Over the last few years, Indian startups have scaled faster than ever. Products launch quickly. User spikes happen overnight. Infrastructure decisions that once felt “technical” now directly impact burn rate and runway.
For many CTOs and founders, the real question isn’t just what is Kubernetes and why it is used. The bigger question is:
Should we manage it ourselves, or choose a managed kubernetes provider?
What Is Kubernetes? Explained for Decision-Makers
If you look up the kubernetes definition, it shows- An open-source platform for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
But what are kubernetes used for in real-world terms?
It is used to:
- Deploy applications in containers
- Automatically scale them during traffic spikes
- Restart failed workloads
- Manage networking between services
- Allocate compute resources efficiently
In short, it enables container orchestration with kubernetes at scale.
If your startup uses microservices, handles unpredictable traffic, or plans to scale beyond a few servers, kubernetes becomes relevant very quickly.
And yes, is kubernetes open source? Yes. It was originally built by Google and is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
Why Kubernetes Became the Standard?
Startups in India used to rely on simple VM setups, then came containers. Now, orchestration is mandatory at scale.
Why did kubernetes become the default?
1. Scalability by Design
Auto-scaling based on CPU/memory via a metrics server. Horizontal Pod Autoscaling without manual effort.
2. Fault Tolerance
If a pod crashes, it restarts. If a node dies, workloads shift.
3. Strong Networking Model
With built-in service discovery, kube proxy routes traffic between services seamlessly.
4. Deployment Flexibility
Rolling updates, blue-green deployments, canary releases.
5. Enterprise Features
Support for:
- Namespace isolation
- Resource quotas
- API aggregation layer
- Mutating webhooks
That’s why kubernetes for enterprises is now standard practice, and startups adopt it early to avoid painful migrations later.
Kubernetes: DIY vs Managed – Key Differences
Many Indian startups begin with self-managed clusters to save money. On paper, it looks cheaper.
In reality? It depends.
| Factor | DIY Kubernetes | Managed Kubernetes |
| Control Plane Setup | You manage it | Provider manages it |
| Security Patching | Your team handles it | Automated by provider |
| High Availability | Manual configuration | Built-in |
| Monitoring | Self-integrated | Often included |
| DevOps Effort | High | Moderate to low |
| Cost Predictability | Variable | Usually clearer |
A kubernetes server setup requires maintaining etcd, control plane nodes, worker nodes, networking, and backups. It demands experienced DevOps engineers, which are expensive in India.
That’s where managed kubernetes services enter the conversation.
They abstract control plane management and let your team focus on shipping product instead of patching clusters at 2 AM.
Core Kubernetes Concepts You Should Know First (Before Choosing a Provider)
Before evaluating kubernetes hosting platforms, decision-makers should understand these concepts. You don’t need to configure them daily, but you should know what they do.
Types of Services in Kubernetes
- ClusterIP
- NodePort
- LoadBalancer
- ExternalName
These define how applications are exposed.
Ingress Controller in Kubernetes
Manages external HTTP/S access. Important when running APIs or SaaS platforms.
Also understand ingress and egress in kubernetes, traffic entering and leaving your cluster.
Persistent Storage
Containers are ephemeral. Data isn’t.
That’s where:
- persistent volume
- pv and pvc
come into play. A provider should offer reliable storage integration.
Scheduling Controls
Advanced workloads may use:
- node affinity rules
- taints and tolerations
- init containers
These improve workload placement and startup behavior.
Networking & Traffic
- kube proxy handles service routing.
- Service meshes may extend this further.
If your provider restricts these configurations, scaling complex applications becomes harder later.
What to Look for in a Managed Kubernetes Provider?
Not all providers are equal. Especially for Indian startups, the priorities differ from US enterprises.
1. Transparent Pricing
Many startups underestimate:
- Data transfer charges
- Load balancer costs
- Storage IOPS pricing
Look for predictable billing. Avoid hidden networking costs.
2. Control Plane Reliability
Does the provider:
- Offer SLA-backed control plane uptime?
- Automatically patch vulnerabilities?
- Maintain version upgrades?
3. Storage Performance
Database-heavy SaaS platforms require high IOPS persistent volumes. Check latency benchmarks.
4. Regional Availability
Latency matters. Indian users expect sub-100ms response times.
5. Support Quality
Can you reach real engineers? Or only ticket queues?
6. Ecosystem Compatibility
Ensure support for:
- metrics server
- api aggregation layer
- mutating webhooks
- ingress controller in kubernetes
Leading Managed Kubernetes Options (Indian Startup View)
Below are commonly evaluated providers by Indian teams.
1. Amazon EKS – AWS Ecosystem Strength
Deep AWS integration. Reliable but often expensive for startups due to data transfer and add-ons.
2. Google GKE – Strong Engineering Pedigree
Excellent automation. Can become costly at scale.
3. Azure AKS – Enterprise Alignment
Often chosen by companies already in Microsoft ecosystem.
4. OVHcloud – Cost-Conscious Alternative
For startups watching burn rate carefully, OVHcloud managed kubernetes has gained attention as a practical option.
It offers:
- Competitive pricing
- European-grade data protection
- Predictable billing models
- Strong bare-metal and public cloud integration
For Indian SaaS companies serving global customers, cost-performance balance becomes critical. OVHcloud positions itself as a stable, less hype-driven option, especially where infra savings directly extend runway.
Final Thoughts: From Learning to Doing
Understanding what kubernetes is and why it is used is step one.
Step two is deciding how much of it your team should manage.
If you:
- Have a small DevOps team
- Need faster feature delivery
- Want predictable infrastructure costs
Then managed kubernetes often makes operational sense.
If you:
- Have deep SRE expertise
- Need extreme customization
- Operate at very large scale
Self-management may still work.
For most Indian startups in growth mode, however, outsourcing cluster complexity while retaining workload control strikes a healthy balance.
FAQ Section
1. What is the difference between Docker and Kubernetes?
The docker and kubernetes difference is simple:
- Docker packages applications into containers.
- Kubernetes manages those containers at scale.
2. Can Kubernetes be used without Docker?
Yes.
Originally Docker was common, but Kubernetes now supports other container runtimes like containerd. So Kubernetes can run without Docker specifically, as long as a compatible runtime exists.
3. Is managed Kubernetes better for startups?
Often, yes.
Startups typically lack large SRE teams. Managed kubernetes reduces operational overhead and allows teams to focus on shipping features instead of cluster maintenance.
4. What does a managed Kubernetes provider handle?
A managed kubernetes provider usually handles:
- Control plane setup and maintenance
- Security patching
- Version upgrades
- High availability configuration
- Backup and monitoring integrations
