The 5 Most Common Challenges Of Serverless Computing In 2024

By TechDogs Editorial Team

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Overview

It’s a bright Monday morning and you, an application developer, are anxious about diving into work – we mean, so much can go wrong. However, the scenario has changed!

Earlier, you’d sweat over server configurations, worry about uptime and cringe at the thought of overpaying for unused resources. Gone are the days of server crashes haunting your nightmares or bandwidth bills eating into your budget. Thanks to the magic of serverless computing, you can simply develop your code, send it to a provider and voila! - they handle the heavy lifting while you can focus on sculpting your app into a masterpiece!

Think of this process of serverless computing as the evolution of web development. Back in the day, owning a server was like adopting a pet elephant - cute at first but later a logistical nightmare. Thankfully, serverless computing stepped in with a variety of benefits that revolutionized how businesses develop, deploy and manage applications. Moreover, serverless architectures abstract away the aspect of infrastructure management, allowing developers to focus solely on writing code and accelerating time-to-market for their applications.

Yet, outsourcing your computing woes comes with a sprinkle of challenges. From the complexity of managing distributed systems to security considerations - there are a handful of challenges with serverless computing.

So, join us in this article as we reveal the 5 common challenges of serverless computing in 2024. Read on!

Serverless computing is a cloud computing model where the cloud provider dynamically manages the allocation and provisioning of servers, allowing developers to focus solely on writing and deploying code without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure.

Wait…wait…that’s too technical to understand, right? So, let’s break it down!

Well, let’s begin with understanding the difference between server computing and serverless computing. For starters, it’s like comparing a traditional buffet to a food delivery service. With server computing, you have to go through a lot of steps right from choosing the restaurant to booking a table to traveling there to waiting for your order to arrive on your table. On the other hand, serverless computing has the entire menu summed up on a single page of the app. You order what you need, when you need it, without worrying about the logistics. It's flexible, cost-effective and perfect for those spur-of-the-moment cravings!

So, let’s delve further into the article and shed some light on the 5 challenges of serverless computing in 2024. We hope you’ve grabbed your plates and are ready to be served!

So, What Exactly Is Serverless Computing?

Serverless computing revolutionizes backend service provision by charging users based on usage rather than fixed server quantities. This method allows companies to deploy code seamlessly, without the burdens of managing an IT infrastructure. Serverless vendors handle scalability automatically, eliminating the need for users to reserve fixed bandwidth or servers. Despite the name, physical servers are still utilized but developers are shielded from these complexities. Traditionally, web application development necessitated owning physical hardware – talk about cumbersome and costly.

Cloud computing introduced remote server rental services but fixed units often led to wasted resources. This is where serverless computing eliminates inefficiencies by enabling developers to focus solely on code development and execution without the hassle of server management.

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However, as mentioned earlier there are several challenges with serverless computing that businesses often face. So, what are these challenges?

The answer awaits in the next section!

What Are The 5 Common Challenges Of Serverless Computing In 2024?

Serverless computing has emerged as a revolutionary paradigm, offering numerous advantages. However, it also presents a unique set of challenges that organizations must address to leverage their full potential effectively.

Here are five prominent challenges facing serverless computing in 2024:

Limited Or No Control

Let’s assume there’s a sudden surge in user activity that triggers multiple functions, overwhelming the system and causing delays. Without the ability to fine-tune server settings or optimize resource allocation, you're left scrambling to mitigate the impact. Well, it’s because of one of the prominent challenges of serverless computing – lack of control. Due to serverless computing, you no longer have direct control over the underlying infrastructure. It might ultimately lead to hardware faults or software errors wreaking havoc on your operations and you're left powerless to intervene. That's the reality of serverless computing—a lack of control that can leave you at the mercy of unseen forces!
Lack Of Compatibility And Consistency

Imagine you have built a robust serverless application utilizing various cloud functionalities. However, when it comes time to scale or integrate additional services, it is not as smooth as expected. The disparate nature of cloud environments poses a challenge, forcing you to navigate a maze of compatibility woes.

