7 Essential Factors to Consider When Choosing Kubernetes Consulting for Your Business

The management of containerized applications can be very difficult for the untrained. Enter Kubernetes. Kubernetes automates application management, and is used to deploy, scale, and even monitor them.

Whether you work in finance, IT, science, or engineering, Kubernetes can benefit you. If you are responsible for the management of containerized applications and want to begin to use it, you are better off hiring a consultant than you are trying to do everything alone.

This post explores this topic in more detail and explains seven factors to consider when choosing a consultant. 

Expertise

The first quality you need to look for in a Kubernetes consultant is expertise. A consultant’s level of expertise will have a massive impact on their ability to support you with Kubernetes monitoring and performance optimization, as well as other things related to using Kubernetes for the first time. The consultant you hire should have skilled engineers working for them, as well as experience across a variety of industries. To get a good idea of how skilled a Kubernetes consultant is, ask to see their portfolio. 

Professionalism

The next quality to look for is professionalism. The last thing you want is to hire a consultant with an unprofessional manner, because interactions with them will inevitably end up being extremely unpleasant. The best way to find out about a consultant’s level of professionalism is to take a read of their reviews. If people have had bad experiences with them, they will leave reviews explaining why this is. A consultant with a bad attitude is bound to have negative feedback. Also speak to them on the phone if you are able to, so you can get an idea of what they are like to talk to.  

Affordability

Affordability is the next consideration you need to make. How much can you afford to spend on Kubernetes consulting? If your company’s budget is not large, you obviously need to find a consultant who’s affordably priced. Many consultants offer their services over long periods of time, meaning you pay toward their fees monthly, rather than all at once. Hiring a consultant is, when you take this into consideration, a lot like paying for a subscription. If you think a consultant is asking for too much, ask them if they would be willing to come down on their prices a little. 

Security

Security is another important consideration. The last thing you want is to hire a consultant who doesn’t take online security very seriously. Since they will be working on your applications with you, you need to be confident that they understand and take cybersecurity very seriously. The best way for you to do this is to get in touch and ask them directly. Take some time to research security yourself, so you know what they should be doing to protect their clients. A consultant who’s well-versed in cybersecurity will be able to offer a much greater level of protection than you would personally be able to.

Compliance

Compliance is the next thing you need to think about. A lot of people completely overlook compliance when they are searching for consultants to support their business’s growth. If you do not find a consultant who adheres strictly to industry regulations, your business could end up getting a fine. This is because they will likely take shortcuts that could negatively impact your business’s performance. To find out about how seriously a consultant takes compliance, ask them to explain some of the regulations they are bound by, and what they do to ensure their clients follow them.

Support

You need a consultant who is able to offer around-the-clock support. The last thing you want is for your business’s applications to crash and for you to be unable to get support until your chosen consultant returns from their weekend break or annual leave. It is good, for this reason, to hire an agency. A consultancy agency will have dedicated staff they can allocate to your case if you raise an issue, whereas a single consultant will likely have nobody to help them. 

Recommendations

Finally, try to find a consultant with good reviews. As stated above, reviews can give you a lot of insight into working with a consultant and help you to quickly decide whether they are the right one for you or not. Make sure your chosen consultant’s reviews are positive and show that they care about their clients, and offer a competitive, high-quality service.

If you are interested in hiring a Kubernetes consultant to support your business’s application management, you need to shop around and find the best one you can. Think about the points made above, so you can find an experienced consultant.