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Containerization and Kubernetes: Empowering Modern Application Development

Containerization, along with Kubernetes as an orchestration platform, has emerged as a transformative technology. See how it is enabling organizations to meet today's business demands.

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In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are seeking efficient ways to deploy, manage, and scale their applications. Containerization, along with Kubernetes as an orchestration platform, has emerged as a transformative technology enabling organizations to meet these demands. Here we cover the adoption rates of Kubernetes, highlight the benefits of containerization, discuss the suitability of existing applications for containerized infrastructure, explore deployment options and offer next steps for your organization.

 Adoption rates: Gartner Report 2022

According to the 2022 Gartner report, Kubernetes adoption continues to grow rapidly.

Gartner predicts that by 2027:

  • 85% of global organizations will be running containerized applications in production.
  • 25% of all enterprise applications will run in containers.
  • > 65% of commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) vendors will offer their software in container format.

The report also indicates that Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration, with an estimated 80% market share. These statistics highlight the increasing importance of Kubernetes and containerization as key technologies for modern application development and deployment.

 Benefits of containerization

Containerization offers numerous benefits for application development and deployment. Some key advantages include:

  • DevOps enabler: Containers provide a consistent environment across development, testing and production stages, facilitating collaboration between developers and operations teams. With containers, applications are packaged with their dependencies, allowing for seamless deployment while minimizing environmental related issues.
  • Application portability: Containers encapsulate applications and their dependencies, enabling easy migration between different infrastructure environments. This portability allows applications to run consistently across various cloud providers, on-premises data centers and hybrid setups, providing flexibility and reducing vendor lock-in.
  • Legacy application modernization: Containerization helps modernize legacy applications by breaking them into smaller, modular components. This modular approach allows organizations to update and scale individual components independently, without disrupting the entire application. Containerizing legacy applications also improves resource utilization and scalability.

 Suitability of existing applications for containerized infrastructure

When considering containerization for existing applications, several factors determine their suitability.

Key considerations:

  • Minimal external dependencies: Applications with few external dependencies are well-suited for containerization. Container images can encapsulate all necessary libraries and dependencies, reducing the need for complex installation processes.
  • Image availability: Applications benefit from containerization when base images and dependencies are readily available in public or private registries. This availability ensures quick and efficient deployment without the need for extensive customization.
  • Stateless and elastic characteristics: Stateless applications, which do not rely on storing persistent data or maintain any stateful information, are ideal candidates for containerization. Elastic applications that can scale horizontally by adding or removing instances can fully leverage the benefits of container orchestration.
  • Frequent code changes: Applications with frequent code updates benefit from containerization as it allows for easy and rapid deployment of new versions. Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines can be established to automate the process of building, testing and deploying containers.
  • Availability of COTS applications: Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) applications that support containerization can be easily deployed and managed using Kubernetes. This enables organizations to leverage the benefits of containerization while utilizing widely adopted software solutions.

 Deployment options: Public cloud and on-premises container platforms

When considering container and Kubernetes deployments, organizations have two primary options: public cloud and on-premises container platforms. Let's explore the benefits, drawbacks, and considerations for each:

 Public cloud

  • Benefits: Public cloud providers offer managed Kubernetes services, such as Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). These services provide ease of setup, scalability and integration by maintaining the non-differentiated heavy lift components of a Kubernetes infrastructure. Public cloud deployments eliminate the need for infrastructure management, allowing organizations to focus on application development and deployment.
  • Drawbacks: Public cloud deployments may incur ongoing costs based on usage and resource consumption. Organizations must consider data sovereignty, compliance requirements and potential vendor lock-in when opting for a specific cloud provider.
  • Considerations: Assess your organization's readiness for public cloud adoption, including network connectivity, security requirements and the feasibility of migrating existing applications. Evaluate the cost implications of running applications in the cloud and consider the need for hybrid or multi-cloud deployments.

 On-premises container platforms:

  • Benefits: On-premises container platforms, such as Red Hat OpenShift, VMware Tanzu and SUSE Rancher, provide organizations with control over their infrastructure and data. These platforms offer enterprise-grade security, compliance and integration with existing on-premises systems. Organizations with strict data sovereignty or regulatory requirements may prefer on-premises deployments.
  • Drawbacks: On-premises deployments require upfront infrastructure investments and ongoing maintenance. Organizations need to allocate resources for infrastructure management, updates and scaling. Upgrades and updates may also require careful planning and coordination.
  • Considerations: Evaluate your organization's infrastructure capabilities and resources to determine the feasibility of on-premises deployments. Consider the level of control, customization and security required for your applications. Assess the availability of skilled personnel to manage and maintain the on-premises container platform.

 Next steps for your organization

To facilitate your organization's journey towards application modernization, adopting Kubernetes and containerization, several next steps can help you navigate the process successfully:

  • Access additional resources: Explore white papers, case studies and industry reports on Kubernetes and containerization to gain deeper insights into the technology and its benefits. WWT provides a range of resources to assist you in your journey. https://www.wwt.com/solutions/cloud-native-platforms/overview
  • Participate in on-demand labs: Engage in hands-on learning experiences through on-demand labs, allowing your team to explore Kubernetes and containerization in a controlled environment.
  • Leverage WWT's comprehensive services: WWT offers comprehensive services to support your organization's Kubernetes journey. From planning and designing to deploying Kubernetes in your data center or the cloud, WWT can provide expertise and guidance.
  • Kubernetes briefings: Request briefings to gain in-depth insights into Kubernetes architecture, including on-premises and public cloud implementations. These briefings will enable your organization to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate platform and deployment strategy, aligning with your organizational goals.
    • Public cloud Kubernetes: Explore the intricacies of deploying and managing Kubernetes in public cloud environments, including setup, integration, scalability and cost optimization.
    • On-premises Kubernetes implementation: Learn about on-premises Kubernetes implementation, covering infrastructure considerations, security, high availability, and day-to-day management.
  • DevOps automation principles: Leverage WWT's expertise to navigate DevOps automation principles, which play a vital role in streamlining application development and deployment. By incorporating these principles into your broader strategy, you can enhance efficiency and effectiveness in your app delivery processes.

 Conclusion

Containerization and Kubernetes offer transformative solutions for modern application development and deployment. With the benefits of being a DevOps enabler, application portability, and legacy application modernization, organizations can unlock new levels of scalability, efficiency and agility. By considering the suitability of existing applications, exploring deployment options and leveraging expert resources, your organization can embark on a successful Kubernetes journey. WWT is here to support you at every step, offering a wealth of knowledge, resources and services tailored to your specific needs.