VMware has launched The State of Kubernetes 2022 report, revealing that Kubernetes has now entered the mainstream, with 99 per cent of respondents saying they have realised benefits from deploying the technology.
Developers are also taking advantage of multi-cloud strategies, with two-thirds running Kubernetes in multiple clouds.
Based on a survey of 776 qualified software development and IT professionals, the key benefits indicated include improved resource utilisation and spending (59 per cent), easier application upgrades (49 per cent) and slicker cloud migration (42 per cent). The report also shows that security is still a top concern among nearly all respondents (99 per cent). More than half (51 per cent) recognise a lack of internal experience and expertise in deploying and managing Kubernetes.
“The last few years have cemented people’s desires to use Kubernetes as the standard layer across the private and public cloud on top of the infrastructure. Usage has moved beyond the early users and more into the mainstream. Although there’s still a lot of build-out to come, you’d be hard-pressed to find people who aren’t putting together plans to deploy Kubernetes, let alone who already have, as the survey shows. This mainstreaming is growing the need for Kubernetes management tools and even distro, especially for security and supporting developer experience. And, indeed, almost 100 per cent of people in this survey are interested in finding and paying for tools that help them get the full benefits out of the Kubernetes lifestyle,” said Michael Cote, Staff Technologist at VMware.
Image Source: VMwareSignificant findings from the report include:
Kubernetes has crossed the chasm
One of the most evident signs that Kubernetes is mainstreaming is the rapid growth in the number of clusters being deployed: 29 per cent of organisations have more than 50 clusters and almost half (48 per cent) expect the number of Kubernetes clusters they operate to grow by more than 50 per cent.
The factors that have contributed to the increased adoption include:
- Improving software development: 62 per cent chose increasing flexibility of applications, and 54 per cent selected better developer efficiency as crucial reasons.
- Cloud adoption: 59 per cent of respondents chose improving cloud utilisation, and 46 per cent picked reducing the cost of cloud as an essential factor in adoption.
- Operator efficiency: More than a third (37 per cent) said they needed to improve operator efficiency as a selection factor.
Multi-cloud predominates
One of the main reasons organisations are adopting Kubernetes is that it delivers clear benefits for rapidly expanding cloud operations. There is an accelerating trend away from on-premises and single-cloud Kubernetes deployments in favour of hybrid and multi-cloud:
- Respondents whose Kubernetes footprint is mainly for development favour on-premises (62 per cent) or a single public cloud vendor (42 per cent).
- By comparison, those whose Kubernetes footprint is geared toward production prefer multiple public cloud vendors (52 per cent), followed by on-premises (47 per cent) and a single public cloud vendor (42 per cent).
DIY Kubernetes is a thing of the past
With Kubernetes proliferating and evolving quickly, many organisations are struggling, both to bring existing staff up to speed (and keep them there) and to hire people with the required Kubernetes skills:
95 per cent have difficulty selecting, deploying and managing Kubernetes:
- 51 per cent agree that there is a lack of internal experience and expertise
- 37 per cent think it’s hard to hire the needed expertise
- 34 per cent are struggling with the Kubernetes/Cloud native speed of change
With expertise in short supply, many teams seek to fill the gaps with more straightforward Kubernetes solutions combined with support and services: 97 per cent would pay for services and support for critical Kubernetes tools.
Shifting security concerns
Given the growth in the number of Kubernetes clusters and multi-cloud deployments and a continued increase in cyber threats, security challenges are front and centre for teams deploying and managing Kubernetes:
- 97 per cent of organisations have concerns about Kubernetes security.
- Meeting security and compliance requirements is the number one challenge for both deploying Kubernetes (59 per cent of respondents) and managing Kubernetes (47 per cent).
Image Source: VMwareThe research was conducted alongside Dimensional Research, which surveyed 776 qualified software development and IT professionals. The survey is focused on individuals with responsibility for Kubernetes at companies with 1,000 or more employees, covering a wide range of roles, industries, regions, and job levels. All the organisations surveyed have a significant software development footprint.
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