VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service (VKS) is the built‑in, enterprise‑grade Kubernetes runtime within VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, designed to run modern containerized applications alongside traditional virtual machines on a single, unified platform. 

VKS delivers a CNCF‑conformant Kubernetes distribution, deeply integrated with vSphere, enabling organizations to simplify Kubernetes operations, reduce cost and complexity, and securely scale modern workloads across private cloud, edge, and hybrid environments. 

Get to Know VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service 

VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service delivers a comprehensive set of capabilities designed to accelerate application modernization, simplify operations, and strengthen security across enterprise environments, including: 

Unified Platform for VMs and Containers 

• Single platform to deploy, manage, and operate virtual machines and Kubernetes clusters
• Unified API and operational model across infrastructure and application runtimes
• Kubernetes clusters provisioned natively within vSphere in minutes
• Supports mixed workloads including databases, analytics, AI/ML, and modern apps

Enterprise‑Ready Kubernetes 

• Fully upstream CNCF‑certified Kubernetes
• Support for multiple Kubernetes versions (N‑2) to enable safe testing and phased upgrades
• Faster access to innovation with new Kubernetes versions delivered rapidly after upstream release

Simplified Operations & Lifecycle Management 

• Kubernetes lifecycle management integrated directly into vSphere
• Automated provisioning, scaling, upgrades, and add‑on management
• Fleet‑wide multi‑cluster management with centralized policies and governance
• Declarative automation support via GitOps and infrastructure‑as‑code workflows

Security & Compliance by Design 

• Six layers of isolation across infrastructure, cluster, and namespace levels
• Containers run inside virtual machines for hardware‑level isolation
• End‑to‑end encryption for data at rest and in transit
• Built‑in security dashboards, policy enforcement, and compliance tooling

Open, Extensible Kubernetes Ecosystem 

• CNCF‑aligned architecture with broad open‑source support
  • Built‑in services include:
  • Networking (Antrea, Calico)
  • Ingress & Service Mesh (Contour, Istio)
  • Observability (Prometheus, Fluent Bit, Telegraf)
  • Identity & Access (Pinniped, Cert Manager)
  • Backup & Recovery (Velero)
• Support for partner‑provided CNIs and third‑party integrations

Delivering Measurable Business Outcomes with Enterprise Kubernetes 

VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service (VKS) enables organizations to accelerate application modernization by deploying modern applications faster without the need to refactor existing infrastructure or retrain teams. By providing a unified platform to manage both virtual machines and Kubernetes through a single API and operational model, VKS reduces operational complexity and eliminates silos across environments. Built‑in security features—including multi‑layer isolation, encryption, and compliance controls—help strengthen security and reduce risk for critical and regulated workloads. At the same time, higher infrastructure density, automated lifecycle management, and unified operations contribute to a lower total cost of ownership by reducing both capital and operational expenses. VKS also delivers hybrid and multi‑cloud flexibility, ensuring consistent Kubernetes operations across on‑premises, edge, sovereign, and partner cloud environments. 

How VMware by Broadcom + WWT Can Help You Adopt VKS 

WWT and VMware by Broadcom helps organizations adopt VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service (VKS) on VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) to run and scale Kubernetes alongside existing VM workloads. Because VKS adoption is an application modernization effort—not just a platform install—we align applications, build the right VCF foundation, integrate VKS, and establish automated, secure day‑2 operations so teams can move faster without added complexity or risk. With WWT, customers get a unified engagement model—from strategy and architecture through migration, automation, and ongoing operations—to make VKS repeatable at scale.