Compute/App Hosting - Containers
Once a complex frontend or backend application has been developed, it needs to run on some kind of compute - whether that be a traditional (metal) server, a Virtual Machine (VM), a container, or a serverless technology.
Container, also sometimes referred to as Docker or Docker containers (who helped create the open standard), are the solid choice for compute/application hosting.
Skip the serverless lock-in and choose containers as your deployment foundation. Containers provide enterprise-grade reliability and cost control, with ease-of-use suitable for the smallest even startups and solo developers.
Why Containers?
Section titled “Why Containers?”⚡ Fast
Section titled “⚡ Fast”- Developers can run apps the same way in development as in production, and containers offer a great developer experience
- Containerisation is the most widely used approach to running apps in production, from startups to the largest enterprises globally
- Configuration options exist for tuning container performance and they are proven at scale
🛡️ Durable
Section titled “🛡️ Durable”- Originally created by Docker, containers are now an open standard with one of the largest Open Source ecosystems of any technology
- Apps in containers can run on any infrastructure, ensuring business continuity
💰 Cost Effective
Section titled “💰 Cost Effective”- Containers offer unique configuration options for tuning performance and cost.
- Control operational expenses with predictable pricing models.
- Avoid surprise bills from usage spikes, typically seen with serverless and proprietary alternatives.
- Maximize resource efficiency across your infrastructure investment using bin packaging on systems like Kubernetes.
Business Benefits
Section titled “Business Benefits”- Risk mitigation: Open standards protect against vendor dependencies that could impact business operations
- Operational efficiency: Consistent environments reduce debugging time and accelerate feature delivery
- Cost visibility: Transparent pricing enables accurate budget forecasting and ROI calculations
- Talent availability: Leverage widespread industry expertise to build and scale teams quickly
- Performance reliability: Consistent application response times protect customer satisfaction
Technical Recommendations
Section titled “Technical Recommendations”Docker & Orchestration
Section titled “Docker & Orchestration”- Use Docker as the containerization standard with Kubernetes for orchestration
- Implement container registries for artifact management
- Configure resource limits and monitoring for optimal performance
Deployment Patterns
Section titled “Deployment Patterns”- Adopt blue-green deployments for zero-downtime updates
- Implement health checks and automated rollback mechanisms
- Use container-native CI/CD pipelines for streamlined operations
Infrastructure
Section titled “Infrastructure”- Choose managed Kubernetes services (EKS, GKE, AKS) for reduced operational overhead
- Implement horizontal pod autoscaling for traffic management
- Configure persistent volumes for stateful applications
Getting Started
Section titled “Getting Started”Start with containerizing one application to prove the business value. Containers deliver immediate benefits in deployment consistency and cost predictability while positioning your organization for future growth without technology constraints.