Containers-as-a-Service: key points for adopting a solution

The advent of containers

The advent of cloud computing has transformed the way we store data and run applications. It has enabled companies to benefit from powerful servers and storage systems without having to install them on site or incur high maintenance costs.

However, applications used to be dependent on the underlying operating system (OS), which limited their portability between different cloud service providers. Containers emerged as a solution to this problem. They have become very popular thanks to benefits such as host OS sharing, fast start-up, portability, scalability and rapid deployment.

With containerization, enterprises can run multiple containers on the same cloud instance, optimizing costs and scaling infrastructure. Microservices architecture also contributes to container adoption, particularly for small, stand-alone services. According to surveys, the use of containers has increased considerably over the years, with a very large majority of companies using them in production.

CaaS versus PaaS and IaaS

CaaS, or Containers-as-a-Service, has emerged as a specialized cloud service that simplifies container management. It falls into the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) category, where the cloud provider manages server hardware, virtualization, storage and networks.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) is a complete cloud environment for development and deployment, including infrastructure components, intermediate tools, development tools and database management.

CaaS distinguishes itself from PaaS by offering a higher level of granularity, and by being independent of specific code ecosystems and runtime environments. It enables greater agility, particularly for microservices, and addresses the challenges of managing containerized environments. Surveys indicate a growing adoption of CaaS and containers, with a significant number of organizations already using them and others planning to adopt them in the future.

The challenge of acquiring the necessary skills

In today's DevOps landscape, it's essential to understand cloud computing platforms, modern technologies such as microservices and containers, and to have DevOps skills.

However, companies are finding it difficult to recruit and develop these skills in-house. Demand for DevOps professionals is high, and qualified talent is hard to find. According to the State of Cloud report (Flexera 2022), the main challenge facing companies with containerized infrastructures is the lack of qualified personnel (42%). Half of those surveyed are looking first to recruit and train DevOps skills in-house, before turning to external recruitment. If in-house training is not possible, then external skills must be recruited or sourced from digital service companies.

Unfortunately, DevOps engineer profiles are very hard to recruit (Tech Hiring Survey, 2022 | CodinGame and CoderPad) and teams face many challenges according to the Upskilling 2021 report:

• 64% have difficulty finding competent talent
• 57% find it difficult to identify the skills they need
• 41% have difficulty attracting talent

Training and skills development initiatives are key to bridging skills gaps and ensuring the success of containerization and cloud adoption.

A new generation of managed containers

CaaS offers the benefits of containers with additional advantages in the cloud. Managed CaaS solutions automate performance management and monitoring, enabling companies to accelerate software development and deploy innovative solutions at scale in the cloud. ScaleDynamics' CaaS solution goes beyond basic functionality by offering compatibility with different cloud deployment models, including on-premise, hybrid, multi-vendor and private environments.

They offer exclusive metrics to visualize activities, require no specific knowledge of cloud infrastructure, enable smooth migration and movement of containers without service disruption, offer independence from cloud providers and ensure neutrality in terms of performance, cost and carbon footprint. These advanced features enable enterprises to build a multi-cloud infrastructure, instantly provision cloud resources and easily deploy containers without having to rely on in-depth DevOps expertise.

Conclusion

As the cloud landscape evolves and containerization becomes the norm for application deployment, enterprises need to prioritize flexibility and speed. CaaS offers a complete solution for container management, enabling organizations to leverage the benefits of containerization in the cloud. By taking into account the key factors outlined in this article, organizations can choose a CaaS solution and cloud provider that match their needs and objectives, ensuring application scalability, cost optimization and efficient cloud deployment.

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