The de facto standard for container orchestration
Kubernetes was crowned the de facto standard of container orchestration in 2017, with companies like Oracle, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Docker embracing the open source platform. According to the Portworx Annual Container Adoption survey that included insight from 491 IT professionals, Kubernetes is used by 48% of companies with over 5,000 employees and by 33% as their primary orchestration tool. Hype surrounding the technology isn’t expected to wane anytime soon. This article explores what is likely in store for Kubernetes in 2018.
Apps
The need for services built atop of Kubernetes infrastructure is expected to increase this year as companies leverage the platform to deploy containerized applications and other workloads. Cloud services like Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) are currently available. Kubernetes apps are anticipated to grow as users seek to securely manage and gain visibility for the APIs launched for these apps.
Interoperability
Kubernetes has played an active role in helping achieve interoperability standards. Last November, for example, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) debuted its Kubernetes Software Conformance Certification program, along with 32 certified Kubernetes distributions and platforms. The purpose of the foundation is to ensure certified Kubernetes products are consisted and portable. A lack of interoperability can create technical hurdles for companies that wish to embrace containers. As the container orchestration market continues to grow, expect to see more products with the Kubernetes logo next to their brand name.
Security
Kubernetes is constantly being updated with security acting as a common theme in each new release. The Kubernetes 1.8 release, for example, came with a security feature available in beta called advanced auditing. As with previous versions, future Kubernetes updates will likely focus on security, expanding upon existing features to meet the demand for container visibility.
Serverless computing
Serverless computing has gained prominence in the marketplace as well, enabling users to develop and run applications and services without servers. Recently, for example, AWS introduced Lambda as a way to run code without having to provision or manage network infrastructure. Serverless computing need not be bound to proprietary clouds, however. Serverless functions have grown in popularity in the Kubernetes space. It is possible that open source options could be built on top of Kubernetes to enable serverless functionality. As the open source platform undergoes constant improvements, serveless computing is expected to play a key role in cultivating a strong Kubernetes ecosystem.
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