As more businesses embrace digital transformation, cloud computing has become the foundation for modern application development and deployment. However, terms like cloud native and cloud based (or cloud hosted) are often used interchangeably—leading to confusion among business leaders, developers, and IT teams.
In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between cloud native and cloud based applications, explore their pros and cons, and help you determine which approach fits your organization’s needs.
What Is Cloud Based (Cloud Hosted)?
Cloud based (or cloud hosted) refers to applications that were originally developed for traditional environments (e.g., on-premise servers) but have been moved—or “lifted and shifted”—to run in the cloud.
Characteristics:
- Often monolithic in structure
- Hosted on virtual machines (VMs) or traditional infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)
- Limited scalability and flexibility
- May require significant manual maintenance and updates
Cloud based applications benefit from cloud infrastructure (like availability, remote access, or storage), but they aren’t optimized for dynamic cloud environments.
What Is Cloud Native?
Cloud native refers to applications built specifically for the cloud—leveraging microservices architecture, containerization (e.g., Docker), orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes), and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
Characteristics:
- Designed using microservices
- Deployed in containers
- Automated, scalable, and resilient
- Use of DevOps and CI/CD pipelines
- Built for elasticity and rapid iteration
Cloud native apps are modular, agile, and inherently scalable, making them ideal for businesses looking to innovate quickly and respond to changing demands.
Cloud Native vs Cloud Based: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Cloud Based (Hosted) | Cloud Native |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Monolithic or legacy | Microservices |
| Deployment | Virtual machines | Containers (Docker, Kubernetes) |
| Scalability | Manual or limited | Automated, dynamic |
| Maintenance | Manual patching & updates | Continuous integration & delivery |
| Performance Optimization | Not optimized for cloud | Designed for cloud scalability |
| Cost Efficiency | May lead to underutilized resources | Optimized resource consumption |
| Time to Market | Slower | Faster with agile iterations |
Benefits of Cloud Based Applications
✅ Easier and quicker migration from on-premise
✅ Minimal development changes required
✅ Can use existing infrastructure investments
✅ Suitable for legacy applications with low agility needs
However, they may lack scalability, flexibility, and long-term efficiency.
Benefits of Cloud Native Applications
✅ Fast and frequent updates via CI/CD
✅ Automatic scaling and self-healing systems
✅ Resilient to failure due to distributed architecture
✅ More efficient use of resources and cost
✅ Ideal for modern, innovation-driven environments
The trade-off? Cloud native development requires new skills, tools, and architectural planning.
When to Use Cloud Based vs Cloud Native
Choose Cloud Based if:
- You’re migrating legacy apps to the cloud
- You need a quick lift-and-shift approach
- Your application has low scalability needs
Choose Cloud Native if:
- You’re building new applications from scratch
- You need speed, agility, and scalability
- Your business prioritizes innovation, DevOps, and microservices
Many organizations adopt a hybrid approach: starting with cloud hosted, then gradually refactoring into cloud native over time.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between cloud based and cloud native applications is crucial for making informed technology decisions. While cloud based apps offer an easier path to migration, cloud native apps provide the agility and scalability needed in today’s competitive digital landscape.
To stay ahead, forward-thinking organizations are modernizing their infrastructure, embracing DevOps culture, and investing in cloud native technologies.
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