Tempted by the unparalleled control and flexibility of self-managed Kubernetes, but daunted by the complexity and potential pitfalls? Managed services offer simplicity, but what if you need more customization, operate in restricted environments, or want to truly own your platform? This talk is your practical guide to forging robust, enterprise-ready K8s clusters on your own terms – without the infamous 'footguns'.
We'll dive deep into the essential components that elevate a basic cluster to an enterprise-grade powerhouse. You'll learn how to navigate the treacherous waters of control plane design and avoid common stability issues. We'll demystify Kubernetes load balancing, explaining why it's critical and exploring effective strategies. Choosing the right network layer is crucial, so we'll compare CNI options to help you make an informed decision. Stateful workloads demand reliable storage; we'll cover the essentials of CSI drivers and persistent storage management. Finally, we'll explore automated cluster and node provisioning techniques for scalability and resilience, and cover critical security considerations you absolutely must address when running K8s yourself. Leave equipped with actionable strategies to build and operate your own resilient Kubernetes clusters confidently.