Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Managed Kubernetes Sector Brief
- Decision Criteria Analysis
- Analyst’s Outlook
- Methodology
- About GigaOm
- Copyright
1. Executive Summary
Managed Kubernetes is a cloud-based service that simplifies the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications using Kubernetes, an open-source platform originally developed by Google. This service automates critical processes such as configuration, updates, and scaling, reducing the complexity and operational overhead associated with managing Kubernetes clusters in house.
The importance of managed Kubernetes lies in its ability to address the challenges associated with container orchestration. By automating routine tasks and providing built-in security features, managed Kubernetes reduces the need for in-house expertise, lowers operational costs, and allows organizations to scale their infrastructure efficiently. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that rely on microservices architectures, web applications, batch processing, and machine learning workloads, for which dynamic scaling and resource optimization are crucial.
Managed Kubernetes is relevant to a wide range of users, including enterprises, DevOps teams, and developers who seek to leverage the benefits of Kubernetes without the burden of managing the infrastructure themselves. It is especially appealing to organizations that are either new to Kubernetes or lack the resources to maintain complex Kubernetes environments in house. As the technology matures, even modestly sized teams can benefit from its capabilities, making managed Kubernetes a viable solution across various stages of production and application development.
The market for managed Kubernetes is evolving rapidly, driven by increasing adoption rates and the growing complexity of cloud-native applications. With over 10 years of market presence, the demand for managed services continues to rise, prompting vendors to enhance their offerings with features like hybrid cloud capabilities, automated monitoring, and improved security protocols. Year over year, customer requirements are shifting toward more comprehensive and integrated solutions that offer not only basic management but also advanced features like multi-cloud support and seamless integration with existing DevOps tools.
In terms of market maturity, both customers and vendors are advancing. Customers are increasingly sophisticated, seeking solutions that provide greater automation and integration with their existing workflows. Vendors, in response, are focusing on both building new capabilities and maturing existing ones to meet these evolving needs. Many vendors have transitioned into the managed Kubernetes space from related areas, such as cloud services or infrastructure management, while others have built their solutions specifically to address the challenges of Kubernetes management.
There are multiple managed Kubernetes options in the market. The choice is made easier by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation’s early move to define a standard for Kubernetes interoperability. This standard helped to reduce the risk of Kubernetes splintering into multiple competing and incompatible variants, as experienced in the early Unix market and later with Linux distributions. The core of Kubernetes is the same on all standard-compliant options that differentiate themselves on value-added features and functions. The scope of managed Kubernetes solutions typically includes automated cluster management, security features, scalability, and integration with cloud-native tools. While the core offering focuses on managing Kubernetes clusters, additional services such as advanced monitoring, logging, and hybrid cloud support are often included to provide a comprehensive solution. As the market continues to grow, the focus is on enhancing these capabilities to meet the diverse needs of organizations across different industries.
Business Imperative
By offloading these responsibilities to cloud providers, organizations can focus more on their core business activities, such as application development and innovation, while benefiting from enhanced security, scalability, and high availability.
Sector Adoption Score
To help executives and decision-makers assess the potential impact and value of deploying a managed Kubernetes solution, this GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a structured assessment of the sector across five factors: benefit, maturity, urgency, impact, and effort. By scoring each factor based on how strongly it compels or deters adoption of a managed Kubernetes solution, we provide an overall Sector Adoption Score (Figure 1) of 4.8 out of 5, with 5 indicating the strongest possible recommendation to adopt. This indicates that a managed Kubernetes solution is a highly credible candidate for deployment worthy of urgent consideration.
The factors contributing to the Sector Adoption Score for managed Kubernetes are explained in more detail in the Sector Brief section that follows.
Key Criteria for Evaluating Managed Kubernetes Solutions
Sector Adoption Score
Figure 1. Sector Adoption Score for Managed Kubernetes
This is the fifth year that GigaOm has reported on the managed Kubernetes space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.
This GigaOm Key Criteria report highlights the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) for selecting an effective managed Kubernetes solution. The companion GigaOm Radar report identifies vendors and products that excel in those decision criteria. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading managed Kubernetes offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.
GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS
The GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a detailed decision framework for IT and executive leadership assessing enterprise technologies. Each report defines relevant functional and nonfunctional aspects of solutions in a sector. The Key Criteria report informs the GigaOm Radar report, which provides a forward-looking assessment of vendor solutions in the sector.