Why use Kubernetes: The Ultimate Guide

Developed by Google, Kubernetes is the most widely used open-source technology for organizing containers globally. Since its public release, Kubernetes has enabled organizations shift from traditional IT infrastructure to automating how they deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications. This revolutionary tool has transformed how businesses handle their software operations, offering flexibility, efficiency, and scalability.

Before we explore why Kubernetes is used, let's first gain a clear understanding of what it is and how it works.

Understanding Kubernetes and How it Works

Kubernetes is an open-source platform engineered for container orchestration, which involves deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications. This scalable and portable solution automates most of these processes, making it ideal for deploying cloud-native applications across diverse private, public, and hybrid cloud environments.

A container is a fundamental software unit that bundles code and all its dependencies, ensuring an application runs consistently across different environments. Each container includes hardware, an operating system, a container engine, libraries, dependencies, and the application itself.

For instance, Containers are like pizza kits that include everything needed to make a pizza (run an application) consistently, whereas Kubernetes is like the manager who oversees multiple restaurants, ensuring they have enough pizza kits, replacing faulty ones, and introducing new recipes without disrupting service.

Market presence of Kubernetes

If you're still unsure about why use Kubernetes, consider these statistics, which justify its increasing importance and widespread adoption.

Over 60% of organizations worldwide have adopted Kubernetes in the past few years, and even more companies are planning to do so.

As reported by Skyquestt, Kubernetes is the second fastest-growing open-source project after Linux, with a market size of USD 1.742 billion in 2023. It’s projected to grow at 17.7% annually, reaching even higher by 2032.

CNCF’s annual survey states that over 60% of enterprises use Kubernetes, and adoption has risen to 96%.

Kubernetes is used by over 5.6 million developers worldwide, according to SlashData.

Top 6 Usecases Defining Why Use Kubernetes

Now that we've covered what Kubernetes is, how it works, and its rapid market growth, let's explore why organizations should use it and the best ways to utilize it.

1. Run AI, ML, and Big Data Workloads:

Just as a well-organized factory processes large amounts of raw materials (data) into finished products. Kubernetes easily scales up to handle large-scale AI and Machine Learning tasks, managing massive data volumes efficiently and cost-effectively.

2. Deploying Microservices:

Kubernetes simplifies managing applications by breaking them into smaller, specialized microservices. For instance, in e-commerce, it handles separate tasks like product catalog, payments, and user authentication independently. It also helps with updates, logs, and monitoring for these services.

3. Multi-Tenant Applications:

Picture an apartment building where every tenant has a secure, separate area. Similarly, for applications serving multiple customers, Kubernetes ensures that isolated and safe environments are maintained for each customer's data and services, optimizing resource usage and ensuring security.

4. High-Performance Computing (HPC):

Kubernetes manages data clusters and supports data-heavy tasks like a supercomputer, making it suitable for high-performance computing applications.

5. Cloud Migration:

When organizations migrate their data centers to the cloud, Kubernetes facilitates this process by initially moving large sections (pods) and subsequently breaking them down into smaller components to optimize cloud resources effectively.

For instance, a financial firm shifts its data processing to the cloud with Kubernetes. Initially, Kubernetes migrates large data tasks (pods), ensuring resources are used effectively. It then breaks tasks into smaller units, boosting efficiency and scalability in the cloud.

6. Serverless Environment:

In a serverless environment, businesses prioritize writing code over managing existing infrastructure. Kubernetes supports this by providing a platform that works across different cloud providers, reducing costs and avoiding vendor lock-in.

Wrapping it up!

Kubernetes has transformed how businesses handle application deployment and management. Whether you’re handling AI and machine learning workloads or moving to the cloud, Kubernetes is an essential tool for modern software operations. Since its launch by Google, this open-source platform has made it easier to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications, providing flexibility, efficiency, and scalability, defining its importance, and explaining why use Kubernetes in today's tech landscape.

For organizations looking to leverage the power of this tool fully, Kubernetes consulting services can be a game-changer. These experts can help you set up, optimize, and scale your Kubernetes environment, ensuring you get the most out of this powerful tool.