* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * What is enterprise Kubernetes? What is enterprise Kubernetes? ============================== Published June 23, 2021•*2*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- OverviewBenefitsChallenges Overview -------- Applications are increasingly built as discrete functional parts which can be delivered as [containers](/en/topics/containers/whats-a-linux-container). That means for every application there are more parts to manage. To handle this complexity at scale teams need a policy-driven, automated solution that dictates how and where containers will run. [Kubernetes](/en/topics/containers/what-is-kubernetes) is an open source, extensible [container orchestrator](/en/topics/containers/what-is-container-orchestration) designed to handle these challenges. [Red HatⓇ OpenShiftⓇ](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift) is a hybrid cloud, enterprise Kubernetes platform with comperehensive features and developer-friendly functionality. A Kubernetes kernel is at Red Hat OpenShift's core, but it takes much more than Kubernetes to run containerized applications across a distributed system environment. Benefits of Kubernetes ---------------------- If implemented and maintained correctly, Kubernetes offers IT operations, developers, and business owners great benefits: ### Scalability Kubernetes can run on a local machine or across multiple clusters in widespread availability zones. It horizontally scales your cluster when you need it, and scales it back when you don’t. ### Workload portability Kubernetes runs on-premise in your own datacenter, in a public cloud, or a hybrid cloud configuration, deploying containers the same way, every time. ### Separation of concerns Operations value stability, while developers value speed. Kubernetes resolves this conflict, so businesses can focus on what everyone wants: innovation and growth. What's new, what's next in Red Hat OpenShift -------------------------------------------- [Keep reading](/en/whats-new-red-hat-openshift "Keep reading") Challenges of enterprise Kubernetes ----------------------------------- Installing, deploying, and managing Kubernetes is easier said than done. [75% of users cite complexity of implementation and operations](https://thenewstack.io/ebooks/kubernetes/state-of-kubernetes-ecosystem-second-edition-2020) as the top blocker to using Kubernetes in production. Enterprises need to consider security, [multitenancy](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-multitenancy), and integration with existing investments when evaluating whether to use Kubernetes. This offers numerous lifecycle management challenges: ### Installation IT must validate hosts with the right settings and [LinuxⓇ](/en/topics/linux/what-is-linux) operating system during Kubernetes installation. ### Deployment As Kubernetes is deployed, the right identity and security access must be supplied, along with integrations for storage, networking, and container registry solutions. ### Hardening Once deployed, Kubernetes must be integrated with more solutions, including platform monitoring, security hardening, and logging solutions. Organizations with multiple teams must ensure resources are segmented correctly, and metering and chargeback solutions are properly configured. ### Operation When Kubernetes is fully operational, all layers of the stack—the Linux container host, Kubernetes itself, and the services running on top of Kubernetes—need constant patching and updates. ### What’s not included in Kubernetes Though Kubernetes is a powerful project and offers businesses many advantages, some assembly is required as it isn’t an out-of-the-box solution. In addition to requiring significant work to set roles, access controls, and multitenancy policies, Kubernetes also lacks: #### Developer tooling and application services Kubernetes does not include tested or validated middleware, database or performance monitoring solutions. Additional effort is needed to ensure Kubernetes works with specific editors, IDEs, and testing frameworks. #### DevOps workflows Kubernetes does not include a [CI/CD workflow](/en/topics/devops/what-is-ci-cd) or container build and update processes. #### Operating system, storage, and networking These technologies do not come pre-packaged with Kubernetes, though they are needed for running containers in production. Users must bring and integrate their own solutions. ### Red Hat is open source leadership Red Hat is one of the leading contributors to Kubernetes, and has built key features and components of the open source project. Through [Red HatⓇ OpenShiftⓇ](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift), Red Hat has years of experience supporting customers running containers in production with Kubernetes. Red Hat OpenShift is more than just Kubernetes. Each release includes security, performance, and defect fixes, validated and tested integrations for third-party plugins, and enterprise lifecycle support. It runs anywhere [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux) is supported, on-premise or in the public cloud, with push-button, cluster-wide updates from the operating system on up. [Get started with Red Hat OpenShift](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift "product | red hat openshift") Resource Red Hat named a Leader in 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Container Management -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Container Management to learn why Red Hat OpenShift has been named a “Leader” for the 3rd year in a row. [Read the report](/en/engage/gartner-magic-quadrant-container-management-analyst-report "Red Hat named a Leader in 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Container Management") All Red Hat product trials -------------------------- Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization. [Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials") Keep reading ------------ ### Red Hat OpenShift for developers Develop applications without worrying about infrastructure. Red Hat® OpenShift® helps you build and deploy applications using the tools you want. [Read the article](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/developers "product article | Red Hat OpenShift for developers") ### What is a Linux container? Find out more about Linux containers, which are a set of 1 or more processes that are isolated from the rest of the system. [Read the article](/en/topics/containers/whats-a-linux-container "article | what is a linux container?") ### Why choose Red Hat for Kubernetes? With Red Hat OpenShift, Red Hat provides a hybrid cloud enterprise Kubernetes platform for building and running new cloud native applications, as well as modernizing existing ones. [Read the article](/en/topics/containers/why-choose-red-hat-kubernetes "article | Why choose Red Hat for Kubernetes?") Containers resources -------------------- ### Featured product * #### [Red Hat OpenShift](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift) A unified application development platform that lets you build, modernize, and deploy applications at scale on your choice of hybrid cloud infrastructure. [See all products](/en/technologies/all-products "See all products") ### Related content * Blog post [Confidential Containers workshop on Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift: Learn interactively](/en/blog/confidential-containers-workshop-microsoft-azure-red-hat-openshift-learn-interactively) * Blog post [(Re)Introducing the Red Hat Universal Base Image](/en/blog/introducing-red-hat-universal-base-image) * Case study [Holcim boosts efficiency by 40% with Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS](/en/resources/holcim-digital-center-case-study) * Case study [Powering O2’s next-generation 5G network with Red Hat OpenShift](/en/resources/o2-czech-republic-case-study) ### Related articles * [What is an image builder?](/en/topics/linux/what-is-an-image-builder) * [Red Hat OpenShift for developers](/en/technologies/cloud-computing/openshift/developers) * [What is a Linux container?](/en/topics/containers/whats-a-linux-container) * [Why choose Red Hat for 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