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Kubernetes your product team can ship on

We design, deploy, and operate Kubernetes platforms across cloud-managed Kubernetes services, K3s, physical servers, on-prem environments, cloud VMs, bare metal, hybrid estates, and existing clusters.

K3s is one deployment option inside the broader Managed Kubernetes offer, not a separate operating model.

Production-ready
Availability runbooks
GitOps included
Incident support
Request Kubernetes assessmentCompare service plans

Platform, not just a cluster

Ingress, TLS, DNS, GitOps, secrets, logging, metrics, storage, backups, and deployment workflow included in scope.

Operated after launch

Upgrade planning, capacity review, incident support, security hardening, and platform backlog management.

Flexible deployment options

Use cloud-managed Kubernetes, K3s, physical or on-prem servers, cloud VMs, bare metal, hybrid infrastructure, or existing clusters.

Features

Key Features

Everything you need for enterprise-grade container management.

Security

  • Network policies & segmentation
  • Pod security standards
  • Secrets encryption at rest
  • RBAC configuration
  • Regular security patching

Reliability

  • HA control plane
  • Multi-AZ deployments
  • Automated failover
  • Disaster recovery
  • Availability runbooks

Observability

  • Prometheus metrics
  • Grafana dashboards
  • Centralized logging
  • Distributed tracing
  • Alerting & notifications

Operations

  • GitOps deployments
  • Automated upgrades
  • Backup & restore
  • Cost optimization
  • Incident response support
Simple to use

Getting Started

Easy-to-use CLI and APIs for managing your infrastructure.

Create a production-ready Kubernetes cluster.

create-cluster.sh
# Create a new managed cluster
assistance k8s create cluster \
  --name production \
  --region eu-central-1 \
  --nodes 3 \
  --node-size m5.xlarge
# → Provisioning control plane...
# → Configuring node pools...
# → Installing CNI and addons...
# → Setting up monitoring...
# ✓ Cluster ready in 4m 32s
# Get cluster credentials
assistance k8s get-credentials production
Use Cases

What you can build

Scale effortlessly from experimentation to production.

Production Workloads

Run mission-critical applications with HA, auto-scaling, and zero-downtime deployments.

  • High availability setup
  • Automatic scaling
  • Zero-downtime updates
  • Disaster recovery

Microservices Platform

Build and operate microservices with service mesh, observability, and GitOps.

  • Service discovery
  • Load balancing
  • Circuit breaking
  • Distributed tracing

Stateful Applications

Run databases and stateful workloads with persistent storage and backup.

  • Persistent volumes
  • Automated backups
  • High IOPS storage
  • Cross-AZ replication

Multi-Region Deployments

Deploy globally with multi-cluster management and traffic routing.

  • Global load balancing
  • Regional failover
  • Data locality
  • Edge deployments

Service playbook

From problem to operating evidence

Main content is structured like a case study: context first, scoped work next, then the operating changes and evidence a team can use after handoff.

Service briefWho it is forDeployment optionsWhat is includedPackages

Managed Kubernetes is for teams that want the benefits of Kubernetes without making every application engineer become a cluster operator. We build the platform around how your team ships software, then operate the parts that create the most risk: upgrades, networking, observability, security, backups, capacity, and incident response.

K3s is available as a lightweight Kubernetes deployment option for edge, lab, constrained, physical, bare-metal, cloud VM, and hybrid environments. It sits under the same Managed Kubernetes service boundary as provider-managed clusters and existing Kubernetes estates.

Case-study lens

Scoped

Problem, responsibility, and handoff boundaries before implementation.

Evidence

Dashboards, runbooks, reviews, and operating records over borrowed logos.

Outcomes

Conservative summaries focused on observable operational improvement.

EvidenceSection 01

Who it is for

Runbooks, dashboards, reviews, and handoff material make the work auditable.

Team situationWhy this service fits
Moving from PaaS to more controlWe provide a platform path without losing deployment simplicity
Running Kubernetes without platform engineersWe take on cluster operations, upgrades, and troubleshooting
Preparing for production launchWe add observability, security, backups, and runbooks before traffic grows
Consolidating fragmented clustersWe standardize GitOps, namespaces, policies, dashboards, and ownership
Needing Kubernetes outside managed cloud servicesWe can deploy Kubernetes or K3s on VMs, bare metal, physical servers, edge, on-prem, or hybrid environments
Already using a cloud-managed clusterWe can improve and operate existing EKS, AKS, GKE, OKE, DOKS, LKE, Rancher, OpenShift, and similar environments
Operating modelSection 02

Deployment options

Responsibilities, response paths, and technical changes are made explicit before work starts.

