The Inner Circle

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  • 1.  Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 14, 2020 10:50:00 AM
    Greetings Follow CSA Community Members,

    I have an interesting question for you all.  In all of the wonderful CSA documents that are out there, cloud native is referenced many times but never actually defined.

    So my question to the community is:

    What is a good definition for what 'cloud native' means?

    Thanks in advance and I look forward to everyone's thoughts!

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    Aaron Bregg
    Director of Professional Outreach
    Cloud Security Alliance
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  • 2.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 14, 2020 03:44:00 PM
    Interesting!

    @Hillary Baron @Shamun Mahmud @John Yeoh or @Jim Reavis does one of you have a good definition for the word "cloud native?" ​​​​

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    Jaclyn Parton
    Marketing Coordinator
    Cloud Security Alliance
    Bellingham WA
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  • 3.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 15, 2020 09:15:00 AM

    @Jaclyn Parton,

    There are many variables and few constants to this equation.  Here is my personal perspective on "what is Cloud native".  I tend to lean towards the Cloud Native Computing Foundation's (CNCF) definition,  see below -

    Cloud native technologies empower organizations to build and run scalable applications in modern, dynamic environments such as public, private, and hybrid clouds. Containers, service meshes, microservices, immutable infrastructure, and declarative APIs exemplify this approach.

    These techniques enable loosely coupled systems that are resilient, manageable, and observable. Combined with robust automation, they allow engineers to make high-impact changes frequently and predictably with minimal toil.

    The Cloud Native Computing Foundation seeks to drive adoption of this paradigm by fostering and sustaining an ecosystem of open source, vendor-neutral projects. We democratize state-of-the-art patterns to make these innovations accessible for everyone.

    URL: https://github.com/cncf/toc/blob/master/DEFINITION.md

    T'is my two pence, YMMV.

    Thanks and best,

    Shamun



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    Shamun Mahmud
    Senior Research Analyst
    CSA
    Bothell WA
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  • 4.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 15, 2020 09:23:00 AM
    Edited by Aaron Bregg Apr 15, 2020 09:30:01 AM
    I like that but I am looking for something a little more consumable by non-tech folks.  Does that make sense?
    Edit:  Oh and thank you for the link!!

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    Aaron Bregg
    Director of Professional Outreach
    Cloud Security Alliance
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  • 5.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 15, 2020 10:52:00 AM
    You can look at the "12 Factor App" definition, it is a bit more hands on that the CNCF.

    https://12factor.net/

    If your application follow the 12 guidelines it is most likely "Cloud Ready" or "Could Native".

    The book "Beyond the Twelve-Factor App" by Kevin Hoffman is a good reference.

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    Simon Laursen
    Senior Security Architect, PhD
    Alexandra Instituttet
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  • 6.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 15, 2020 12:03:00 PM
    Edited by Aaron Bregg Apr 15, 2020 12:05:20 PM
    Excellent and thanks Simon!

    Edit:

    Keep them coming and maybe we all will have to work to come up with a nice and concise definition.  :)

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    Aaron Bregg
    Director of Professional Outreach
    Cloud Security Alliance
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  • 7.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 15, 2020 01:17:00 PM
    Thoughts on this draft of creating an easy to digest definition:

    Cloud Native

    A methodology for consuming technology that is operated using self-service, dynamic, adaptive and elastic processes wherein the delivery of service is modern, secure, nimble, decoupled, observable, monitored, vendor agnostic, latency and self-aware.



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    Aaron Bregg
    Director of Professional Outreach
    Cloud Security Alliance
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  • 8.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 17, 2020 06:48:00 AM

    I looked again today, but I didn't find any proper definition from the NIST, and Idon't believe the term was already crafted when SP 800-145 was release.
    So I fully agree with Shamun Mahmud: the Cloud Native Computing Foundation's (CNCF) is the best place to get a commonly agreed definition.

    Another great place to look at is Microsoft with the "Defining cloud native" document.

    The first sentence reads: "Stop what you're doing and text ten of your colleagues. Ask them to define the term "Cloud Native". Good chance you'll get eight different answers.". This was written in August 2019...

    Link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/architecture/cloud-native/definition



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    Olivier Caleff - CSA French Chapter - Chapter Leader - [email protected] - https://CloudSecurityAlliance.fr
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  • 9.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 17, 2020 07:16:00 AM
    Thanks for the information Oliver.  It is kind of crazy something like a definition for it hasn't been discussed before.  :)

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    Aaron Bregg
    Director of Professional Outreach
    Cloud Security Alliance
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  • 10.  RE: Definition of Cloud Native

    Posted Apr 17, 2020 07:53:00 AM

    I, for one, just relied on CNCF for a proper definition.

    That's also the one I've used while delivering Cloud and Security trainings.



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    Olivier Caleff - CSA French Chapter - Chapter Leader - [email protected] - https://CloudSecurityAlliance.fr
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