Managed Kubernetes
A production Kubernetes platform designed, deployed, operated, and handed off with clear ownership
Managed Kubernetes is for teams that want the benefits of Kubernetes without making every application engineer become a cluster operator. We build the platform around how your team ships software, then operate the parts that create the most risk: upgrades, networking, observability, security, backups, capacity, and incident response.
Who it is for#
| Team situation | Why this service fits |
|---|---|
| Moving from PaaS to more control | We provide a platform path without losing deployment simplicity |
| Running Kubernetes without platform engineers | We take on cluster operations, upgrades, and troubleshooting |
| Preparing for production launch | We add observability, security, backups, and runbooks before traffic grows |
| Consolidating fragmented clusters | We standardize GitOps, namespaces, policies, dashboards, and ownership |
| Needing Kubernetes outside managed cloud services | We deploy K3s on VMs, bare metal, edge, or hybrid environments |
What is included#
| Platform layer | Included work |
|---|---|
| Cluster foundation | K3s or Kubernetes architecture, control plane design, node pools, upgrade path |
| Networking | CNI, ingress, DNS, TLS, network policies, load balancing, service exposure |
| Delivery | GitOps with Argo CD or Flux, Helm/Kustomize structure, rollback process |
| Security | RBAC, namespace model, pod security standards, secrets management, image policy guidance |
| Observability | Prometheus, Grafana, logging, alerts, service dashboards, cluster health views |
| Storage and backup | storage classes, persistent volume guidance, etcd or cluster-state backups, restore notes |
| Operations | runbooks, monthly reviews, capacity planning, patching, incident support within plan scope |
Packages#
| Package | Best for | Typical deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes Readiness Assessment | Teams deciding whether Kubernetes is the right next step | Workload fit, risk review, target architecture, migration recommendation |
| Platform Build | Teams needing a first production platform | Cluster, GitOps, ingress, TLS, observability, security baseline, docs |
| Migration Package | Teams moving workloads into Kubernetes | Containerization plan, manifests or charts, staged rollout, rollback plan |
| Managed Platform Plan | Teams needing ongoing operations | Upgrades, reviews, incident support, capacity planning, platform backlog |
Plan alignment#
| Plan | Fit | Included emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| XS | Single-cluster teams starting Kubernetes | Basic platform support, standard observability, business-hours help |
| S | Teams with multiple environments | IaC, GitOps, security hardening, monthly platform reviews |
| M | Production-critical platforms | 24/7 coverage, senior platform support, upgrade and incident ownership |
| Custom | Multi-region, regulated, or hybrid platforms | Dedicated operating model, formal SLA, compliance evidence, custom integrations |
Why K3s by default#
K3s is a CNCF-certified Kubernetes distribution that packages the Kubernetes control plane into a small, operationally simple distribution. It is a strong default for teams that want Kubernetes compatibility without the overhead of larger managed-cluster stacks.
| Advantage | Buyer value |
|---|---|
| Lightweight footprint | Smaller VM or bare-metal requirements and lower steady-state overhead |
| Fast provisioning | Faster environment creation and easier repeatability |
| CNCF-certified API | Standard manifests, Helm charts, and tooling continue to work |
| Built-in defaults | Useful defaults for ingress, DNS, and local development scenarios |
| Portable runtime | Same operating model across cloud VMs, bare metal, edge, and hybrid setups |
We also support EKS, AKS, GKE, Rancher, OpenShift, kubeadm, and existing Kubernetes distributions when the environment requires them.
Onboarding path#
- Workload discovery — applications, dependencies, traffic, compliance needs, deployment process, and team skills.
- Target architecture — cluster topology, networking, GitOps model, namespaces, security, observability, and backup approach.
- Platform build — infrastructure provisioning, cluster configuration, delivery workflow, monitoring, and documentation.
- Workload onboarding — pilot service, rollout plan, rollback plan, and developer handoff.
- Managed operations — upgrades, patching, capacity reviews, incident response, and platform backlog management.
Outcomes you can measure#
- developers deploy through a documented GitOps or CI/CD path
- cluster health and workload health visible in dashboards
- upgrade process documented before the first production upgrade
- namespaces, RBAC, and ownership aligned to teams or applications
- secrets and image handling reviewed for production use
- backups and restore assumptions documented
- platform backlog prioritized by risk, cost, and developer impact
Proof we leave behind#
| Evidence | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Architecture diagram | Shows cluster boundaries, ingress, networking, storage, and dependencies |
| GitOps repository | Makes platform and workload changes reviewable |
| Runbooks | Provides first-response steps for common cluster and workload failures |
| Dashboard set | Makes cluster and application health visible |
| Upgrade plan | Reduces risk for Kubernetes and node maintenance |
| Handoff session | Ensures your team understands how to use the platform safely |
Deployment options#
Cloud VMs#
K3s on cloud VMs from AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Hetzner, DigitalOcean, or other providers. This option is useful when teams want Kubernetes portability and cost control without a full managed service.
Bare metal and on-premises#
K3s or Kubernetes on dedicated servers or virtualized environments. This option is useful for data control, predictable workloads, edge sites, or cost-sensitive steady-state infrastructure.
Edge and resource-constrained environments#
K3s on smaller nodes or mixed architectures for edge and field deployments. See Managed K3s for Edge for details.
Existing managed Kubernetes#
We can operate or improve existing EKS, AKS, GKE, Rancher, or OpenShift clusters when migration is not the right first step.
Related services#
- Kubernetes Management — support and migration options across Kubernetes environments
- Kubernetes Migration — workload migration path
- Kubernetes Support — support for existing clusters
- GitOps — declarative delivery and platform operations
- SRE as a Service — reliability practice for production services
Getting started#
Start with a Kubernetes assessment. We will review workloads, team readiness, infrastructure options, and the operating model needed before production use.
Request Kubernetes assessment →Frequently asked questions#
Do we have to use K3s? No. K3s is our default for lean and portable clusters, but we also support managed Kubernetes services and existing distributions.
Can you migrate existing workloads? Yes. We assess container readiness, define rollout and rollback plans, and move workloads in stages.
Do you provide 24/7 support? 24/7 support is available on the appropriate plan or custom agreement. Smaller plans typically use business-hours support.
Will our developers need to learn Kubernetes deeply? They need to understand the deployment workflow and operational basics. We hide unnecessary platform complexity behind GitOps, templates, documentation, and support.