OptionExamplesWhen it fits
Cloud provider managed KubernetesAWS EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE, Oracle OKE, DigitalOcean Kubernetes, Linode Kubernetes Engine, Civo, Scaleway, OVHcloud, Hetzner, Rancher, or OpenShiftYou want the provider to own much of the control-plane burden while Assistance operates the platform layer, GitOps, observability, security baseline, upgrades, and workload onboarding
Kubernetes or K3s on physical or on-prem serversDedicated servers, virtualization clusters, factory or office sites, private datacenter capacityYou need data locality, predictable hardware, local control, or a non-public-cloud operating model
Cloud VM, bare-metal, or hybrid K3sK3s on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Hetzner, DigitalOcean, Linode, OVHcloud, Scaleway, or mixed cloud/on-prem nodesYou want a lightweight Kubernetes footprint with portability, cost control, or edge-friendly operations
Existing clustersCurrent Kubernetes, K3s, Rancher, OpenShift, kubeadm, or provider-managed clustersYou need assessment, stabilization, GitOps, observability, security hardening, upgrade planning, or ongoing operations before considering a rebuild

Provider names are representative examples, not partnership claims. Final platform selection depends on workload fit, region, compliance, cost model, existing contracts, and operational risk.

ScopeSection 03

What is included

The work is broken into visible capabilities, acceptance points, and handoff artifacts.

Platform layerIncluded work
Cluster foundationDistribution and provider selection, control plane model, node pools, upgrade path, and operating boundary
NetworkingCNI, ingress, DNS, TLS, network policies, load balancing, service exposure
DeliveryGitOps with Argo CD or Flux, Helm/Kustomize structure, rollback process
SecurityRBAC, namespace model, pod security standards, secrets management, image policy guidance
ObservabilityPrometheus, Grafana, provider metrics where useful, logging, alerts, service dashboards, cluster health views
Storage and backupstorage classes, persistent volume guidance, etcd or cluster-state backups where applicable, restore notes
Operationsrunbooks, monthly reviews, capacity planning, patching, incident support within plan scope
EvidenceSection 04

Packages

Runbooks, dashboards, reviews, and handoff material make the work auditable.

PackageBest forTypical deliverables
Kubernetes Readiness AssessmentTeams deciding whether Kubernetes is the right next step or which deployment option fitsWorkload fit, risk review, target architecture, migration recommendation
Platform BuildTeams needing a first production platformCluster, GitOps, ingress, TLS, observability, security baseline, docs
Migration PackageTeams moving workloads into KubernetesContainerization plan, manifests or charts, staged rollout, rollback plan
Managed Platform PlanTeams needing ongoing operationsUpgrades, reviews, incident support, capacity planning, platform backlog
Operating modelSection 05

Plan alignment

Responsibilities, response paths, and technical changes are made explicit before work starts.

PlanFitIncluded emphasis
XSSingle-cluster teams starting KubernetesBasic platform support, standard observability, business-hours help
STeams with multiple environmentsIaC, GitOps, security hardening, monthly platform reviews
MProduction-critical platforms24/7 coverage, senior platform support, upgrade and incident ownership
CustomMulti-region, regulated, provider-managed, physical, on-prem, or hybrid platformsDedicated operating model, formal SLA, compliance evidence, custom integrations
OutcomeSection 06

When K3s is the right option

Expected changes are framed as practical operating improvements, not unsupported guarantees.

K3s is a CNCF-certified Kubernetes distribution that packages the Kubernetes control plane into a small, operationally simple distribution. It is a strong option for teams that want Kubernetes compatibility without the overhead of larger cluster stacks.

AdvantageBuyer value
Lightweight footprintSmaller VM, physical, or bare-metal requirements and lower steady-state overhead
Fast provisioningFaster environment creation and easier repeatability
CNCF-certified APIStandard manifests, Helm charts, and tooling continue to work
Built-in defaultsUseful defaults for ingress, DNS, and local development scenarios
Portable runtimeSimilar operating model across cloud VMs, bare metal, edge, on-prem, and hybrid setups

K3s is not mandatory. We also support provider-managed Kubernetes services and existing Kubernetes distributions when those are a better fit.

EvidenceSection 07

Onboarding path

Runbooks, dashboards, reviews, and handoff material make the work auditable.

  1. Workload discovery — applications, dependencies, traffic, compliance needs, deployment process, team skills, and existing provider constraints.
  2. Target architecture — deployment option, cluster topology, networking, GitOps model, namespaces, security, observability, and backup approach.
  3. Platform build or takeover — infrastructure provisioning or existing-cluster baseline, cluster configuration, delivery workflow, monitoring, and documentation.
  4. Workload onboarding — pilot service, rollout plan, rollback plan, and developer handoff.
  5. Managed operations — upgrades, patching, capacity reviews, incident response, and platform backlog management.
OutcomeSection 08

Outcomes you can measure

The result is described as an operating change the team can observe, review, and sustain.

