

Flexibility — You can use different languages and technology as all services are independent.
We can separate the whole project into microservices where each microservice will be developed and supported by a separate team.

DevOps independence — All microservices are independent; therefore, we can implement an independent deployment process for each microservice.

Complexity — Microservices architecture can be a good choice for huge, enterprise-level companies and platforms. Take Netflix, for example. There you can separate domains and subdomains to different services and teams. However, for a small-level company, separating may add redundant complexity. Moreover, it can be impossible to separate small projects into microservices.

Testing — Testing microservices applications can be a difficult task as you may need to have


Debugging — Debugging microservices can be a painful task; it may include running several microservices. Also, we need to constantly investigate logs. This issue can be partially resolved by integrating a monitoring platform.

When I start designing a solution, I always use monolithic architecture as the starting point. Using this approach, we can achieve the following:

During design and implementation, we can already see if our application can be moved to microservices.

We can identify monolithic applications that can be moved to microservices using a step-by-step approach.

Simplicity — Monolithic architecture is relatively simple and can be used as a base architecture or the first microservice step.

Simple DevOps — The DevOps process can be simple as we may need to automate one simple application.

Vendor lock-in — With monolithic architecture, we may be locked with one vendor/ cloud provider. All modules in monolithic architecture are closely tied to each other. It’s hard to spread them across different vendors.

Inflexible DevOps — The DevOps process for one enterprise-level, monolithic app can take a lot of time as we need to wait until all modules are built and tested.

Stick with one programming language/technology — Monolithic architecture is not too flexible, you need to stick with one technology/programming language. Otherwise, you must rewrite the whole application to change the core technology.

Adapter for Twillio to be able to communicate over the phone (calls, SMS, video)

This monolithic architecture can be migrated to the microservices one. Each service can operate independently and can keep the state in its own database.

The solution explained above is quite simple and can be transformed into microservices without a lot of issues. However, when it comes to the enterprise level, this migration is far more complex, as is seen at large companies such as Netflix.

Build highly available, scalable, and performant applications by following this complete guide to building microservices in Azure ...

MultiCloud

Part 1: Multi-Cloud Strategies Using Microservices Architecture

We as CloudAstro are thrilled to announce our very first cloud event in Prishtina.

The successful format Azure Meet Up Munich goes on the road and stops in Prishtina to talk about the exciting world of Microsoft Azure Cloud. Besides special guest Microsoft employee Markus Klein, two of our CloudAstro colleagues will also be speakers.

At this point a big thank you to ICK for letting us use their location for the event.

Register now under the following link for the event and look forward to an exciting exchange.

by cloud enthusiasts for cloud enthusiasts

Azure Meetup Prishtina

Azure MeetUp goes to Prishtina!

The concept of a cloud is no longer completely incomprehensible. It is a word that is used so often in every facet of digital transformation and contemporary technology that we have come to assume that the cloud is going to be a part of daily life, despite the fact that the repercussions of the move to the cloud are not yet completely understood. But since we donot fully comprehend cloud architecture and the benefits it bestows upon us, we are guilty of taking this vital technology for granted.

And a greater understandin go fcloud computing is required in order to have a better appreciation for the cloud: What is it, and how does it carry out its functions?

Cloud Computingis defined as: instead of using local servers or computers to store, process, and manage data and conduct activities, cloud computing relies on distant servers hosted by third parties (as opposed to local servers or computers). Rather than requiring a company to possess its own computer infrastructure or data centers, it provides a variety of on-demand computing services through the internet.

The location of a cloud service and its hardware or operating system are entirely irrelevant to the user. In old telecommunications network designs, the public telephone network (and subsequently the internet) was commonly portrayed as a cloud to indicate that location didn’t matter — it was simply a cloud of things. This is an oversimplification; for many clients, service and data placement remain crucial.

How can businesses benefit from Cloud Computing?

Businesses may avoid the up-front costs and complexity of buying and maintaining their own IT infrastructure by adopting cloud computing services, and only paying for what they use.

Companies don’t have to invest in their own data centers or computer equipment; instead, they may pay a cloud service provider to access anything froma pps to storage.

Additionally, the companies that supply cloud computing services may enjoy considerable cost savings by providing the same services to a large number of clients.

There has been a shift in IT investment from conventional, in-house systems to cloud-based systems as computing loads migrate into the cloud, whether it be a vendor’s public cloud service or a private cloud constructed internally by a business.

In fact, whether we like it or not, the cloud is clearly winning when it comes to platforms for corporate computing.

