Kubernetes & Container Platforms with ForgeOne
Many teams use containers, but do not yet run a standardized platform. Applications are deployed differently, clusters are built manually, upgrades are risky and security, storage, ingress, DNS, certificates, observability and backup are not governed consistently.
Platform & Kubernetes is the ForgeOne product and technology group for Kubernetes, container and enterprise platform environments. Red Hat OpenShift and OKD are the primary product pages; SUSE Rancher Prime and Argo CD remain in their product families and are only positioned here.
ForgeOne designs Kubernetes platforms, Red Hat OpenShift, OKD, container platforms, platform engineering, GitOps, identity, monitoring, backup, security and Managed Kubernetes for enterprise environments.
Operate Kubernetes as a platform, not just install it
Product/technology group
Technology
OpenShift, OKD, Kubernetes, Networking, Storage, Identity.
Delivery
GitOps, Argo CD, CI/CD, Policies, Developer Workflows.
Operations
Lifecycle, upgrades, monitoring, backup, security and support.
Orientation
ForgeOne combines strategy, platform technologies, operations, security and product families into a clear platform roadmap.
Typical platform problems
The challenge rarely starts with Kubernetes itself, but with the missing standard for development, operations and governance.
Inconsistent deployments
Teams deploy applications with different patterns, tools and responsibilities.
Unclear cluster lifecycle
Installation, upgrades, extensions and operations are not repeatable enough.
Inconsistent security and RBAC
Roles, policies, secrets, images and access paths are not standardized.
Missing platform components
Storage, ingress, DNS, certificates, observability and backup emerge as isolated decisions.
Dev and Ops are disconnected
Development and operations use different processes instead of one shared platform model.
Multiple clusters, no model
Multiple clusters need to be operated, monitored, updated and secured consistently.
Kubernetes is not platform engineering
Kubernetes is the orchestration base. A production platform emerges through components, processes, automation, governance and developer experience.
Kubernetes
Open-source orchestration for deployment, scaling and management of containerized applications.
Container Platform
Kubernetes plus standardized platform components such as networking, storage, identity, GitOps, observability, backup and security.
Platform Engineering
Technical platform plus processes, automation, governance and developer experience for teams.
Platform models
ForgeOne evaluates platforms by infrastructure, support model, lifecycle, team capabilities, workload, governance and operating model.
Red Hat OpenShift
Integrated enterprise application platform based on Kubernetes with Red Hat lifecycle and enterprise packaging.
OKD
Community distribution of Kubernetes for OpenShift-adjacent concepts with more operational responsibility.
SUSE Rancher Prime
Kubernetes management and platform operations in the SUSE context; remains part of the SUSE product family.
Red Hat OpenShift
Red Hat OpenShift is the enterprise product page in this group: an enterprise application platform based on Kubernetes.
Red Hat OpenShift
Bring Kubernetes, operators, networking, storage integration, RBAC, security, registry, observability, developer workflows, GitOps integration and cluster lifecycle together deliberately.
Enterprise context
Useful when a commercial vendor context, defined lifecycle and enterprise packaging are required.
ForgeOne delivery
Assessment, architecture, cluster design, installation, migration, networking, storage, identity, GitOps, monitoring, backup, security, lifecycle and operations.
OKD
OKD is the community distribution of Kubernetes and serves as the upstream code base on which Red Hat OpenShift Online and OpenShift Container Platform are built.
OKD
Relevant for organizations that want to operate open-source Kubernetes platforms with OpenShift-adjacent concepts.
Community lifecycle
OKD requires deliberate responsibility for operations, lifecycle, updates, testing and troubleshooting.
Not simply free OpenShift
OKD and OpenShift are related, but differ in packaging, lifecycle, support context and operational responsibility.
Additional platform options
Related products remain in their families and are only linked here as architecture options.
SUSE Rancher Prime
Kubernetes management and platform operations in the SUSE context, especially relevant for multi-cluster and existing SUSE strategies.
SUSE Storage
Storage can shape a platform decision, but remains part of the SUSE product family.
SUSE Virtualization
Position the compute and virtualization layer only where it fits the platform architecture.
