Essay Questions
- Analyze the progression from a monolithic application architecture to a microservice architecture. Using the e-commerce portal example from the text, explain the specific problems with the monolithic approach that microservices aim to solve.
- Compare and contrast the five composition patterns discussed: Aggregator, Proxy, Chained, Branch, and Shared Resource. Discuss the flow of communication between the client and the services in each pattern and hypothesize which pattern would be most suitable for a complex application requiring both security and flexibility.
- Explain the three types of scaling—X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Z-Axis—as detailed in the source. How do these distinct scaling methodologies address different aspects of application growth and load distribution?
- Discuss the concept of “Technology Heterogeneity” as an advantage of microservices. How does this feature contribute to creating a system with maximum security, speed, and scalability, and what are the corresponding challenges it introduces, as noted in the disadvantages?
- Describe the security challenges inherent in a cloud-based microservice environment for both service providers and consumers. Outline the four defensive mechanisms (Deterrent, Preventive, Detective, Corrective Control) and explain how they create a comprehensive security strategy.