Share with friends
In the present-day tech-driven world, we're coming across numerous advanced tools and technologies that are shifting conventional tasks to automation to make things more efficient and accurate eventually.
Not only this but these latest tech trends help businesses in cost optimization, scalability, security, etc.
Kubernetes is one such platform that is getting immense popularity in the organizational sector and businesses are adopting this open-source container orchestration solution.
Although the utmost benefits of using Kubernetes like better business productivity, better stability, portability & flexibility, multi-cloud capability, and various others are not hidden from anyone.
But there's a common concern that is always heard - should you use Kubernetes for your startup?
Should You Use Kubernetes For Your Startup In this article, we'll get to know whether it is beneficial or not, to use Kubernetes for startups, based on various factors and uses cases. But before moving further, we first need to understand what is Kubernetes.
What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes (or K8s), originally developed at Google, is meant with an open-source container management system that allows you to manage containerized applications effectively.
If we talk about the container, it packages up software code along with all its dependencies and microservices so that the application can be abstracted from the environment and becomes executable in all environments.
Benefits of Kubernetes for Startups
Now, let's get to know some of the prominent benefits of using Kubernetes for Startups:
1. Scalability
Every developer or entrepreneur leading a startup has always the scalability factor in their mind.
Using Kubernetes allows startups to scale more efficiently, reliably, and effectively with its auto-scaling capabilities as the frequency of running containers can be increased automatically.
With Kubernetes, applications run on a microservices-based architecture and not on monolithic architecture that provides the startups with the leverage of more flexibility and limitless scaling.
Other than that, Kubernetes helps in better resource utilization, and cost optimization by shortening SDLC, etc. And most importantly, improving the user experience by reducing the instances of applications down or crashing.
2. Flexibility and Portability
Going ahead, here comes the flexibility and portability aspect of using Kubernetes for your startup.
Kubernetes gives you the freedom to use on-premises servers, public clouds, virtual private clouds, hybrid cloud infrastructure, or any other based on your preference and requirements.
As Kubernetes is compatible with various platforms and is supported by almost all public clouds - it makes it easier to migrate from one host OS to another and avoid any cloud provider and infrastructure lock-in.
You can develop, deploy, test, and maintain applications irrespective of depending upon a particular infrastructure.
3. Fast Development and Easy Deployment
Kubernetes solves the problem of slow product or application development also as when you use microservices instead of monolithic architecture - the new features can be developed or added in a more effective and modular manner.
Individual development and testing environments with Kubernetes can make the overall development process a bit faster and more productive.
Also, with Kubernetes, communication between services and app components can also be enabled. Along with it, Kubernetes makes deployment easier with its self-healing automated rollouts & rollbacks without downtime facilities.
Some other prominent features that help you effectively manage your containers include DNS management, resource monitoring, etc.
4. Cost Efficiency
Another significant benefit of using Kubernetes for your startup is cost optimization or reduction.
The applications that are deployed in Kubernetes clusters are quite affordable or economical to maintain and you've required comparatively lesser memory or storage to run them. Also, Kubernetes follows an efficient resource management model at all levels.
In addition, Kubernetes is associated with high availability requirements (automatic maintenance of the desired state, regular monitoring of node health, rolling updates, etc.) to avoid downtime.
All these facilities along with features like automated scaling (vertical and horizontal scaling), flexibility, built-in resource optimization, etc. help significantly in cost optimization.
5. Rich Application Support & Community Support
You can also use Kubernetes in your startup for application deployment and infrastructure management as it comes up with rich application support and huge community support.
Kubernetes supports a vast range of programming frameworks and languages including Java and Python. Besides, Kubernetes do well in integration and extensibility aspects as well.
Kubernetes has a huge developer and active user community and currently, almost every leading cloud provider offer Kubernetes solutions, the adoption rate of Kubernetes by companies is surely going to increase in the coming times.
Some of the renowned companies that are using or benefited from implementing Kubernetes are listed below:
- Spotify
- Tinder
- Airbnb
and many more!
When Not to Consider Kubernetes for Your Startup?
Okay, so as of now, we've discussed the importance and benefits of using Kubernetes for your startup. Now, coming to the opposite part - what are those scenarios or cases where using Kubernetes will not be much beneficial for a company (particularly a startup)?
Firstly, if your startup is concerned with complex applications and you want to scale your tech startup with some high-end goals then you surely go with Kubernetes as it undoubtedly works well with complex applications for multiple services running in different containers.
But in case, if you're associated with a simple application based on monolithic architecture (let's say a plain WordPress website), then you can avoid considering Kubernetes.
In a similar context, if you don't require high availability for your product/application or are not eligible/ready to adopt DevOps practices - it won't be recommended to you use Kubernetes for your startup.
Moreover, Kubernetes is not that easy to learn and adopt - hence, if you (and your team) are not ready to dedicate enough time and effort, it would be better to avoid it.
Conclusion
With all the above-mentioned details, what we can conclude is Kubernetes surely have some amazing benefits for the startups like strong architecture, rich application support, scalability, effective codebase management, integration & extensibility, portability & flexibility, etc.
But if you don't have proper requirements and implementation plans like no business scaling requirement, having a simple website, not requiring monolithic to microservices-based architecture transition, etc. then you can put the idea of adopting Kubernetes on hold, at least for some time.
Again, Kubernetes has all the potential and facilities to scale up your business (especially for tech startups) to such a high level along with saving a significant amount of money for your business!!
Share with friends