Platform Stack
Production platforms consist of multiple layers. The concrete architecture depends on workload, team, risk and operating model.
Compute / Virtualization
Infrastructure and virtualization layer as the base for clusters and workloads.
Kubernetes / OpenShift
Orchestration and platform core for containerized applications.
Networking / Ingress
Standardize ingress, DNS, certificates, policies and network paths.
Storage
Plan persistent data, storage classes, performance and recovery requirements.
Identity
Integrate RBAC, IdP, Keycloak and organizational roles cleanly.
GitOps / Delivery
Position Argo CD and GitOps as delivery integration, not as a platform duplicate.
Monitoring
Make platform state, workloads, capacity and SLIs measurable.
Backup / Recovery
Consider cluster resources, configuration, persistent data and restore tests.
Security
Plan hardening, assessment and ongoing security telemetry separately, but connected.
GitOps / Argo CD
Argo CD remains part of Automation & GitOps. At platform level it is a delivery and operations integration.
Argo CD
Declarative Kubernetes deployments, GitOps processes and platform rollouts with clear ownership.
Automation & GitOps
The product group for Ansible, AAP, AWX, OpenTofu and Argo CD remains the owning area.
Developer Experience
GitOps becomes useful when processes, roles, repositories, environments and approvals are defined.
What ForgeOne delivers
ForgeOne connects selection, architecture, implementation, automation, operations, lifecycle and support.
Assessment
Assess existing clusters, processes, security, RBAC, storage, ingress, DNS, certificates, observability and backup.
Architecture
Plan platform model, cluster design, networking, storage, identity, GitOps, monitoring, backup and security.
Implementation
Install, migrate, integrate and document OpenShift, OKD and platform components in a controlled way.
Managed Kubernetes
Operate clusters, platform components, lifecycle, monitoring, troubleshooting and support continuously.
Co-managed operations
Customer team owns applications and deployments; ForgeOne operates clusters, platform components, lifecycle and infrastructure. Scope is defined per customer.
Kubernetes Security Assessment
Point-in-time technical review of Kubernetes security, RBAC, configuration and platform risks.
Security, monitoring and backup
A platform remains stable only when adjacent product groups are integrated cleanly.
Identity & Access
Keycloak, RBAC and IdP integration for roles, access and governance.
Monitoring & Observability
Zabbix and platform monitoring for state, availability, capacity and operations.
Security Operations
Wazuh and security telemetry as ongoing signals, separate from point-in-time assessment.
Backup & Data Protection
Anchor backup, recovery, restore tests and platform data in the operating model.
Related IT solutions
The architecture and problem intent remains on the solution pages.
Container & Platform Engineering
Problem, architecture and platform strategy for container and Kubernetes environments.
Automation & GitOps
GitOps, IaC and automation as platform integrations.
Backup & Data Protection
Recovery and restore tests as platform requirements.
FAQ
Is installing Kubernetes already platform engineering?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
No. Kubernetes is the orchestration base. Platform engineering also includes platform components, processes, automation, governance and developer experience.
When does Red Hat OpenShift make sense?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
OpenShift makes sense when an integrated enterprise application platform with vendor context, lifecycle, enterprise packaging and a structured operating model is required.
When does OKD make sense?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
OKD can make sense when an open-source Kubernetes platform with OpenShift-adjacent concepts should be operated and community lifecycle plus more operational responsibility are acceptable.
Is SUSE Rancher Prime part of this product group?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
No. Rancher Prime remains part of the SUSE product family and is only linked here as an additional platform option.
What role does Argo CD play?Show answerHide answer Action: Open answerClose answer
Argo CD remains part of Automation & GitOps. At platform level it is a GitOps and delivery integration.
Recommended next step
From the product group, the path leads into assessment, delivery or operations.
Clarify current state
Assess environment, risks, maturity and priorities.
Plan delivery
Clarify architecture, migration, integration and operating model.
Validate security
Review architecture, configuration and hardening at a point in time.
Operate Kubernetes as a platform
Want to run Kubernetes not just as an installation, but as a standardized platform? ForgeOne supports selection, architecture, implementation, automation and operations of Kubernetes and OpenShift platforms.