You see in an ideal world, integrating cloud services from multiple vendors should be seamless. However, the reality often paints a different picture. Compatibility issues often hinder the process when attempting to adapt different cloud functionalities within a serverless architecture. For instance, you might encounter roadblocks when trying to link a function deployed on one provider's platform with another's services.
Event-driven Risks

In serverless computing, certain events trigger specific functions – but these events can also carry security risks. For instance, imagine a cloud storage event triggers a function to process data. If this data contains malicious code, it could exploit vulnerabilities in the function. Similarly, changes in a NoSQL database could inadvertently inject harmful commands through event triggers. With various event sources, assessing each input for potential threats becomes crucial. Moreover, the diversity of event triggers also expands the attack surface, making it challenging to secure every entry point.
Monitoring And Logging Limitations

Serverless systems may lack robust monitoring and logging capabilities, making it difficult to detect and respond to security threats promptly. How? Let’s understand it with an example. Let’s assume a scenario where an unauthorized user tries to access sensitive data through a serverless function. Without adequate monitoring, this intrusion might go unnoticed until significant damage occurs. Inadequate logging further worsens the problem by hindering forensic analysis and the identification of attack vectors. As a result, early signs of potential attacks may be missed, leaving the system vulnerable. Besides, in serverless environments, IT teams can't access the logs and are limited to gathering logs from the serverless service provider and are hence have limited logging capabilities.
Handling Errors And Dependencies

Error handling and managing dependencies are critical aspects of secure serverless application development. Consider a situation where a developer, while debugging, enables verbose error messages (a descriptive message about a code error) for convenience. These detailed messages can inadvertently expose sensitive information about the application's logic and structure, providing valuable insights to attackers. Moreover, serverless applications often rely on third-party dependencies for database services and cloud integrations. If these dependencies contain vulnerabilities, they could be exploited to compromise the entire system. While cloud service providers are responsible for securing underlying infrastructure, developers must ensure the security of their application logic, code and configurations.

TechDogs-"What Are The 5 Common Challenges Of Serverless Computing In 2024?"-"A Self-generated Two Buttons Meme For The Challenges Of Serverless Computing."

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It’s A Wrap!

While serverless computing offers a glimpse into the future of cloud architecture, it's not without its challenges. From lack of control to grappling with compatibility issues and performance hiccups, navigating the serverless landscape requires a keen understanding of these pitfalls. However, by addressing these challenges head-on and implementing robust security measures, businesses can harness the power of serverless computing while safeguarding their digital assets against potential threats.

Hope we helped you understand the common challenges in serverless computing in 2024 and create a more secure and reliable computing environment for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Serverless Computing and how does it differ from traditional computing?

Serverless computing is a cloud computing model that simplifies the process of managing servers for developers. In traditional computing, developers need to go through several steps, akin to a traditional buffet, including choosing servers, booking resources, and managing infrastructure. Serverless computing, on the other hand, is comparable to a food delivery service where developers can order the computing resources they need without worrying about the logistics. In this model, cloud providers dynamically manage server allocation and provisioning, allowing developers to focus solely on writing and deploying code without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure.

How can businesses address the challenges of Serverless Computing?

Businesses can navigate the challenges of Serverless Computing by addressing them head-on and implementing robust security measures. From lack of control to compatibility issues and performance concerns, understanding these pitfalls is crucial. By acknowledging and actively working to mitigate these challenges, businesses can harness the benefits of serverless computing while ensuring the security and reliability of their computing environment. Implementing best practices and staying informed about advancements in serverless technologies can contribute to more secure and efficient utilization of serverless computing in the evolving landscape of 2024.

What are the common challenges of serverless computing in 2024?

In 2024, serverless computing continues to present organizations with a set of unique challenges despite its revolutionary advantages. Five prominent challenges facing serverless computing include limited or no control, lack of compatibility and consistency, event-driven risks, monitoring and logging limitations, and handling errors and dependencies. These challenges can significantly impact the performance, security, and scalability of serverless applications, requiring businesses to address them effectively to leverage the full potential of this computing paradigm.

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Join The Discussion

The 5 Most Common Challenges Of Serverless Computing In 2024

So, What Exactly Is Serverless Computing?

What Are The 5 Common Challenges Of Serverless Computing In 2024?

Limited Or No Control

Lack Of Compatibility And Consistency

Event-driven Risks

Monitoring And Logging Limitations

Handling Errors And Dependencies

It’s A Wrap!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Serverless Computing and how does it differ from traditional computing?

How can businesses address the challenges of Serverless Computing?

What are the common challenges of serverless computing in 2024?