What is Kubernetes 1.31?

Kubernetes 1.31, codenamed "Elli," is the latest release of the leading container orchestration platform, introducing several significant features and enhancements focused on cloud neutrality, security, and usability.

How does Kubernetes 1.31 achieve cloud neutrality?

The release externalizes cloud provider integrations into a separate component called the cloud controller manager. This shift allows Kubernetes to remain vendor-neutral, making it adaptable to various cloud environments and reducing vendor lock-in.

What is AppArmor support in Kubernetes 1.31?

AppArmor is a Linux security module that enables developers to define security profiles for applications. Kubernetes 1.31 integrates AppArmor, allowing users to set security rules for containers to enhance security within shared environments.

How does the custom profile feature for kubectl debug work?

The new custom profile feature allows users to create a JSON file specifying debugging configurations. This customization enables better alignment with the running environment, making it easier to troubleshoot applications.

What improvements have been made to kube-proxy in Kubernetes 1.31?

Kubernetes 1.31 introduces enhancements to kube-proxy for better connectivity and reliability. Key improvements include handling node termination more gracefully and adding a health check endpoint for accurate service monitoring.

What is the randomized pod selection for replica set downscaling?

This feature introduces randomness in selecting which pods to terminate during downscaling, ensuring a more balanced distribution of pods across failure domains and enhancing high availability.

Are there any notable beta features in Kubernetes 1.31?

Yes, notable features include Job Success and Completion Policy, which allows for more control over job criteria, and Traffic Distribution to Services, which offers enhanced traffic management for Kubernetes services.

How can I implement AppArmor in my Kubernetes environment?

To use AppArmor, define a profile on the host system and update the Kubernetes pod specification with the appropriate annotation for your container. The container runtime will enforce these security rules.

What are the benefits of Kubernetes 1.31 for multi-cloud environments?

The cloud neutrality achieved in Kubernetes 1.31 allows organizations to deploy workloads across different cloud providers without being tied to any specific vendor, improving flexibility and reducing costs.

Can I use Kubernetes 1.31 with existing applications?

Yes, Kubernetes 1.31 is designed to be backward compatible, allowing you to upgrade from previous versions while continuing to support existing applications. However, it's recommended to test applications in a staging environment before full deployment.

What is Atmosly, and how does it integrate with Terraform?

Atmosly is a self-service platform that integrates Terraform for automating cloud infrastructure, enabling efficient management across AWS, GCP, and Azure.

What are Terraform modules, and how are they used in Atmosly?

Terraform modules in Atmosly abstract complex infrastructure configurations into reusable components, such as VPCs, EKS, and VPNs.

How does Atmosly automate Terraform workflows?

Atmosly automates the entire Terraform process using an API-driven approach, eliminating manual commands and reducing human errors.

What Kubernetes add-ons does Atmosly support for EKS clusters?

Atmosly supports add-ons like Cert Manager, PGL Stack (Prometheus, Grafana, Loki), ArgoFlow, and NGINX Ingress Controller to enhance Kubernetes environments.

How does Atmosly handle multi-cloud deployments?

Atmosly simplifies multi-cloud management by offering a unified interface to deploy infrastructure across AWS, GCP, and Azure with Terraform.

What are the benefits of using Atmosly for cloud infrastructure management?

Atmosly simplifies infrastructure provisioning, reduces manual configurations, and ensures consistent, scalable environments across multiple cloud platforms.

What is the role of Terraform state management in Atmosly?

Atmosly securely manages Terraform state files in cloud storage, allowing seamless updates and consistency across deployments.

How does Atmosly provide infrastructure logging and auditing?

Atmosly captures comprehensive Terraform logs, offering full visibility for troubleshooting, compliance, and infrastructure audits.

How does Atmosly ensure cloud readiness before deployments?

Atmosly performs pre-checks for resources like VPCs and EIPs to verify availability, preventing deployment failures.

How does Atmosly enhance the use of Kubernetes in production environments?

Atmosly integrates Terraform with Kubernetes to simplify cluster management, enhance observability, and automate CI/CD pipelines for containerized applications.

What is Kubernetes security, and why does it matter?

Kubernetes security focuses on protecting your cluster, workloads, and sensitive data from potential threats. It’s crucial because Kubernetes environments are often exposed to the internet, making them a target for attacks.

Why is Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) important in Kubernetes?

RBAC enforces strict controls over who can access resources within your cluster. By assigning roles and permissions based on responsibilities, it limits unauthorized access and helps prevent privilege escalation attacks.

What are the risks of running privileged containers in Kubernetes?

Privileged containers have elevated access to the host system, increasing the risk of container escapes and potentially compromising the entire cluster. Limiting container privileges is a key security best practice.

How does enabling network policies improve Kubernetes security?

