---
title: "Introducing SKS - Scalable Kubernetes Service"
description: "Introducing SKS - Scalable Kubernetes Service - and Exoscale Container strategy"
date: 2021-02-16
author: "Antoine Coetsier"
tags: ["kubernetes"]
url: https://www.exoscale.com/blog/introducing-scalable-kubernetes-service/
---
# Introducing SKS - Scalable Kubernetes Service

Today we held our webinar introducing Exoscale's managed
Kubernetes offering. Here is a recap of launch event explaining
the strategy towards container orchestration platforms and details about SKS.

**Quick summary of this article**

- Exoscale launched SKS, a managed Kubernetes service offering scalable, simple, and secure clusters.
- Exoscale offers three managed Kubernetes options: SKS, VSHN APPUiO, and Elastisys CK8s.
- SKS emphasizes ecosystem flexibility, allowing users to bring their own tools or choose pre built ecosystems.
- SKS is designed around simplicity, scalability, and security as core managed Kubernetes values.
- SKS beta started Fall 2020 with over 300 hours of external testing and limited initial availability.

## Exoscale's Kubernetes strategy

We at Exoscale provide as of today three options for your managed Kubernetes requirements.

* **[NEW]** [Exoscale SKS](https://www.exoscale.com/sks/)
* [VSHN APPUiO](https://www.exoscale.com/marketplace/listing/appuio-container-platform/) on the marketplace
* [Elastisys CK8s](https://www.exoscale.com/marketplace/listing/compliant-kubernetes-by-elastisys/) on the marketplace

All of the above solutions provide managed container orchestration
functionality, but they differ in managed ecosystem support for the
full container lifecycle.

![Kubernetes line-up](https://www.exoscale.com/blog/introducing-scalable-kubernetes-service/sks_appuio_ck8s.png)

When dealing with containers and Kubernetes, one has also to address the
ecosystem items such as:

* Logs
* Monitoring
* Registry
* Continuous deployment
* ...

Each solution provides the user with a different ecosystem from
a full choice with SKS to more opinionated and pre-built ecosystems
with the other offerings. This approach fits well with the various
strategies we find on the market today: either bring your own and
therefore avoid lock-in or immediate ramp-up and compliance.

## SKS: scalable and simple

Building our own Managed Kubernetes offering we wanted to remain
true to our values:

* Simplicity
* Scalability
* Security

Kubernetes is many things, but on the simplicity aspect,
there is room for improvement still. Making 
Kubernetes clusters' deployment simple was one of the leading
design goals while building SKS at Exoscale.

The [video][SKS Launch Session] below will show you how to start with a cluster and deploy
the Kubernetes Dashboard and a custom application:

[![Video](https://www.exoscale.com/blog/introducing-scalable-kubernetes-service/sks-intro-video.png "SKS Launch Session")][SKS Launch Session]

If you want to test yourself, we already have a five-steps
quick start guide to get you from zero to Kubernetes 
ready on our [community site](https://community.exoscale.com/product/compute/containers/quick-start/).

## SKS Launch

SKS development started at Exoscale more than one year 
ago. It combines the cumulative experience of running 
a large part of the Exoscale core components on Kubernetes 
itself for many years and intensive work from our 
product development teams to make it happen. The beta 
period started in Fall 2020, and we thank all our 
customers and partners for their tests and feedback 
towards the launch we are making today.

This represented more than 300 hours of testing from 
third parties and made SKS 
the product we are so proud of releasing today.

SKS launches with two packages as described in the table below:

![Scalable Kubernetes pricing](https://www.exoscale.com/blog/introducing-scalable-kubernetes-service/sks_pricing_table.png)

We release today with limited Availability in the following zones:

* Geneva (CH-GVA-2)
* Frankfurt (DE-FRA-1)
* Vienna (AT-VIE-1)

During this period, both Starter and Pro plans are free to use for all.

The General Availability is targeted for mid March 2021 and will bring:

* All zones supported
* Web portal integration
* SLAs fully enforced
* Terraform driver implementation

[Start your cluster now !](https://community.exoscale.com/product/compute/containers/quick-start/)
[SKS Launch Session]: https://youtu.be/P_uR4dSorLM