Last modified: Jan 31 2026 at 10:09 PM • 3 mins read

Examine Cloud-Native Apps

Table of contents

  1. What Is Cloud-Native?
  2. Cloud Infrastructure Service Model
  3. Benefits of Cloud-Native Applications
  4. Key Takeaways

Side-by-side comparison illustrating traditional versus cloud-native infrastructure approaches: Left side labeled TRADITIONAL (PETS) shows a person standing next to a server rack thinking about prod-server-01 with text below stating Monolithic & Manual and a red X mark; Right side labeled CLOUD-NATIVE (CATTLE) displays a cloud icon connected to multiple service instances (Service-01 through Service-04) with a CI/CD pipeline, accompanied by icons representing Modern Design, Containers, Backing Services, Automation, and DevOps Culture, with text below stating Microservices, Containers, Automation, Scalable and a green checkmark

What Is Cloud-Native?

Cloud infrastructure diagram showing a cloud containing icons representing a Cloud Native App built from multiple microservices, with arrows connecting to surrounding concepts: Modern Design, Microservices, Containers on the right side, and Backing Services and Automation on the left side

The speed and agility of cloud-native derives from many factors. Foremost is cloud infrastructure, but there are five other foundational pillars that provide the bedrock for cloud-native systems:

  1. Modern design - Microservices architecture
  2. Containers - Lightweight, portable packaging
  3. Backing services - Managed cloud services
  4. Automation - CI/CD and infrastructure as code
  5. DevOps culture - Collaboration and shared responsibility

Cloud Infrastructure Service Model

Cloud-native systems take full advantage of the cloud service model. They’re designed to thrive in a dynamic, virtualized cloud environment, making extensive use of Platform as a Service (PaaS) compute infrastructure and managed services.

Key Principle: Disposable Infrastructure

Cloud-native treats the underlying infrastructure as disposable - provisioned in minutes and resized, scaled, or destroyed on demand via automation.

Pets vs. Cattle: A Comparison

The difference between traditional and cloud-native infrastructure can be understood through the “pets vs. cattle” analogy:

AspectPets (Traditional)Cattle (Cloud-Native)
IdentityNamed servers (e.g., “prod-server-01”)System identifiers (e.g., “Service-01”)
CareManually maintained and repairedAutomatically replaced when unhealthy
ScalingVertical (add resources to same machine)Horizontal (add more instances)
Failure ImpactEveryone notices, requires interventionAutomatic replacement, minimal impact
UpdatesModified and patched in placeDestroyed and replaced with new version
InfrastructureMutable (changed over time)Immutable (never modified after creation)

The Cattle Model in Practice

In the commodities (cattle) model:

  • Each instance is provisioned as a virtual machine or container
  • All instances are identical and interchangeable
  • Instances receive system identifiers rather than meaningful names
  • Failed or outdated instances are destroyed and replaced automatically
  • The application continues running regardless of individual instance lifecycle

Azure Support: The Azure cloud platform supports this highly elastic infrastructure with automatic scaling, self-healing, and monitoring capabilities.

Benefits of Cloud-Native Applications

Cloud-native applications are built to take advantage of cloud computing models to increase speed, flexibility, and quality while reducing deployment risks.

Core Benefits

BenefitDescription
ResilientDesigned to be loosely coupled and distributed - if one component fails, the application continues to function
ElasticScale out to meet demand, scale in to reduce costs, or scale to zero when not in use
ObservableBuilt-in monitoring capabilities for health and performance tracking
AutomatedBuild, test, and deploy quickly and reliably through automation

Deployment and Operations

BenefitDescription
PortableRun in the cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid environments
SecureBuilt-in security practices protect data and customers
ComposableBuilt from modular components that can be reused across applications
ManagedFocus on building applications instead of managing infrastructure

Development and Team Benefits

BenefitDescription
ModernLeverage the latest technologies and best practices
OpenUse open-source software and avoid vendor lock-in
CollaborativeEnable team-based development and shared ownership
AgileRespond quickly to business changes and customer needs
InnovativeAdopt cutting-edge technologies and development practices

Business Value

BenefitDescription
Cost-effectivePay only for resources you use
SustainableReduce environmental impact through efficient resource usage
Data-drivenUse data to make informed decisions and improve applications
InclusiveBuild accessible applications for everyone

Key Takeaways

  • Cloud-native applications embrace disposable infrastructure rather than long-lived servers
  • The cattle model (horizontal scaling of identical instances) replaces the traditional pets model (vertical scaling of named servers)
  • Cloud-native provides 17 key benefits across resilience, operations, development, and business value
  • Azure provides the platform capabilities needed for cloud-native success: automatic scaling, self-healing, and comprehensive monitoring