One of the roadblocks to the efficiency of every business is a poorly managed IT infrastructure. Let's say you are running a website with multiple parts—homepage, search bar, user dashboard, and more. Instead having using one large system for managing all these parts, you can put each part in smaller containers to make everything more systematic. Think of these containers as boxes that hold everything an app or segment needs to run.
This is what 59% of organizations do. They use containers for most of their production applications and business segments. But to manage these containers and handle the fluctuating demands of your business? You may have to integrate Kubernetes. (1)
Google, a leader in cloud technology, offers its own managed Kubernetes service called Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). How can this tool benefit your enterprise?
Managed Kubernetes
One of the biggest headaches for IT teams is managing infrastructure. But GKE takes this burden off their shoulders. It handles the tricky parts like setting up clusters, making sure everything's up to date, and scaling things when needed. This means your team can focus on building and improving your applications.
For example, instead of spending hours figuring out how to upgrade your Kubernetes version, GKE can do it for you with just a few clicks. This saves time and reduces the risk of mistakes that could cause downtime.
Now, what if you don't have an in-house IT team that can integrate GKE into your system? Well, you can always partner with third-party service providers, like the cloud experts at DoiT. They've got the capacity to provide support and services to help you efficiently manage your containers and, thus, drive business success.
Scalability
As your business grows, so do your IT needs. GKE shines in this area by offering impressive scalability, as mentioned earlier. In fact, its scalability is unmatched at 15,000 nodes. This means that when more people are using your app, GKE can automatically distribute your containers to a larger source to handle the load. And when things quiet down, it scales back to save you money. (2)
This flexibility is essential for businesses that experience seasonal spikes or unexpected surges in traffic. Suppose you're an e-commerce site carrying out a flash sale—GKE can quickly ramp up resources to ensure the site stays responsive, then scale back once the sale is over.
Playing Nice With Google Cloud
GKE doesn't work alone—it's part of the larger Google Cloud family. This means it gets along great with other Google services. Need to store a lot of data? Cloud Storage is right there. Want to run some big data analytics? BigQuery is at your service. This tight integration makes it easier to build complex, powerful applications without the headache of making different services work together.
For instance, a media company using GKE could easily set up a system where user-uploaded videos are automatically stored in Cloud Storage, processed using AI services, and then served back to users—all seamlessly integrated.
Security
Cybercrime is on the rise, with 29% of businesses facing major disruptions in 2023. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures. The good news is that GKE takes security seriously, offering a range of features to keep your applications and data safe. It automatically updates your clusters to patch security vulnerabilities. (3)
GKE also offers tools to control who can access what within your system, much like having different keys for different rooms in a building. Plus, it helps you set up network policies, which are like rules for how different parts of your application can talk to each other, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Multi-Region Support
The internet doesn't stop at borders, and neither should your applications. GKE allows you to spread your applications across multiple regions. This is like having multiple backup generators for your power supply. If one region has issues, your application can keep running smoothly from another region.
This feature is particularly valuable for global enterprises or those with strict uptime requirements. It ensures that your services remain available even in the face of regional outages or disasters.
Cost Optimization
Every business wants to make the most of its budget, and GKE helps you do just that. It provides tools to monitor how you're using resources and suggests ways to optimize.
For example, GKE can identify idle resources that you're paying for but not using. It can also suggest more cost-effective ways to run your workloads, such as using preemptible VMs for non-critical tasks.
Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Capabilities
Many enterprises aren't ready to go all-in on the cloud, or they might need to use multiple cloud providers. GKE, through a technology called Anthos, allows you to run your applications not just on Google Cloud but also on-premises or even on other cloud platforms.
This flexibility is like being able to use the same key for different locks. You can manage all your Kubernetes clusters, regardless of where they're running, from a single control panel. This consistency across environments can significantly simplify operations and reduce the learning curve for your team.
Load Balancing
Just as a busy traffic intersection requires some kind of traffic light to keep vehicles moving, your application will require a way to filter through its incoming requests. GKE integrates well with Google Cloud's load-balancing features and automatically spreads across your application instances.
That means no one instance gets overloaded with requests, which translates into better performance and reliability for your users. This is very useful for applications that have variable or unpredictable traffic patterns.
Automated Operations
Automation is key to efficiency in the modern IT world, and GKE embraces this principle wholeheartedly. Features like automated repair and upgrades mean that many routine tasks happen without any human intervention.
For instance, if a node in your cluster fails, GKE can automatically detect this and create a new one to replace it. This reduces downtime and frees up your team from mundane maintenance tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic work.
Rich Ecosystem
Finally, GKE offers extensive usage possibilities through its compatibility with the wider Kubernetes ecosystem. This is similar to access to much more extensive libraries of tools and add-ons available for your application.
Do you need a specific tool for monitoring, logging, or continuous integration? There's surely a Kubernetes-compatible solution guaranteed to work seamlessly with GKE. This freedom lets you tailor the solution to best meet your unique needs and not be locked into the ecosystem of one particular vendor.
Wrapping Up
Google Kubernetes Engine is a great platform for businesses of all sizes. It makes managing containerized applications easier and more secure. Plus, it helps you scale your operations globally and save money. With GKE, you can focus on innovation instead of infrastructure. If you're considering using containers, this platform is definitely worth checking out.
References
“Organizations utilization of containers worldwide in 2023”, Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1484780/usage-of-containers-in-firms-worldwide/
“GKE editions”, Source: https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/concepts/gke-editions
“Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2024”, Source: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Cybersecurity_Outlook_2024.pdf
Author Bio
Elizabeth Bree is a seasoned IT writer with a focus on cloud technology. With years of experience in the industry, she has a deep understanding of complex IT systems and can explain them in a way that's easy to understand for businesses of all sizes.
