In the previous post, we explored two contrasting ideas – the unconstrained and the constrained visions – and their implications for technology and innovation within businesses. Now, let’s delve into the middle ground, a concept inspired by economist and author Thomas Sowell’s work, and discover how a Kubernetes-based platform with guard rails strikes the ideal balance between freedom and control.
The Middle Ground: Kubernetes Platform
Finding the middle ground is essential in a world where innovation and security seem like opposing forces. A Kubernetes platform with well-defined processes and a separation of duties between delivery and platform teams combines the best aspects of the unconstrained and constrained visions while mitigating their drawbacks.
In this model, IT delivery and development teams can innovate and choose from endorsed products/platforms within the Kubernetes ecosystem while operating within the defined parameters, ensuring a delicate balance between creativity and control. A delivery team can do almost anything they wish if it runs within Kubernetes.
- A Platform team deliberately segregated from delivery uses the constructs of the K8s platform to protect the system from error, overload, and harmful activity. The platform team manages the quotas and governs the controls to ensure uptime, availability, scalability, reliability, and more.
- These controls act as a safeguard, ensuring that all activities adhere to security and compliance requirements and effectively minimising risks associated with unchecked innovation.
- Many repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as compliance checks and release processes, can be automated within this platform, accelerating the development lifecycle and significantly reducing the likelihood of human error.
- One of the frequently overlooked advantages of this model is its ability to foster a sense of community within the organisation. Teams can share knowledge, code, best practices, and lessons learned within the framework of the Kubernetes platform, making collaboration a fundamental pillar of the platform’s success.
A K8s Platform engineered with guard rails offers a balanced approach by providing a structured yet flexible environment. It empowers teams to innovate while ensuring that innovation occurs within predefined boundaries. In this context, the platform offers guideposts rather than obstacles, allowing creativity to flourish while maintaining security and compliance.
Conclusion: Striking the Balance
In a world where businesses face the dual challenge of innovation and compliance, the need for balance has never been greater. The ideas of the unconstrained and constrained visions have their merits but can lead to polarising outcomes. Drawing inspiration from Thomas Sowell’s work, we’ve discovered that a K8s platform is the most effective way to strike a suitable balance.
In conclusion, this approach empowers businesses to innovate, implement best practices, and maintain security and compliance, particularly in heavily regulated or security-conscious environments. It embodies the philosophy that innovation is paramount within the constraints while maintaining the organisation’s policies and practices. All teams can thrive while adhering to practices of good hygiene. Furthermore, automation streamlines processes and the sense of community encourages collaboration, making it a win-win solution for businesses navigating the complexities of the modern technology landscape.
Please stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll go into the areas where a platform model makes a difference and how it streamlines development while maintaining security, compliance and audit requirements.
If you got this far, thanks for reading!
