What is Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)?

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) simplifies container management. Discover best practices for securing your AKS deployments in the cloud.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a powerful platform for deploying and managing containerized applications in the cloud. Our guide explores the key features and benefits of AKS, including its ability to simplify Kubernetes management, provide auto-scaling capabilities, and integrate with other Azure services.

Learn how AKS can help you streamline your container orchestration, reduce operational overhead, and ensure high availability for your cloud-native applications. Stay ahead of the curve and unlock the full potential of AKS with our expert insights.

What is Kubernetes?

Before diving into Azure Kubernetes Service, let’s first understand what Kubernetes is. Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration system that automates containerized applications’ deployment, scaling, and management. It was originally developed by Google and later donated to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). Kubernetes provides a platform to manage containers across multiple hosts, providing features like load balancing, storage orchestration, automated rollouts, and more.

What Is Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)?

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a fully managed Kubernetes container orchestration service from Microsoft Azure that makes it easier to deploy and manage containerized applications on a large scale. It provides:

• A fully managed Kubernetes cluster with built-in security and monitoring features,
• Allowing developers and IT professionals to focus on creating,
• Deployment, and
• Scaling containerized applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

AKS allows you to create a Kubernetes cluster with just a few clicks, and it can scale seamlessly to meet the demands of your growing business. In addition, it integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, making it easy to deploy and manage your applications with Azure DevOps, Azure Container Registry, and more.

AKS also offers a range of features to help you optimize your containerized applications, including load balancing, automatic scaling, and rolling updates, making it easier to deliver high-performance, scalable applications to your customers.

Why Choose Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)?

There are several reasons why you should choose Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for your container orchestration needs:

1. Fully Managed Kubernetes Cluster – AKS provides a fully managed Kubernetes cluster, making it easy to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications on a large scale without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
2. Seamless Integration with Azure Services – AKS integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, including Azure DevOps, Azure Container Registry, and more, making it easier to deploy and manage your applications.
3. Built-in Security and Monitoring – AKS provides built-in security and monitoring features, allowing you to deploy and manage your applications confidently.
4. Automatic Scaling and Load Balancing – AKS provides automatic scaling and load balancing features, making it easier to optimize your containerized applications for high performance and scalability.
5. Rolling Updates – AKS supports rolling updates, allowing you to deploy updates to your containerized applications without downtime, making it easier to deliver new features to your customers.

How Does Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Work?

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) works by providing a fully managed Kubernetes cluster, allowing you to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications on a large scale. It integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, making it easy to deploy and manage your applications with Azure DevOps, Azure Container Registry, and more.

With AKS, you can create a Kubernetes cluster with just a few clicks in the Azure portal. Once your cluster is up and running, you can deploy your containerized applications to the cluster using the Kubernetes command line interface (CLI) or through Azure DevOps. In addition, AKS provides built-in load balancing, automatic scaling, and rolling updates, making it easier to optimize your containerized applications for high performance and scalability.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Competitors

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a powerful and versatile platform that allows businesses to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications easily. With its robust features and intuitive user interface, AKS has become popular among enterprises looking to streamline their container orchestration workflows. However, as with any technology, AKS has its competitors. In this section, we’ll explore the top alternatives to AKS and compare their features, benefits, and drawbacks to help you make an informed decision.

• Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) – Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is one of the most popular AKS alternatives on the market. It’s a fully-managed Kubernetes service that runs on AWS and provides users with a secure, reliable, and scalable platform for container orchestration. Like AKS, EKS simplifies the process of deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications. However, EKS is designed specifically for AWS users and may not be the best choice for those who use other cloud providers.
• Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) – Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is another leading AKS competitor. It’s a managed Kubernetes service that runs on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and provides users with a powerful and easy-to-use platform for container orchestration. GKE boasts many of the same features as AKS, including automatic scaling, self-healing, and efficient resource utilization. However, GKE is explicitly designed for GCP users and may not be the best choice for those who use other cloud providers.
• Red Hat OpenShift – Red Hat OpenShift is a powerful and flexible Kubernetes platform that provides users with a complete solution for building, deploying, and managing containerized applications. OpenShift is built on top of Kubernetes and adds many additional features, including an integrated container registry, CI/CD pipeline, and more. OpenShift is an excellent choice for enterprises that need a more robust and customizable solution than AKS.
• Docker Enterprise – Docker Enterprise is a comprehensive container platform that provides users with a complete solution for building, deploying, and managing containerized applications. It includes Docker Swarm, a native clustering and orchestration solution, and Kubernetes, which can be used as an alternative orchestration platform. Docker Enterprise is an excellent choice for businesses that already use Docker and want to consolidate their container-related workflows.
• Rancher – Rancher is a complete container management platform that provides users with a user-friendly interface for managing and deploying containers across multiple cloud providers. Rancher includes built-in Kubernetes and Docker Swarm support and is an excellent choice for businesses needing a more flexible and scalable solution than AKS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a powerful and intuitive container orchestration platform, but other options are available. Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Red Hat OpenShift, Docker Enterprise, and Rancher are all viable alternatives to AKS, each with its own set of features, benefits, and drawbacks. Regardless of the platform you choose, you will need to take care of it’s security, and this is why we created Singularity™ Cloud Security.