Network policies define which pods can communicate with each other, reducing unnecessary exposure between services. This minimizes the attack surface and limits the impact of compromised pods.

Why is Kubernetes secret management critical for security?

Kubernetes stores sensitive data, like passwords and API keys. Mismanaging secrets can lead to data leaks and security breaches, so it’s important to encrypt and carefully control access to them.

What is API server security in Kubernetes, and how do you secure it?

The API server is the control plane component that manages the cluster. Securing it involves using Transport Layer Security (TLS), authenticating requests, enabling audit logs, and using strong authentication methods.

Why should you regularly update Kubernetes and its components?

Outdated Kubernetes components may have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Regularly updating ensures you have the latest security patches, features, and performance improvements.

What is pod security, and how do pod security policies (PSPs) help?

Pod security involves ensuring that pods are deployed with minimal privileges. Pod security policies enforce security standards for deployments, such as disallowing root access, and control how containers are executed.

How can audit logging help in detecting security issues?

Audit logging tracks all API requests made within the cluster, helping identify suspicious activity or unauthorized access attempts. It provides visibility into potential breaches and enables quick incident response.

What are the best practices for securing Kubernetes nodes?

Securing Kubernetes nodes is crucial to protecting the overall cluster. Best practices include using minimal base images for containers to reduce the attack surface, as smaller images contain fewer potential vulnerabilities. Regularly patching and updating nodes ensures that any known security flaws are addressed promptly. Implementing a host firewall helps block unnecessary traffic, reducing exposure to potential threats. It’s also important to disable root access and run containers with the least privileges required. Additionally, enforcing encryption for data at rest and in transit ensures sensitive information remains secure.

What are Kubernetes Network Policies?

Kubernetes Network Policies are a set of rules that control the communication between pods within a Kubernetes cluster. They define how pods can communicate with each other and with other network endpoints, helping to secure network traffic.

Why are Network Policies important in Kubernetes?

Network Policies are crucial for securing pod communication, managing traffic flows, and isolating network traffic between different parts of the application. They help enforce security and compliance requirements by controlling which pods can communicate with each other.

How do Network Policies work in Kubernetes?

Network Policies work by specifying rules that are applied to the network traffic between pods. These rules are implemented by the network plugin or CNI (Container Network Interface) used by the Kubernetes cluster. The policies can specify allowed or denied traffic based on pod labels, IP addresses, ports, and protocols.

What is a default Network Policy in Kubernetes?

By default, Kubernetes does not enforce any Network Policies, meaning all pods can communicate with each other. To enforce network segmentation and security, you must explicitly create and apply Network Policies.

Can you apply multiple Network Policies to a single pod?

Yes, you can apply multiple Network Policies to a single pod. Each policy can have different rules, and all applicable policies are evaluated to determine whether traffic should be allowed or denied.

How do you define a Network Policy in Kubernetes?

A Network Policy is defined using a YAML manifest that includes specifications such as podSelector (to select pods), ingress and egress rules (to define allowed or denied traffic), and policyTypes (to indicate whether the policy applies to ingress, egress, or both).

What is the difference between ingress and egress rules in Network Policies?

Ingress rules define the allowed incoming traffic to a pod, specifying which sources can communicate with the pod. Egress rules define the allowed outgoing traffic from a pod, specifying which destinations the pod can communicate with.

How can Network Policies impact service discovery in Kubernetes?

Network Policies can affect service discovery if they restrict traffic between pods that are part of a service. For example, if a policy blocks traffic between the service’s pods and the client pods, it can prevent the service from being reachable.

Are Network Policies supported by all Kubernetes network plugins?

Network Policies are supported by many popular Kubernetes network plugins, but not all. It's important to verify that the network plugin used in your cluster supports Network Policies. Common plugins that support them include Calico, Weave, and Cilium.

How do you test and troubleshoot Network Policies?

To test Network Policies, you can use tools like kubectl exec to run network tests from within pods or use network troubleshooting tools such as tcpdump or netcat. Reviewing the logs of the network plugin and ensuring that the Network Policies are correctly applied and aligned with your security requirements can help troubleshoot issues.

What is Terraform and why is it important?

Terraform is an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool that allows you to define, manage, and automate infrastructure through code, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency.

What are Terraform modules and why should I use them?

Terraform modules are reusable packages of Terraform configurations that help organize and standardize infrastructure, promoting reusability and consistency across environments.

Why is state management crucial in Terraform?

Terraform state management is vital as it tracks the current status of your infrastructure, allowing Terraform to make informed decisions on resource provisioning and updates.

What are the best practices for naming conventions in Terraform?

Consistent naming conventions help maintain clarity and organization in Terraform configurations, reducing the likelihood of errors and conflicts.

How can I test Terraform configurations effectively?

