AKS Deployment
Container orchestration on Azure
We design, deploy, and manage Azure Kubernetes Service clusters. Zero-downtime deployments, observability, security, and cost optimisation for containerised workloads on Azure.
AKS capabilities
From cluster design to day-two operations, everything managed as code.
AKS cluster design
We design AKS clusters with the right node pools, networking model (kubenet or Azure CNI), identity configuration, and scaling policies for your workload. Clusters are provisioned with Bicep and managed through GitOps workflows.
Kubernetes workload management
Application workloads managed as Kubernetes manifests: Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Ingresses, and HorizontalPodAutoscalers. Manifests are stored in Git, versioned, and applied to the cluster through CI/CD pipelines.
Zero-downtime deployments
Rolling updates, blue-green deployments, and canary releases on AKS. Health checks, readiness probes, and pod disruption budgets ensure your application stays available during every deployment.
Monitoring and observability
Azure Monitor, Prometheus, and Grafana dashboards for cluster health, pod metrics, and application performance. Alerts for node pressure, pod restarts, and resource limits so you know about problems before your users do.
Security and compliance
Azure Policy for AKS enforces pod security standards, restricts privileged containers, and mandates image sources. Network policies control pod-to-pod communication. Azure Key Vault integration for secrets management.
Cost optimisation
Right-sized node pools, cluster autoscaler configuration, spot node pools for batch workloads, and resource quota management. We help you run Kubernetes without the bill spiralling.
From assessment to production cluster
We validate that Kubernetes is the right fit, then design, deploy, and operate.
Container readiness assessment
We assess your application architecture, current hosting, and team capabilities. Not every application benefits from Kubernetes. You receive a clear recommendation on whether AKS is the right fit, or whether Azure Container Apps or App Service would serve you better.
Cluster design and pipeline setup
We design the AKS cluster topology, write Kubernetes manifests for your application, and configure the CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps). Everything is infrastructure as code with Azure Bicep.
Deploy and validate
We deploy to a non-production cluster first, load test, validate monitoring, and iterate. Once stable, production deployment follows with zero-downtime migration from your existing hosting.
Operate and optimise
Ongoing cluster management, Kubernetes version upgrades, node pool scaling, and cost reviews. Available through our managed support service.
Go deeper
DevOps & Modernisation
Our full DevOps service: CI/CD, IaC, platform engineering, and DevOps-as-a-Service.
Azure Bicep Infrastructure
Infrastructure as code with Azure Bicep for AKS and beyond.
GitHub Actions CI/CD
Automated build, test, and deploy pipelines for GitHub Enterprise.
Cloud Hosting
Azure hosting design, migration, and optimisation.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need Kubernetes?
Not always. Kubernetes is the right choice when you have multiple services that need independent scaling, your application has complex networking requirements, or you need fine-grained control over deployment strategies. For simpler applications, Azure Container Apps or App Service may be more appropriate. We help you make that decision before investing in Kubernetes infrastructure.
AKS vs Azure Container Apps: which should we choose?
Azure Container Apps (ACA) is a managed, serverless container platform built on Kubernetes but without the operational overhead. Choose ACA when you want containers without managing clusters. Choose AKS when you need full control: custom networking, node pools, GPU workloads, or advanced scheduling. We implement both and can migrate between them.
How do you manage Kubernetes manifests and deployments?
We manage all Kubernetes workloads as code stored in Git: Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Ingresses, and autoscaling policies. CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps) apply changes to the cluster automatically on merge. Every change is versioned, reviewed, and auditable. Rolling back to a previous state is a single pipeline run.
How do you handle Kubernetes upgrades?
AKS manages the control plane upgrade. We plan and execute node pool upgrades with surge settings to maintain capacity during the upgrade. Application manifests and configurations are validated against the target Kubernetes version before the upgrade begins. We schedule upgrades during maintenance windows and validate application health throughout.
Can you migrate our existing application to AKS?
Yes. We containerise existing applications (Docker), write Kubernetes manifests, and migrate from VMs, App Service, or other hosting platforms to AKS. The migration is incremental: we run old and new infrastructure in parallel until the AKS deployment is validated.
How does AKS integrate with Azure networking?
AKS integrates natively with Azure Virtual Networks, Application Gateway (as an ingress controller), Azure Front Door for global load balancing, and Azure Private Link for secure connectivity. We design the networking topology as part of the cluster setup, all managed through Bicep.
Ready to run containers in production?
Book a free container assessment. We will tell you whether AKS is the right fit and design a cluster that scales with your workload.
Book a free consultationor call 01202 375647