Singularity™ Cloud Security offers advanced threat protection; it uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and respond to threats in real time. This helps businesses prevent data breaches, avoid costly downtime, and ensure compliance with various regulations and standards. SentinelOne automatically remediates cloud misconfigurations via 1-click threat remediation. SentinelOne’s unique Offensive Security Engine produces evidence-backed verified exploit paths. Its secret scanning detects 750+ types of secrets and cloud credentials in code repositories and prevents unauthorized cloud access. SentinelOne’s runtime CWPP agent detects and stops runtime threats like ransomware, zero-days, fileless attacks, etc. It supports 14 major Linux distributions and 20 years of Windows Server, including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and private cloud. CSPM simplifies compliance and features over 2,000 built-in checks to streamline cloud audits. It also combines Kubernetes Secrets Posture Management (KSPM) capabilities.

By incorporating Singularity™ Cloud Security into their Kubernetes environments, businesses can add an extra layer of security to their containerized applications and protect themselves from cyber threats. As a result, customers can rest assured that their applications and data are safe and secure, allowing them to focus on achieving their business objectives without worrying about cybersecurity issues.

Azure Kubernetes Service FAQs

What is Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)?

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a managed container orchestration platform from Microsoft Azure that lets you deploy, manage, and scale Kubernetes clusters without handling the control plane. Azure automatically provisions and maintains the API server, etcd datastore, and master components at no extra cost, while you pay only for the worker nodes. This offloads operational overhead and lets you focus on your applications.

What are the Benefits of Using AKS Compared to Self-Managed Kubernetes?

With AKS, Azure handles critical tasks like health monitoring, patching, upgrades, and control-plane maintenance, so you only maintain worker nodes. You gain built-in integrations with Azure Container Registry, Azure Active Directory, and DevOps pipelines.

AKS also provides auto-scaling, self-healing, and a guaranteed SLA on the control plane—advantages that cut operational effort and cost versus running and securing your own Kubernetes masters and etcd clusters.

What Deployment Options Does AKS Support?

You can create AKS clusters via the Azure portal, CLI, PowerShell, ARM templates, Bicep, or Terraform. AKS supports Linux and Windows node pools, virtual node integration with Azure Container Instances for burst workloads, and region-based high-availability.

For hybrid or edge scenarios, you can use Azure Arc–enabled Kubernetes or deploy AKS on Azure Stack HCI and Windows Server to run clusters on-premises with consistent tooling and management.

What Built-in Security Features are available in AKS?

AKS integrates with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and Kubernetes RBAC to enforce identity-based access control. Azure Policy enforces guardrails at cluster or namespace scope. Private clusters isolate the API endpoint within your virtual network.

Network policies control pod-to-pod traffic. Secrets encryption, Azure Key Vault integration, and node-image scanning help prevent credential leaks and ensure compliance with standards like PCI DSS and HIPAA.

How do I Monitor AKS Performance and Health?

Enable Container Insights in Azure Monitor to collect metrics, logs, and live visuals for node, pod, and container performance. Use Azure Advisor for cluster-level recommendations. You can query Log Analytics with SentinelOne to investigate resource usage or errors.

For real-time alerts, define metric-based rules on CPU, memory, pod restarts, or failed deployments, and route notifications to Azure Service Health or ITSM tools.

What are Best Practices for Securing AKS Clusters?

Use Azure Policy to enforce secure configurations from code to runtime. Enable role-based access control with least-privilege assignments. Run system and application workloads in separate namespaces with network policies to limit lateral movement.

Regularly patch node images and Kubernetes versions. Isolate critical workloads with node pools on dedicated subnets. Store secrets in Azure Key Vault and rotate them frequently. Also, perform periodic penetration tests and review audit logs.

How can I Troubleshoot Common AKS Issues?

Start with kubectl describe on pods, nodes, or events to identify errors. Check Container Insights logs for node and control-plane health. Use az aks command invoke for remote diagnostics and kubectl logs to view container output. Validate network connectivity with kubectl exec and DNS lookups.

For failed upgrades, inspect control-plane health in Azure portal. Use Azure Support Diagnostics to gather cluster snapshots and reach out to Azure support if needed.