6 Challenges of Deploying Kubernetes in Hybrid Cloud | D2iQ

In a relatively short amount of time, Kubernetes has evolved from an internal container orchestration tool at Google to the most important cloud-native technology across the world. Its rise in popularity has made Kubernetes the preferred way to build new software experiences and modernize existing applications at scale in the cloud. 

 

Today’s organizations are increasingly going cloud-first and deploying Kubernetes to hybrid cloud and multi-cloud infrastructures, in which workloads are distributed across both public and private cloud (on-premise) environments, or across multiple public cloud environments, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. 

 

While there are many benefits using Kubernetes in hybrid and multi-cloud environments, they also come with some tradeoffs. Here are six of the most common challenges that organizations face when deploying Kubernetes to hybrid cloud environments.

 

1. Lack of Unified Visibility Across Multiple Infrastructures

Because various teams are using Kubernetes in different ways, there often is no centralized visibility across the Kubernetes landscape to effectively monitor cluster performance—which can impact the bottom line. You can’t quickly troubleshoot problems if a cluster goes down. You can’t easily obtain operational insights to deliver better resource utilization. While cloud providers offer observability and cost management tools, it’s important to have unified visibility and cost granularity across multiple cloud clusters and infrastructures. 

 

2. Manual Deployments  Are Time-Consuming

Businesses want the speed and scale that open-source Kubernetes can provide. However, they run into roadblocks getting Kubernetes into production. Delivering an end-to-end solution includes a variety of open-source technologies that can take months to select, integrate, automate, and test for resiliency. In addition, many public cloud providers don’t provide a catalog of open-source tools that are fully integrated out-of-the-box. Organizations need a Kubernetes solution that can get them to production as quickly as possible instead of worrying about the underlying infrastructure. 

 

3. Ongoing Operations and Overhead on Day 2

Operating a Kubernetes environment can be a challenge and is often viewed as overhead to business goals, causing some organizations to move to the cloud for their innovation needs. However, once they arrive at Day 2 they have many of the same operational challenges: the need for security, scale, other new and emerging CNCF projects, and the automation to create new environments. Organizations want some level of control, while not taking on a huge amount of operational burden, cost, or  slowing down their opportunity for speed and quality. 

 

4. Lack of Enterprise Access Controls

Organizations might  require lines of separation between clusters to empower division of labor for particular use cases, such as intellectual property, regulated data, or other situations. However, when cluster sprawl is left unchecked, it can introduce all kinds of challenges around credentials and resource sharing. What they need is an automated solution that can set the right policies between multiple clouds, or between multiple clusters running in the same environment, to reduce operational costs and meet internal and regulatory compliance requirements.  

 

5. Lack of an Open Single Cloud Solution

Because each public cloud solution has its own set of features and capabilities to build, run, and manage Kubernetes, it complicates the process of abstraction. Instead of one mutually comprehensive language, each cloud is speaking its own dialect, increasing the difficulty and friction of managing and moving workloads across multiple clouds. Enterprises require a flexible, single cloud solution to run their applications on multiple private or public cloud infrastructures without lock-in—without which, you’ll need to plan for each cloud environment independently, resulting in an increase in overhead and opportunity costs.

 

6. Limited Choices for Leveraging External Cloud-Native Expertise

Enterprises must have the ability to get external support for difficult situations or complex use cases that require experienced outside help. They don’t want to be dealing with seventeen different vendors when it comes to support. With the limited options for leveraging external support, training, and services, the complexities can be a huge barrier to success.

 

Luckily, there are open-source Kubernetes solutions like the D2iQ Kubernetes Platform that  can solve all of these challenges and simplify running applications across distributed, heterogeneous infrastructures at the speed and scale of the cloud.

 

To learn more about how you can deliver success in hybrid and multi-cloud environments, download the ebook, “The Art of Winning: Leverage Kubernetes in the Public Cloud to Deliver a Unified DevOps Experience.”

To speak with a D2iQ Kubernetes expert, contact us here.