Serverless computing is revolutionising the way mediatech companies develop applications. Eliminating the need to manage infrastructure allows them to focus on developing functionality and increasing business value. Among the leaders in this field are AWS Lambda and Google Cloud Functions (GCP). Which of these platforms better supports scalability and performance while delivering cost efficiency in mediatech? Below are the key features of both solutions.

Problems and challenges before implementing serverless platforms in mediatech ​

Migrating to serverless platforms opens up new opportunities, but at the same time comes with many challenges. Companies face technological and operational issues that can affect their efficiency and user satisfaction. How do you prepare for these challenges to minimise risk in the mediatech industry?

• Resource constraints: companies need to be confident that the chosen platform will meet their scaling and performance needs, eliminating the risk of downtime.
• Complexity of integration: if systems are incompatible, costs and implementation time can increase significantly. Proper planning is key.
• Predicting costs: billing models need to be transparent so that companies can manage budgets effectively.
• Cold start: even minimal delays in application performance can negatively affect user experience, especially in industries requiring immediate responsiveness.

Let’s talk business.

Key benefits of AWS Lambda in mediatech ​

AWS Lambda offers a wide range of capabilities that translate into real business benefits. It is a solution designed with scalability and flexibility in mind, key to today's applications.

• Higher limits and greater flexibility: AWS Lambda supports higher workloads with memory limits of up to 10 GB and a maximum execution time of 15 minutes. Such parameters enable complex workloads, increasing competitive advantage.
• Cost-effectiveness: the free AWS Lambda level of 1 million requests per month allows companies to reduce operational costs, especially in the early stages of application development.
• Advanced monitoring: with Amazon CloudWatch, companies can effectively monitor the performance of their applications, minimising the risk of downtime and optimising resources.
• Support for Edge Computing: the Lambda@Edge features enable code to run close to end users, reducing latency and improving the real-time user experience.

Key benefits of GCP Cloud Functions ​

Although GCP Cloud Functions offers less advanced capabilities than AWS Lambda, it is still a valuable solution for companies using the Google ecosystem.

• Simplicity of deployment: with Google Cloud CLI's intuitive tools and easy-to-use interface, companies can start using the platform more quickly.
• Integration with the Google ecosystem: GCP Cloud Functions integrates with services such as BigQuery and Google Cloud Storage, which is beneficial for companies already using Google products.

Implementation process ​

Implementing a scalable system requires careful planning and the right choice of tools. The process can be divided into several key stages:

• Needs analysis: understanding business requirements, such as the number of users or anticipated workloads, allows the selection of appropriate tools and strategies.
• System design: integration with API Gateway, DynamoDB or Pub/Sub enables the creation of flexible systems that can be easily scaled according to needs.
• Performance monitoring: tools such as AWS CloudWatch and Google Cloud Monitoring provide insight into key performance indicators, helping to respond quickly to issues.
• Minimising latency: solutions such as Provisioned Concurrency in AWS or Minimum Instances in GCP minimise cold start problems, ensuring smooth application performance.

Let’s talk business.

Effects and return on investment in mediatech ​

Choosing the right serverless platform translates into real returns for the company, so we look at the business benefits of the investment below.

AWS Lambda:

• Enhanced scalability: seamless handling of peak traffic through automatic scaling.
• Lower operating costs: reduced expenses thanks to a free level and optimised infrastructure.
• Improved performance: faster response times thanks to advanced caching mechanisms.

GCP Cloud Functions:

• Simplicity of implementation: quick set-up within the Google ecosystem.
• Cost optimisation for smaller projects: suitable for applications with predictable, smaller workloads.

Prospects for the future and preparing for change ​

How will serverless technologies change the future of business? Serverless platforms are constantly evolving, offering increasingly advanced features such as edge computing and powerful monitoring mechanisms. Companies that invest in these technologies will gain a competitive advantage through flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly to changing market needs.

How do AWS Lambda and GCP Cloud Functions support the growth of the mediatech industry? ​

Choosing the right serverless platform for the mediatech industry depends on a company's specific operational needs and business strategy. Both AWS Lambda and GCP Cloud Functions offer unique features that can significantly impact media production efficiency, streaming, content management and other key aspects of your business.

Let’s talk business.

Why will AWS Lambda work well for mediatech? ​

AWS Lambda is a leader in advanced scalability, ideal for mediatech companies facing rapidly changing user demand.

• Handling large workloads: AWS Lambda is ideal for handling complex processes such as real-time video transcoding or analysing large media data sets.Higher memory limits and longer execution times enable advanced operations.
• Integration with other AWS services: services such as Amazon S3, CloudFront or DynamoDB facilitate media management, distribution and personalisation of the user experience. Lambda@Edge allows local processing with minimal latency, which is crucial for streaming and interactive user experiences.
• Monitoring and optimisation: AWS CloudWatch enables ongoing tracking of application performance and identification of bottlenecks, which is key to seamless streaming and content optimisation.

When will GCP Cloud Functions perform better for mediatech? ​

GCP Cloud Functions, despite its more limited scalability, is a great choice for companies using Google products.

• Integration with the Google ecosystem: GCP Cloud Functions offers easy collaboration with BigQuery, ideal for analysing audience data, and Cloud Storage, which enables the storage and management of large media libraries. Firestore supports applications requiring low latency and high responsiveness, such as interactive media applications.
• Cost optimisation for smaller projects: GCP can be more cost-effective for simpler applications, such as content editing applications or smaller content management systems (CMS).
• Ease of use: GCP's intuitive tools make it easy to quickly deploy and manage applications, which can be important in the dynamic mediatech environment where rapid iteration and change are key.

Key aspects of platform selection at mediatech ​

Available resources and needs:

• AWS Lambda is ideal for companies needing high-performance solutions with greater technical resources.
• GCP Cloud Functions will work well in less demanding environments or where the Google ecosystem is already being used.

Long-term goals:

• If a company is planning dynamic growth, the scalability of AWS Lambda is irreplaceable.
• For predictable traffic and the need to optimise costs, GCP Cloud Functions offers a simpler and efficient solution.

Application type:

• AWS Lambda is a better choice for advanced streaming applications, video transcoding and content analytics.
• GCP Cloud Functions will be sufficient for less complex processes such as CMS automation or integration of marketing tools.

Let’s talk business.

Conclusion ​

The mediatech industry presents companies with the challenges of managing huge volumes of data, providing high quality services and operational flexibility. AWS Lambda offers advanced scalability, integration with the AWS ecosystem and monitoring tools to support the development of complex applications. GCP Cloud Functions, on the other hand, with its ease of use and integration with Google products, provides an attractive solution for less demanding projects.

The final choice should take into account the specifics of business and technology needs to ensure cost optimisation and maximum efficiency in the long term.

Download document

PDF, 24.2MB