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ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes: What You Need to Know

ROK Technologies First to Receive Esri Kubernetes Specialty Designation from Esri

We are thrilled to announce that on December 12th, 2022, ROK Technologies was the first (ever!) to earn Esri’s Kubernetes Specialty Designation. The ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes Specialty Designation is exclusively reserved for those who have expertise in deploying, configuring, and maintaining an ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes as well as expertise in Kubernetes’ best practices. 

What Is The ArcGIS® Enterprise On Kubernetes Specialty Designation?

This latest Esri specialty acknowledges ROK as subject matter experts in this key area of growth – Kubernetes environments. This designation recognizes the deep expertise, high standards and best practices needed to provide consulting and managed services for ArcGIS Enterprise solutions in cloud environments.

We understand just how important your GIS is – GIS data is like gold! The Kubernetes Specialty Designation is simply a way Esri tips their hat to partners in the Esri Partner Network that have proven  expertise in deploying and managing ArcGIS Enterprise in Kubernetes environments. We’re proud to have another validated tool in our arsenal to help you harness the value of the Cloud.

What Is Kubernetes (K8s)?

According to Kubernetes official website, “Kubernetes, also known as K8s, is an open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.”

Ok, so what heck does that mean?

Another definition from KnowledgeHut is, “ Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform that helps manage and deploy applications at scale.”

An even better explanation comes from Kimoon Kim, senior architect at Pepperdata: “Kubernetes is software that manages many server computers and runs a large number of programs across those computers. On Kubernetes, all programs run in containers so that they can be isolated from each other, and be easy to develop and deploy.”

Interesting Fact:

The name Kubernetes originates from Greek, meaning helmsman or pilot.

Kubernetes: Why Is It Important?

Running organizations on physical servers used to be the status quo. However, this came with a lot of problems. When you perform multiple tasks on a single server, one application can hog all of the resources, slowing down others. A typical solution would be to add more servers, but this causes costs to add up fast.

Virtualization became the new standard because Multiple Virtual Machines (VMs) can run on a single physical server’s CPU, solving the performance issues of running simultaneous applications. The ability to isolate applications added a bump in security and flexibility, but large memory usage was a pain point. Containers are similar to VMs, but they have a much lower memory footprint. Enter containers.

We use containers today. Containers can run many complex application clusters, but this can be challenging to manage efficiently. Kubernetes is an orchestration tool that helps manage that. Developers use Kubernetes to manage complex applications and conserve resources.

Should I Use ArcGIS On Kubernetes?

Whether or not you should use ArcGIS on Kubernetes depends on your specific needs and requirements.

Some of the benefits of ArcGIS on Kubernetes include:

  • Scale on demand: With Kubernetes, you can scale your ArcGIS applications and services up or down, ensuring that high levels of traffic or workloads don’t impact performance.
  • Enhanced Availability and reliability: Kubernetes can help with failures or downtime recovery, and increase the availability of your ArcGIS applications and services
  • Improved Security: Kubernetes has built-in security features to help protect your ArcGIS deployment.
  • Ease: ArcGIS applications and services can be easily deployed with Kubernetes, reducing time and effort for setup and maintenance.

Although ArcGIS on Kubernetes is increasing in popularity, it isn’t suitable for everyone. If you don’t have experience with Kubernetes, it can be quite a challenge to set up and maintain your ArcGIS. It’s important to have designated experts consider your specific needs and requirements to decide whether or not to use ArcGIS on Kubernetes.

Should I Host ArcGIS Enterprise In The Cloud?

Every GIS Solution Is Different Depending On The Organization’s Needs And GIS Usage. Is The Cloud Right For You And Your Organization? Read On To Find Out Several Advantages To Hosting ArcGIS Enterprise In The Cloud.

With Kubernetes You Can:

  • Scale without having to invest in additional hardware or infrastructure.
  • Enjoy a cloud-based solution that is more cost-effective than on-premises hosting.
  • Protect your ArcGIS Enterprise deployment with robust security measures such as encryption, firewalls, and monitoring.
  • Ensure your ArcGIS Enterprise applications and services are always available to users

Well, that sounds great. But, what’s the catch?

Depending on your region and situation, internet connectivity and data sovereignty can be obstacles.  Ultimately, the decision to host ArcGIS Enterprise in the cloud or on-premises will depend on your organization’s goals and resources.

Why Did ROK Technologies Seek A Designation In K8s?

Kubernetes adoption in the cloud native community is growing. According to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, there are 5.6 million developers using Kubernetes worldwide, representing 31% of all backend developers. Due to Kubernetes becoming increasingly important to the industry, we wanted to be the first to receive the ArcGIS® Enterprise on Kubernetes Specialty Designation

How Does This Help Our Clients?

 “Kubernetes allows you to easily scale your ArcGIS applications and services up or down as needed, ensuring that they can handle high levels of traffic and workloads, all while maximizing uptime and maintaining maximum resiliency”

– Jason Harris, CTO of ROK Technologies

Our team provides the best-in-class care for your GIS with around-the-clock customer support access; customized security solutions; various cloud considerations from host providers to tenancy options to hybrid spaces; and proactive services like diagnostics and best practices. We are GIS and Cloud experts and in order to maintain that designation, we’re continually honing our skills and core competencies.

Helping organizations harness the value of the Cloud is what we do best. Benefits of the cloud include scalability – quickly responding to peak demands and lower capacity when necessary; modernization – ensuring your GIS is ready for the future and any software release; collaboration – team accessibility from anywhere in the world at any time; reliability -reducing downtimes and lowering data loss risk; and resourcing optimization – reducing your costs and freeing up staff to focus on other important tasks.

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