Making the transition from virtual machines to containers is a complex process that can take some time, particularly for larger, more complex environments. Users are drawn to Kubernetes’ container-centric environment, as well as its ability to enable portability across infrastructure providers. Kubernetes also offers broad applicability; for the most part, an application that runs well in a container will run well on Kubernetes. These, along with myriad other benefits, are what make the transition to Kubernetes worthwhile for many applications. Not up-to-date on the ins and outs of Kubernetes? Check out our list of 50 Useful Kubernetes Tutorials for IT Professionals to get started.
Because the process can be both lengthy and complex, mistakes are common during a transition. First, it’s important to understand that Kubernetes is not a silver bullet. Organizations that adopt container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes before they really understand the technology are more vulnerable to configuration errors. There are also some important Kubernetes security considerations, such as blast radius (how far a malicious party can gain access beyond the initial point of compromise), that leave certain components of a cluster more vulnerable. That’s why it’s important to build security into your deployment as early as possible. To find out where your security maturity level stands, take our Cloud SecOps Maturity Assessment, and learn more about how Threat Stack can secure your containerized environments.
If you’re ready to get started with your infrastructure transformation, there are other pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. To help you get off on the right foot and avoid common mistakes, we reached out to a panel of developers and Kubernetes experts and asked them to answer this question: