Pega Cloud 3: An Introduction

I recently had the opportunity to work on Pega Cloud 3 and the latest version of Pega Infinity 23. This experience has deepened my understanding of how Pega Cloud 3 operates and how Pega leverages modern cloud infrastructure to deliver its powerful software as a service (SaaS) offering. In this article, I'll explain the key aspects of Pega Cloud 3, including its pod structure, externalization approach, and how it utilizes cloud services like AWS and Google Cloud, along with PostgreSQL for database management.

Understanding the Pod Structure

Pega Cloud 3 organizes its infrastructure using a concept called "pods." A pod is a self-contained environment that includes everything needed to run Pega applications. Here's a simple breakdown of how pods work:

1. Self-Contained Units: Each pod contains all the necessary components like application servers, web servers, and databases.

2. Isolation: Pods are isolated from each other, ensuring that the performance and security of one pod do not affect others.

3. Scalability: Pods can scale up or down depending on the demand, making it easy to handle varying workloads.

Externalization

Externalization in Pega Cloud 3 means separating certain parts of the application from the core system to make it easier to manage and update. This approach has several benefits:

1. Flexibility: By externalizing components, Pega can quickly update or replace parts of the system without affecting the entire application.

2. Security: Sensitive data and services can be handled separately, enhancing overall security.

3. Efficiency: Externalizing allows for more efficient use of resources, improving performance.

Externalized Components in Pega Cloud 3

Pega has externalized several critical components like including Kafka stream nodes, Elasticsearch, and Cassandra. Here's how each of these externalized services contributes to the overall functionality and efficiency of Pega Cloud 3:

Kafka Stream Nodes:

Function: Kafka stream nodes are used for real-time data streaming and processing.

Benefits: By externalizing Kafka, Pega ensures that real-time data processing is handled efficiently and can be scaled independently from the core application. This allows for better handling of large volumes of data and real-time analytics.

Elasticsearch:

Function: Elasticsearch is used for search and analytics.

Benefits: Externalizing Elasticsearch enables Pega to provide powerful search capabilities and fast data retrieval. It allows users to perform complex searches and analytics without impacting the performance of the core application.

Cassandra:

Function: Cassandra is a distributed database system used for handling large amounts of data across many servers.

Benefits: By externalizing Cassandra, Pega can ensure high availability and scalability of data storage. Cassandra's distributed nature means that it can handle large volumes of data with minimal latency, making it ideal for applications that require fast read and write operations.

Pega as a SaaS Offering

Pega Cloud 3 delivers Pega applications as a Software as a Service (SaaS) offering. This means customers can use Pega's tools and applications over the internet without needing to install or maintain any hardware or software themselves. Here's how it works:

1. Hosted on Cloud Platforms: Pega Cloud 3 runs on top of popular cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This means Pega benefits from the reliability, scalability, and security of these top-tier cloud providers.

2. Database Management: Pega Cloud 3 uses PostgreSQL as its default database system. PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source relational database that is known for its stability and performance.

3. Pods and Hazelcast Nodes: Pega Cloud 3 uses pods which are interconnected. Within these pods, Hazelcast nodes handle specific tasks and are interlinked to ensure the smooth operation of Pega applications. There are no traditional servers or nodes in Pega Cloud 3.

Benefits of Pega Cloud 3

Using Pega Cloud 3 offers several advantages to businesses:

1. Cost-Effective: With Pega Cloud 3, there's no need to invest in expensive hardware or worry about maintenance costs. Everything is handled by Pega.

2. Scalability: Pega Cloud 3 can easily scale to meet the needs of growing businesses. Whether you need more processing power or storage, Pega Cloud 3 can adjust to your needs.

3. Security: Hosting on AWS and GCP means benefiting from their advanced security measures, ensuring your data is protected.

4. Reliability: These cloud platforms are known for their reliability, meaning your Pega applications will be available when you need them.