  • developers deploy through a documented GitOps or CI/CD path
  • cluster health and workload health visible in dashboards
  • upgrade process documented before the first production upgrade
  • namespaces, RBAC, and ownership aligned to teams or applications
  • secrets and image handling reviewed for production use
  • backups and restore assumptions documented
  • platform backlog prioritized by risk, cost, and developer impact
OutcomeSection 09

Proof we leave behind

Expected changes are framed as practical operating improvements, not unsupported guarantees.

EvidenceWhy it matters
Architecture diagramShows cluster boundaries, ingress, networking, storage, and dependencies
GitOps repositoryMakes platform and workload changes reviewable
RunbooksProvides first-response steps for common cluster and workload failures
Dashboard setMakes cluster and application health visible
Upgrade planReduces risk for Kubernetes and node maintenance
Handoff sessionEnsures your team understands how to use the platform safely
Next stepSection 10

Related services

Decision points and common questions are made explicit so follow-up work is scoped cleanly.

Next stepSection 11

Getting started

Decision points and common questions are made explicit so follow-up work is scoped cleanly.

Start with a Kubernetes assessment. We will review workloads, team readiness, infrastructure options, provider constraints, and the operating model needed before production use. Request Kubernetes assessment →

Next stepSection 12

Frequently asked questions

Decision points and common questions are made explicit so follow-up work is scoped cleanly.

Do we have to use K3s? No. K3s is one lightweight deployment option. We also support cloud provider managed Kubernetes services, Kubernetes on physical or on-prem servers, and existing Kubernetes distributions.

Which managed Kubernetes providers do you support? We can work with representative services such as AWS EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE, Oracle OKE, DigitalOcean Kubernetes, Linode Kubernetes Engine, Civo, Scaleway, OVHcloud, Hetzner, Rancher, and OpenShift where they fit the engagement. Provider selection is scoped during assessment.

Can you migrate existing workloads? Yes. We assess container readiness, define rollout and rollback plans, and move workloads in stages.

Do you provide 24/7 support? 24/7 support is available on the appropriate plan or custom agreement. Smaller plans typically use business-hours support.

Will our developers need to learn Kubernetes deeply? They need to understand the deployment workflow and operational basics. We hide unnecessary platform complexity behind GitOps, templates, documentation, and support.

How it works

1

Assess

We understand your workloads, team size, compliance needs, and growth plans.

2

Design

Architecture document with cluster topology, networking, security, and tooling choices.

3

Deploy

Infrastructure as Code (Terraform + Helm) deployed to your cloud account with GitOps.

4

Operate

Ongoing management with agreed response targets, upgrades, and incident response.

5

Evolve

Monthly reviews to tune performance, optimize costs, and plan for growth.

Ready to get started?

Book a quote review or talk to an engineer.

Get pricing

How we compare

FeatureDIY / In-HouseUsEnterprise Vendor
Production-grade setupMonths of work1-2 weeks2-4 weeks
Ongoing operationsYour teamWe handle itVendor handles it
Customization
GitOps includedDIY
Observability stackDIYIncludedExtra cost
Monthly cost€10-20K salary€3-8K€15-30K
Vendor lock-in

Pricing

Flexible scopes available. if you need custom terms or bundled service pricing.

Starter

€2.200/mo

Teams running their first production K8s cluster.

  • 1 production cluster
  • HA control plane
  • Basic monitoring & alerting
  • Email support
  • GitOps deployment
  • Multi-cluster management
  • Custom platform engineering
Most popular

Professional

€4.500/mo

Production workloads needing full-stack platform engineering.

  • Up to 3 clusters
  • HA control plane + autoscaling
  • Full observability stack
  • Slack + email support
  • GitOps deployment
  • Multi-cluster management
  • Custom platform engineering

Enterprise

Custom

Critical workloads at scale across multiple regions.

  • Unlimited clusters
  • HA + multi-region
  • Full observability + custom dashboards
  • Dedicated Slack + phone
  • GitOps + advanced deployment strategies
  • Multi-cluster + federation
  • Custom platform engineering

What our clients say

“We went from "nobody wants to touch Kubernetes" to "everything just works" in under a month.”

Nikolai V.

Lead Developer, IoT Startup

“Their Kubernetes platform freed us from hiring a dedicated platform team. The savings alone justify the service.”

Elena T.

CEO, AI/ML Company

Talk to a senior engineer

Need a clearer path for Managed Kubernetes?

We'll help you understand fit, scope, pricing, and the fastest practical next step for your team.

No obligation • Senior engineer review • Recommendations grounded in your current stack