But in production, the topic quickly goes beyond simply deploying containers. A Kubernetes cluster also means managing a control plane, updates, security patches, networking, storage, observability, costs, and coherent integration with the rest of the information system.
The question is no longer only whether you should use Kubernetes, but how to run it without rebuilding an entire operational platform around the cluster.
On Thursday 21 May at 11:30, Clever Cloud is hosting a webinar dedicated to Clever Kubernetes Engine (CKE), our managed Kubernetes service, to discuss these challenges with you.
Kubernetes: a standard, but not just an orchestrator
Kubernetes provides a common foundation for deploying, scaling and operating containerised workloads. It integrates with tools widely adopted by technical teams: kubectl, Helm, Terraform, GitOps…
That is also why many organisations have adopted it. Some solutions are already designed to be installed on Kubernetes. Some vendors distribute their solutions through Helm charts or manifests. Some teams have built their practices, workflows and architectures around this ecosystem.
But standardisation does not remove the operational workload. It shifts it. As soon as a cluster needs to be used in production, other topics appear: control plane availability, updates, monitoring, security, resilience, dependency management and integration with existing services.
This is precisely where architecture choices become important.
CKE: keep Kubernetes, reduce what needs to be operated
With Clever Kubernetes Engine, the goal is to offer another way to run Kubernetes: keep the standards, tools and practices your teams already use, while reducing the amount of infrastructure you need to manage day to day.
CKE lets you create and operate Kubernetes clusters on Clever Cloud infrastructure. The control plane is operated by Clever Cloud, nodes are provisioned on demand, and updates can be applied on request or in the event of a critical vulnerability.
For technical teams, the principle remains the same: you use Kubernetes with your usual tools. You retrieve your kubeconfig, use kubectl, Helm, Terraform or your GitOps workflows, without having to adopt a proprietary tool or completely rethink your practices.
CKE does not force you to change your Kubernetes tools. It mainly reduces what you need to manage around the cluster.
PaaS and Kubernetes: two complementary approaches
At Clever Cloud, PaaS remains at the heart of our approach. For a large number of applications, it enables fast deployment, reduces infrastructure workload and helps teams focus on code. But not all use cases are the same.
Some teams already use Kubernetes. Some architectures require more control over orchestration. In these cases, Kubernetes is not just a technical choice: it is already the team’s working framework.
CKE complements Clever Cloud’s PaaS to address these needs, without opposing the two models. The point is to use the right tool in the right place: PaaS when it helps teams move faster, Kubernetes when it naturally fits the architecture and the team’s practices.
A webinar to see how it works in practice
On Thursday 21 May at 11:30, Florent Perreux, CSO at Clever Cloud, and Gilles Biannic, SRE Engineer at Clever Cloud, will show you how CKE integrates into existing architectures and what it changes in the day-to-day operation of a Kubernetes cluster.
The goal: understand how to use Kubernetes with your usual tools, while reducing the operational workload around the cluster.
On the agenda
During this 30-minute webinar, we will cover:
- why Kubernetes remains demanding to operate in production;
- when Kubernetes makes sense as a complement to a PaaS;
- what CKE handles: control plane, updates, critical patches, platform integration;
- how to keep your usual tools: kubectl, Helm, Terraform, GitOps;
- a demo: creating a cluster, retrieving the kubeconfig, deploying an application and exposing a service;
- concrete use cases: migration from an existing cluster, PaaS complement, reduced operational workload;
- a Q&A session to ask your questions live.
Why attend?
This webinar is for teams already using Kubernetes, operating clusters in self-managed environments or with a hyperscaler, or looking for a European alternative to clusters operated by hyperscalers or self-managed setups.
You will be able to:
- understand what really creates complexity around Kubernetes;
- identify whether CKE fits your context: hyperscaler, self-managed, PaaS or hybrid architecture;
- see how to use Kubernetes without changing your tools or workflows;
- discover how CKE integrates with the Clever Cloud ecosystem;
- ask your questions directly to our teams.
CKE is currently available in public beta. During this period, you will also be able to talk to our teams to learn more about access conditions and available discount vouchers.
Register now
The webinar will take place on Thursday 21 May 2026 at 11:30, online on Livestorm.
You already use Kubernetes, operate your own clusters, or are looking for an integrated alternative to reduce your operational workload? Join us on 21 May.