Kubernetes & Container Platforms
Containers are quick to adopt and slow to master.
Kubernetes rewards teams with a platform owner and punishes teams without one. We help you decide whether it is justified, and where it is, we set it up so that scaling, upgrades, secrets and networking are handled by reviewed configuration rather than by memory.
Tools we work in
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- Helm
- Terraform
- AWS
- Grafana
- GitHub Actions
Scope
What this covers
The specific work included when you engage us for this service.
- A straight answer on whether Kubernetes is justified for your workload
- Cluster setup with considered defaults for networking, storage and upgrade policy
- Declarative manifests reviewed like application code
- Autoscaling, resource requests and limits that reflect measured usage
- Secret management, image scanning and admission policies
- Upgrade, node rotation and incident runbooks your own team can follow
What you receive
- 01A running cluster with the workload deployed, versioned and reproducible from code
- 02A written operating guide covering upgrades, scaling, node changes and common failures
- 03Cost and complexity comparison against the managed alternative we would otherwise recommend
Questions
Kubernetes & Container Platforms, answered
Do we actually need Kubernetes?
Usually not, and we say so. A container platform earns its complexity when you have several services that need independent scaling, a team that wants a common deployment interface, or a genuine need to run the same workload across cloud providers. A single application is better served by a managed container service or a platform like Vercel, both of which cost far less to operate.
Who upgrades the cluster?
The runbook we write is for your team, and we are happy to run the first few upgrades with them rather than for them. Kubernetes versions go out of support, so upgrades are a recurring task, not a one-off. A cluster nobody upgrades eventually becomes a security problem and a forced migration at the same time.
Managed service or self-managed control plane?
Managed, unless there is a specific reason otherwise. The control plane is the part that requires the most operational attention and provides the least differentiation to your business. Self-managing it makes sense on strict data-residency requirements or in an air-gapped environment, and rarely anywhere else.
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Tell us where the manual work is
A 30-minute call. We map the process, tell you what we would automate or build first, and what it costs. No retainer before you agree the scope.
- No retainer before scope is agreed
- Written plan you can act on alone
- Worldwide delivery, on your hours