Kubernetes becomes enterprise core as multi-cloud use grows

A recent survey conducted by SUSE at KubeCon in London reveals that Kubernetes has become a core component for enterprise workloads, with a significant proportion of organisations adopting the platform for mission-critical operations.

The survey polled 101 attendees from technology, finance, and healthcare sectors, including developers, system administrators, IT decision-makers, and cloud architects. The findings highlight that Kubernetes has moved from its status as an experimental tool to serving as a central framework for cloud native modernisation, automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerised applications in hybrid IT environments.

Among those surveyed, nearly 40% reported running all their production workloads on Kubernetes, underscoring its role as a production-ready solution. An additional 31% use Kubernetes predominantly for pre-production environments. This shift points to growing confidence in the platform's ability to support the most demanding and sensitive applications in enterprise settings.

Survey participants highlighted Kubernetes' capacity to scale efficiently, with 31% identifying effortless scalability as a primary advantage. A further 38% pointed to its capability to streamline development cycles. These features have helped position Kubernetes as foundational for organisations that require heightened agility, efficient resource utilisation, and extensive automation in their software development lifecycles.

The data also suggests that multi-cloud strategies are becoming increasingly prominent among enterprise IT teams. While 51% of respondents continue to operate on-premises infrastructure, 39% plan to extend their Kubernetes deployments across multiple clouds. Moreover, 14% already work across three or more cloud providers, reflecting a preference for flexibility, resilience, and maintaining neutrality between vendors in a complex and dynamic cloud landscape.

The community surrounding Kubernetes has played a critical role in its adoption and ongoing development. According to the survey, 71% of participants stressed the importance of integration and support from the broader ecosystem. For organisations leveraging Kubernetes, community resources are seen as essential in troubleshooting, optimising operations, and enhancing security practices.

Looking forward, the survey indicates that the priorities for organisations utilising Kubernetes are changing. Security and compliance have become top concerns as enterprises strengthen defences against sophisticated threats. At the same time, cost management is under scrutiny, with IT leaders expected to maximise value and efficiency in their Kubernetes investments without adversely affecting performance.

The challenges of operating Kubernetes environments across several cloud platforms are prompting companies to focus on robust support systems, consistent architecture, and resilient cross-platform capabilities. This reflects a trend towards operationalising Kubernetes at an enterprise-wide scale, rather than simply deploying it in isolated projects or departments.

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a relevant factor in the evolution of Kubernetes, particularly in terms of automation and predictive operational techniques. While the integration of AI opens up further possibilities, organisations are advised to carefully evaluate the return on investment and ensure that new capabilities align with their strategic objectives. According to SUSE, the focus is no longer on whether or not to adopt Kubernetes but rather on how strategies can evolve to keep pace with innovation in this area.

Peter Smails, Senior Vice President and General Manager of SUSE's Enterprise Container Management business unit, commented on SUSE's ongoing involvement with Kubernetes. He said, "We are very proud that SUSE is part of this journey, working alongside the community in many projects. With SUSE Rancher Prime – positioned 'Leader' in the 2024 Gartner Magic QuadrantTM for Container Management – we offer an Enterprise Container Management Platform for any Kubernetes. Thus helping customers to modernise their business and securely deploy, run‌ and manage modern workloads anywhere in their Hybrid IT platform, delivering centralised authentication, access control, observability, and built-in security."