Cycle vs. Kubernetes: Why I See Organizations Making the Switch

Greetings! My name is Matt Krauser and I’m a Strategic Sales Executive here at Cycle.

After participating in nearly a hundred demos of the platform, I wanted to step back from my day to day grind and share a little about my experience thus far. My goal in writing this is to compare Cycle and Kubernetes, discuss the primary pain points I hear from prospects and K8s users on a daily basis, and explain how Cycle can alleviate these challenges.

Over the years, the world of container orchestration & infrastructure management has evolved significantly, and Kubernetes has emerged as the de facto standard for managing containerized applications. However, while Kubernetes can be a powerful and versatile platform, it's not the right fit for every organization.

Enter Cycle, a container orchestration & infrastructure management platform designed to simplify, standardize, and automate the DevOps processes in your organization.

Addressing the Pain Points: What I Hear from K8s Users

When it comes to the decision between Cycle and Kubernetes, it's essential to address the pain points and challenges that organizations face every day. As a salesperson, I’m the first line of communication between our organization and prospects looking into new container orchestration and infrastructure management solutions. This has given me a unique perspective on why so many in our industry are ready to ditch Kubernetes and the complexity associated with it.

1.) Complexity vs. Simplicity

One of, if not the most significant pain point I hear with Kubernetes is its complexity. While K8s offers flexibility, this comes at the cost of a steeper learning curve and demands dedicated DevOps resources to manage effectively. For smaller organizations or teams, this can be overwhelming, resource-intensive, and just flat out expensive.

Cycle, on the other hand, is all about simplicity. It's designed to streamline infrastructure management and container orchestration, making it an ideal choice for organizations looking for a more straightforward approach. With Cycle, the barrier to entry is much lower due to our simplification of complex processes. This enables developers and DevOps engineers alike to become “power-users” in as little as a few days. This simplicity can be a game-changer for those who want to leverage container technology without the added complexity.

2.) The Reliability Factor

I often hear from engineering leadership that reliability is paramount to their organization’s success. While Kubernetes offers a plethora of features, it can sometimes feel like chasing the latest and greatest, with each feature potentially introducing new challenges. The result? A platform that might not always be as stable and secure as desired.

In comparison, Cycle takes a different approach. It focuses on being predictable and reliable, ensuring that users can expect consistent results without having to dive deep into documentation. It achieves this by enforcing standardization, simplicity, and provider agnosticism. On top of this, Cycle has a world-class customer success and support team that boasts a 2.5 minute average response time.

3.) Managing Updates and Maintenance

Another pain point I hear that organizations frequently grapple with is the challenge of managing updates and maintenance. Kubernetes, with its myriad components and extensive ecosystem, often demands meticulous attention when it comes to keeping the platform up-to-date. Manual patches, updates, and maintenance tasks can be time-consuming and error-prone, leading to potential disruptions and security vulnerabilities. I’ll also add that according to a DataDog report from 2020, the average Kubernetes installation is roughly 17 months out of date, which further proves how K8s can expose your organization to security threats and downtime.

Cycle, on the other hand, aligns with the principle of zero maintenance. With Cycle, every component of the platform supports automatic updates, reducing the burden of manual upkeep. This means organizations can focus on their core tasks and innovation rather than being bogged down by the constant need for maintenance, ensuring a smoother and more efficient operation in the long run.

Embracing a New Era

The decision to switch from Kubernetes to Cycle is not just about moving from one platform to another; it's about embracing a new era in container orchestration and infrastructure management. It's about rethinking the way we approach DevOps and recognizing that not every organization needs the complexity that Kubernetes offers.

Cycle is redefining the standards in the industry, and it's gaining recognition as the platform of choice for organizations seeking simplicity, predictability, and streamlined container orchestration and infrastructure management. It empowers organizations to take control of their containerized workloads without the unnecessary complexities, giving them the freedom to focus on what truly matters—innovation. This is why now, more than ever, engineering organizations across the globe are making the switch from Kubernetes to the Cycle Platform.

💡 Interested in trying the Cycle platform? Create your account today! Want to drop in and have a chat with the Cycle team? We'd love to have you join our public Cycle Slack community!