Cloud-Native vs. Cloud-Hosted:
Which is Wearing a Mask?
Written by Mark Price, Chief Product Officer
Malvern, PA - October 31st, 2024
This Halloween, remember why it is scary not to be cloud-native….
At this point, we all understand the importance of being “in the cloud”. However, there’s a significant difference between being hosted in the cloud and being cloud-native. Many collection systems boast about their cloud capabilities, but not all of them are built to leverage the full benefits of cloud architecture.
Being cloud-native means the system is designed from the ground up to operate in the cloud environment. This distinction is crucial because just being cloud-hosted does not automatically resolve challenges related to scalability, security and feature rollouts. In many ways, it is simply putting a mask on the face of on-premise problems.
Three Spooky Reasons Why Cloud-Native is Superior
1. Avoid the horror of security risks
Simply being in the cloud does not guarantee the same level of security, as legacy systems may still harbor vulnerabilities. In contrast, security is built into the very fabric of cloud-native applications, enabling these applications to isolate and protect sensitive data more effectively. This approach minimizes the attack surface and simplifies compliance.
2. Simplify the nightmare of scalability
Traditional cloud-based systems often require manual intervention to manage capacity and have limited resources. This leads to potential downtime, inefficiencies and monetary losses. On the other hand, cloud-native systems are inherently scalable. They can automatically adjust to meet demand with far-reaching amounts of capacity, whether it’s scaling up during peak times or scaling down during quieter periods. This flexibility ensures optimal performance and cost-efficiency.
3. Prevent the fear of stagnation
Cloud-hosted systems often face prolonged update cycles and require significant downtime, maintenance, and cost. Cloud-native architecture supports continuous integration and continuous deployment. This means that new features, updates, and bug fixes can be deployed rapidly and consistently, without disrupting the user experience. This continuous delivery model accelerates innovation and keeps the system up-to-date with the latest advancements.
The Real-World Example: AKUVO
Let’s talk about AKUVO’s technology as an example. Cybersecurity is inherently part of everything the company develops within its cloud-native collections platform. AKUVO builds, delivers, and supports modern architecture built on Microsoft Azure, a global leader in providing secure cloud infrastructure to the financial industry. This gives AKUVO customers superior confidence in areas of security and scalability.
The platform also stands out for its seamless monthly feature rollouts. The process requires no testing, no IT intervention, and no additional support, setting a high standard for what collections technology can achieve.
With AKUVO, financial institutions can continuously enhance their capabilities, feel secure and easily scale without headaches —no tricks, just treats!