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On-premises Kubernetes vs Cloud Kubernetes

October 08, 2022

On-premises Kubernetes vs Cloud Kubernetes

Kubernetes has emerged as the standard for container orchestration in the past years, thanks to its ability to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It has become the go-to solution for teams that want to achieve Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI CD) capabilities.

Kubernetes can be deployed in two ways: On-premises or Cloud. Choosing between these two options depends on factors like cost, maintenance, and flexibility. In this article, we will compare both options to help businesses make an informed decision.

On-Premises Kubernetes

On-premises Kubernetes refers to the deployment of Kubernetes on local infrastructure, either on-premises servers or private cloud.

Pros

  • Control: Businesses have full control over their Kubernetes deployment, including its management, security, and compliance.
  • Customization: Kubernetes can be customized to meet business-specific needs, such as performance, data privacy, and data residency requirements.
  • Cost: Running Kubernetes on-premises can be significantly cheaper in certain scenarios, especially when having a constant workload.

Cons

  • Maintenance: On-premises Kubernetes requires dedicated maintenance, including upgrades, patches, and hardware provisioning, which can be time-consuming and stressful.
  • Scalability: Scaling on-premises Kubernetes requires additional hardware investment and maintenance, leading to increased costs.
  • Flexibility: On-premises Kubernetes is limited by the resources of the local infrastructure. This can lead to scalability and performance issues.

Cloud Kubernetes

Cloud Kubernetes refers to the deployment of Kubernetes on public cloud infrastructure.

Pros

  • Support: Cloud Kubernetes is supported by the cloud provider, who handles maintenance, upgrades, and patches, freeing up resources and time for teams.
  • Scalability: Cloud Kubernetes can scale rapidly and automatically, without the need for additional hardware investment, leading to lower costs and higher agility.
  • Flexibility: Cloud Kubernetes provides access to virtually unlimited infrastructure resources, leading to higher flexibility and performance.

Cons

  • Cost: Cloud Kubernetes can be expensive, especially when running a high workload, as additional infrastructure resources will be necessary.
  • Control: Cloud Kubernetes reduces the control businesses have over their deployment, as the cloud provider handles security, compliance, and management.
  • Lock-in: Cloud Kubernetes can lead to vendor lock-in, as businesses become reliant on a specific cloud provider's infrastructure.

Conclusion

Both On-premises Kubernetes and Cloud Kubernetes have their pros and cons, and businesses should choose the deployment that best fits their requirements.

On-premises Kubernetes is ideal for businesses that require full control over their deployment, such as those dealing with sensitive data or those with strict security and compliance requirements. However, it requires dedicated maintenance, hardware provisioning, and scalability planning, leading to higher costs in some scenarios.

Cloud Kubernetes, on the other hand, is ideal for businesses that require scalability, flexibility, and agility, as it can scale rapidly and automatically and provide access to virtually unlimited resources. However, it can be more expensive and reduce the control businesses have over their deployment.

In summary, consider your business goals, requirements, and budget carefully before making a decision between On-premises Kubernetes and Cloud Kubernetes.

References

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