Serverless computing models offer benefits such as streamlined application development and cost-effective deployment, allowing developers to focus on coding and simplifying scaling. However, along with these advantages come challenges that organizations should be aware of. Important advice from 20 members of Forbes Technology Council includes being prepared for performance issues, watching out for hidden labor costs, and fully committing to a serverless approach for optimal resilience.
Estimating and monitoring usage costs, aligning application needs with serverless strengths, and reviewing workload and price options are all crucial considerations for organizations exploring serverless computing. Understanding the need for full commitment to a decentralized serverless system, vetting providers based on unique needs, and containerizing code for seamless transition to different infrastructures are also recommended strategies for organizations evaluating serverless options.
Technical experts advise organizations to be conscious of potential pitfalls such as APIs timing out, planning for future migration to avoid vendor lock-in, and controlling access to code to enhance security. It is important to consider limitations and scalability of products, prioritize mitigating cold starts, and design decoupled, stateless serverless applications for optimal efficiency. Monitoring and debugging complexity, careful consideration of scaling and performance needs, as well as avoiding “function sprawl” are all critical factors to keep in mind.
Serverless computing offers scalability and cost-effectiveness, but organizations should beware of the “invisible infrastructure illusion” and consider the impact on continuous integration and delivery pipelines. Additionally, organizations should think about the duration they can go without access to certain data, be aware of breach prevention, downtime, and access management issues, and establish strict governance to avoid “function sprawl”. With careful planning and consideration of the advice provided, organizations can make informed decisions about implementing serverless computing solutions for their specific needs and requirements.
