Kubernetes has become a standard for container orchestration, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. While it excels in complex scenarios, it can also introduce unnecessary overhead and require specialized skills your team may not have — or want to acquire. This article will help you determine when Kubernetes is the right choice and when simpler alternatives might be a better fit.
When to Use Kubernetes
You’re a tech agency with standardized processes
Tech agencies managing hundreds of projects can greatly benefit from Kubernetes. With standardized workflows, it becomes easier to centralize and automate deployments using features like:
- Continuous deployment (CI/CD).
- Unified configuration management.
- Dynamic scalability.
Concrete example:
A tech agency develops applications for multiple clients, each relying on a common set of microservices. Kubernetes allows them to deploy tailored environments for each client while using the same CI/CD pipelines to ensure quality and speed.
You manage a complex microservices architecture
Kubernetes is designed to handle complex microservices ecosystems. If your application relies on multiple independent services with increased requirements for:
- Inter-service communication (e.g., via REST APIs or gRPC).
- Secure authentication between services (mTLS, tokens, etc.).
- High availability and scalability.
Concrete example:
A SaaS platform uses 50 microservices for functions like billing, notifications, and authentication. Kubernetes orchestrates service communication, monitors their health, and ensures automatic scaling during traffic spikes.
When Kubernetes Is Unnecessary
Your project is simple: a monolithic site or application
If you’re managing a straightforward application or a classic website, Kubernetes is often overkill. You can achieve your goals with simpler, less expensive solutions such as:
- Managed services like AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Heroku, or traditional servers.
- Simple container deployments with Docker Compose.
Concrete example:
A small business launches an e-commerce site with a few hundred daily visits. Hosting it on a traditional server or a managed cloud service is sufficient without the complexity of Kubernetes.
You have multiple independent applications managed by separate teams
When each team manages its own applications with unique constraints and minimal inter-service interactions, it’s better to let teams choose tools that suit their specific needs. Forcing Kubernetes as a universal standard can lead to friction and complicate project management.
Concrete example:
A company has one team running a monolithic web application on a traditional server and another team operating a serverless backend on AWS Lambda. Introducing Kubernetes would require significant effort for little benefit since each team already uses optimal tools for their workflows.
Kubernetes is not always neutral
Adopting Kubernetes is not a trivial decision. It requires:
- Cross-disciplinary expertise: Developers need to understand cluster operations, container orchestration, related tools (Helm, Kubectl, etc.), and sometimes even networking.
- Training investment: If your team doesn’t already have these skills, you’ll need to train them or hire specialists.
- Increased workload: Kubernetes can add unnecessary complexity to workflows, especially if your teams prefer focusing on development rather than infrastructure management.
Concrete example:
A startup chooses Kubernetes to orchestrate its infrastructure. Quickly, the team realizes they spend more time debugging cluster issues (pod configurations, load balancing, monitoring) than building features. Eventually, they abandon Kubernetes for a managed service like AWS Fargate, which is simpler and better suited to their size.
In Summary
Adopt Kubernetes if your organization requires:
✅ Centralized management for complex or large-scale projects.
✅ A microservices ecosystem with high communication and security needs.
Avoid Kubernetes if:
🚫 Your project is simple and doesn’t warrant its complexity.
🚫 Your teams prefer focusing on development and lack the skills — or the desire — to manage Kubernetes’ intricate infrastructure.
By evaluating your needs and your team’s expertise, you can make an informed decision and avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Kubernetes is powerful, but it should be used wisely.