Gartner, a technology research firm, expects that by 2025, up from 41% in 2022, the cloud will account for up to 50% of all software, infrastructure, business process, and system infrastructure investment. It predicts that cloud computing would account for over two-thirds of application software expenditure by 2022, up from 57.7 percent in 2022.

With the support of our cloud specialists, you can always make the correct choices when it comes to changing your company. We work with the latest and fastest cloud technology sources so that you never have to choose between staying in or out of the cloud services.

Let’s examine what works best for you right now and in the future.

The concept of a cloud is no longer completely incomprehensible. It is a word that is used so often in every facet of digital transformation and contemporary technology that we have come to assume that the cloud is going to be a part of daily life, despite the fact that the repercussions of the move to the cloud are not yet completely understood.

Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing and why does the future depend on it

We're absolutely delighted to share some exciting news with you all - Jürgen Dick has joined the CloudAstro family as our new Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, effective from September 1, 2023.

Jürgen is no stranger to success in the realm of cloud technology, security, banking, and finance. His impressive track record includes a transformative eight-year stint at Microsoft, where he was instrumental in shaping the cloud landscape in Germany, particularly within the financial sector.His arrival marks a significant milestone in our journey. Jürgen's unique blend of expertise will significantly enhance our existing security and regulatory compliance portfolio. 

We're confident that his leadership will help us deliver even more secure and compliant cloud technology solutions for our clients. As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we extend a warm, virtual welcome to Jürgen. 

We're thrilled to have him on board and can't wait to see how his contribution propels us to new heights.Join us in welcoming Jürgen and anticipating an exciting journey ahead! 🚀#leadership #cloudtechnology #security #finance #welcome

P.S. The excitement doesn't stop here!                                          

Jürgen Dick is just one of the many talented individuals who've joined us this month at CloudAstro. We've been fortunate to welcome a host of industry experts who will undoubtedly propel our mission forward. 

Stay tuned to our upcoming posts where we'll introduce these remarkable new team members. Follow us to keep up with our evolving journey. 

Exciting times ahead!#TeamCloudAstro #NewHires #StayTuned

Jürgen Dick Joins CloudAstro as Managing Director & COO

Jürgen Dick is Joining CloudAstro as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer

We are excited to relaunch the Azure MeetUp Munich format and give a great tour through the world of remote work in the clouds together with some great speakers directly at Microsoft facilities!!

This month's #AzureMeetUp will feature a tour of the Azure Virtual Desktop world, le dby #CloudAstro. THE remote workspace solution that brings the benefits of the cloud to remote working spaces. We'll discuss compliance, use cases and how the solution is perfectly completed with our #ManagedServices. We hope you'll join us to learn more about this exciting solution!

BUT WHY IS THIS TOPIC WORTH TALKING ABOUT?!?!

In today's business world, more and more employees are working remotely. And while thereare plenty of benefits that comea long with this trend—increased flexibility and decreased overhead costs, to name a few—it also presents some unique challenges. Namely, how do you keep your remote workers connected to your company network? And how do you ensure that they have access to all the samea pplications and data that they would if they were in the office?

The answer is Azure Virtual Desktop combined with our managed service solutions. Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based desktop virtualization service that enables remote users to access their desktops, applications, and data from anywhere, on any device. And because it's hosted in the cloud, it's easy to set up and scale, so it can grow with your business

Agenda:
17:30 Meet & Greet
18:00 - 18:15 Welcome (CloudAstro)
18:20 - 18:35 Lessons Learned AVD Project (Jean-MarcL.)
18:40 - 19:10 AVD New Features (AngelikaG.)
19:10 - 19:15 Quick-break
19:15 - 19:30 Managed Services - Expert Talk (ErcanY.)
19:35 - 19:50 Why agreat Partner is required win customer trust (Markus K.)
19:50 - 20:10 Coffee & Snacks
20:10 - 20:25 CloudAstro- Who we are? (BlertaD.)
20:30 - 21:00 CloudAstro AVD Managed Services (Fisnik D.)
21:00 - 21:15 Q&A

SO, what are you waiting for?
Register now!


Azure Meetup Munich

Azure MeetUp Munich Reach your next peak in remote work with AVD

This is Bodzpart title

<h2>CloudAstro Is Great</h2><h3>Lets cloud you up&nbsp;</h3><p>&nbsp;</p><p>das gleiche auf Deutsch&nbsp;</p><p>Blablaldsf <strong>sadsd </strong>e</p><blockquote><p>but it feels like we are getting verz close&nbsp;</p></blockquote>

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