7 Reasons to Use Kubernetes

As you’ve probably guessed from the name of our company, we are huge fans of Kubernetes. And, let us assure you, it’s for an excellent reason! Kubernetes has proven to be a game-changer, propelling businesses to new heights when implemented correctly.

It’s not surprising it’s becoming the gold standard in the industry – there are many compelling reasons to build your platform on top of it.

But wait…

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an (open-source) container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides a robust and flexible framework for running and managing container workloads across distributed environments.

At its core, Kubernetes aims to simplify the deployment and management of applications by abstracting away the underlying infrastructure complexities. It allows developers and system administrators to focus on defining the desired state of their applications rather than worrying about the details of where and how those applications are run.

Now that we know what it is, let’s explore why you should use Kubernetes in your company.

But first, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

Containers, containers everywhere

Kubernetes today is very much a result of the exploding popularity of the container “boom”. The “boom” that started when Docker first made containers attractive and easily accessible to developers.

Today’s container scene has evolved much since the initial stage. But the value proposition stays the same.

Containers allow you to package applications and their dependencies into lightweight, self-contained containers. These containers are highly portable and can run consistently across different environments, such as development, testing, and production.

Thus, containers eliminate the “works on my machine” problem by ensuring that applications run reliably and consistently regardless of the underlying host system.

Which brings us to Kubernetes.

Kubernetes is perfect for containerized applications

Kubernetes is to containers what Uber is to taxis. Yes, there have been taxis before, but the ease of use is unparalleled.

While Docker made developing and running individual containers easy, Kubernetes makes managing whole sets of applications a lot easier (in the form of clusters).

Containers provide lightweight, portable, and isolated environments for applications, and Kubernetes offers robust features for container orchestration, including deployment, scaling, and management.

It simplifies the management of containerized workloads, ensuring consistency and efficiency across various environments.

Kubernetes is for scalability and high availability

Kubernetes excels in handling scalable and highly available applications.

Its built-in scaling mechanisms allow applications to dynamically adjust their resource usage based on demand. Kubernetes can automatically scale the number of application instances up or down to ensure optimal resource utilization.

Additionally, it distributes workloads across multiple containers and nodes, providing fault tolerance and minimizing downtime, thereby maintaining high availability.

Kubernetes is for microservices

Microservices architecture involves building applications as a collection of loosely coupled, independently deployable services.

Kubernetes aligns well with this approach, as it enables the management and scaling of individual microservices independently.

Each microservice can be decoupled and deployed as a separate container, while Kubernetes provides service discovery and orchestrates their interactions, allowing for efficient development, scalability, and management of complex distributed systems

Kubernetes promotes DevOps practices

Perhaps one of the most important aspects.

Kubernetes supports and complements DevOps practices by providing automation capabilities.

It makes integration with CI/CD pipelines easy, allowing for automated deployment, scaling, and management of applications.

Most importantly, Kubernetes facilitates infrastructure as code principles, enabling teams to define application infrastructure using declarative configurations. This is becoming especially relevant in the light of projects like Google’s Metacontroller or Upbound’s Crossplane (projects which we’re huge fans of).

This tight integration with DevOps practices streamlines the application lifecycle, promotes collaboration, and enhances agility.

Kubernetes cuts infrastructure costs

Kubernetes helps optimize resource utilization by dynamically allocating resources based on workload demands. It can automatically scale applications up or down, adjusting resource allocations in response to changes in demand.

This elasticity ensures that resources are efficiently utilized, avoiding overprovisioning and minimizing unnecessary costs associated with idle resources. Kubernetes also provides resource scheduling capabilities to efficiently distribute workloads across available resources.

Kubernetes simplifies operating in multi-cloud and hybrid environments

Kubernetes offers flexibility in deploying applications across multiple cloud providers or in hybrid environments. It provides a consistent abstraction layer that hides the underlying infrastructure details, making it easier to deploy and manage applications consistently across different environments.

This portability allows organizations to adopt a multi-cloud or hybrid strategy, leveraging the strengths of different platforms or transitioning between environments as needed.

Kubernetes makes infrastructure more portable

Kubernetes offers infrastructure portability, making it easier to migrate or move applications between different environments or cloud providers.

It abstracts away the underlying infrastructure details and standardizes the management and deployment of applications through its API-driven approach.

This reduces vendor lock-in risks and allows organizations to choose the most suitable infrastructure for their needs, whether it’s on-premises, in the cloud, or across different cloud providers.

The bottom line

Kubernetes simplifies the application lifecycle, enhances portability, and promotes efficient resource utilization. It enables faster development cycles, seamless deployment, and scalability, making it a popular choice for organizations seeking to modernize their application infrastructure and embrace containerization.

Now that you know everything about Kubernetes you probably wonder how to implement it in a way that fits your business’s goals.

Contact us today and let’s empower your team together.