What is auto scaling in the cloud?
Auto scaling automatically adds or removes servers based on current demand. When traffic rises, the cloud starts more servers, and when it falls, it shuts some down. This keeps the app responsive during busy times and saves money during quiet times, because you only pay for what you actually use.
How it works
You set rules, such as add a server when CPU usage stays above 70 percent, and remove one when it drops below 30 percent. The cloud watches these metrics and adjusts the number of servers for you, with no manual work.
- Handles traffic spikes without a human reacting.
- Saves money by removing idle servers.
- Usually works together with a load balancer.
Point out that auto scaling and load balancing go hand in hand. New servers are useless unless a load balancer routes traffic to them, so mentioning both shows you see the full picture.
Common follow up questions
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