Comprehensive testing, including unit, integration, and acceptance tests, ensures that Terraform configurations work as intended and do not introduce issues into the infrastructure.

What are some security best practices for Terraform?

Protecting sensitive information, using secrets management tools, and enforcing security policies are key practices to secure Terraform-managed infrastructure.

What is the role of Terraform workspaces?

Terraform workspaces allow you to manage multiple environments (like dev, staging, prod) using a single set of configurations, each with its own state file.

How can I continuously improve my Terraform practices?

Staying updated with Terraform features, contributing to the community, and regularly seeking feedback are essential for continuous improvement in Terraform projects.

Why should I use Terraform for infrastructure automation?

Terraform simplifies infrastructure management by automating provisioning, reducing manual errors, and ensuring that infrastructure is consistent, scalable, and secure across all environments.

What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?

IaC is a method of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable code rather than manual processes.

Why is IaC important for multi-cloud environments?

IaC ensures consistent configurations, reduces human errors, and streamlines infrastructure management across different cloud providers.

5 Cloud Cost Optimization Tips for US Startups Using Kubernetes

Introduction: Why Kubernetes Cost Optimization Matters for US Startups

The cloud is the backbone of innovation for US startups. Platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure make it easy to scale rapidly and deploy modern applications. Kubernetes, as the de facto standard for container orchestration, empowers startups with automation, scalability, and flexibility. But here’s the catch: without a disciplined approach to resource usage and cloud spending, Kubernetes costs can spiral out of control—quickly burning through runway and threatening your startup’s growth.

Who should read this?

Developers and DevOps engineers managing Kubernetes workloads
Engineering managers responsible for cloud budgets
CTOs and founders looking to extend their startup’s financial runway

In this post, we’ll break down five actionable Kubernetes cost optimization strategies, backed by real-world examples and best practices for US startups.

1. Rightsize Your Kubernetes Resources: Don’t Pay for What You Don’t Use

One of the most common sources of wasted cloud spend is overprovisioned resources—allocating more CPU and memory than your workloads actually need. In Kubernetes, every pod gets a requests and limits value for CPU and memory. Set these too high, and you’re paying for unused capacity; set them too low, and you risk instability.

Best Practices

Profile Workloads: Use tools like kubectl top or Prometheus/Grafana to monitor real usage.
Iterative Tuning: Start small and gradually increase limits as needed based on real metrics.
Automation: Consider solutions like Goldilocks, Vertical Pod Autoscaler (VPA), or managed platforms such as Atmosly, which can recommend optimal settings using real-time data and AI.

Example: Rightsizing in Action

Suppose your startup runs a Node.js API and initially allocates 2 CPU and 4Gi memory per pod, but monitoring shows average usage of 0.5 CPU and 1Gi memory. Lowering the requests and limits to match actual usage can save up to 75% on compute costs.

resources:
  requests:
    memory: "1Gi"
    cpu: "500m"
  limits:
    memory: "1.5Gi"
    cpu: "1"

Pro Tip: Platforms like Atmosly provide automated right-sizing suggestions and a live dashboard to visualize and tune resources across your clusters. See how Atmosly makes rightsizing effortless →

2. Use Cluster Autoscaling—But Set Minimums and Maximums Wisely

Kubernetes autoscaling is a double-edged sword. While it enables you to scale out when demand spikes, poor configuration can lead to surprise bills. The key is to use node autoscaling (e.g., AWS EKS Cluster Autoscaler, GKE Autoscaler, Azure AKS Autoscaler) with thoughtful minimum and maximum node constraints.

Best Practices

Define Business Hours: Scale down aggressively during off-peak hours.
Set Maximums: Prevent runaway scaling by enforcing maximum node counts.
Spot Instances: Use preemptible/spot nodes for non-critical workloads to reduce cost by up to 70%.
Monitor Scaling Events: Track and alert on scaling anomalies to avoid unexpected spend.

Example: Managed Node Groups on AWS EKS

resources:
  limits:
    min: 2
    max: 10
  type: spot

In the above config, your cluster will never scale below 2 nodes (ensuring basic availability) or above 10 nodes (controlling costs). Non-production workloads can run on spot instances for deep savings.

Did you know? With platforms like Atmosly, you can set autoscaling policies, preview cost impacts, and receive alerts when your clusters scale beyond budget—all from an intuitive UI. Try Atmosly's intelligent autoscaling controls →

3. Leverage Efficient Storage Strategies

Persistent storage in Kubernetes—whether EBS (AWS), Persistent Disks (GCP), or Azure Disks—can quietly eat up a significant portion of your cloud bill. Often, volumes are left orphaned after pods are deleted or are overprovisioned relative to actual usage.

Best Practices

Delete Orphaned Volumes: Use scripts or tools to regularly audit and remove unused disks.
Optimize Volume Size: Right-size volumes to match real usage, not worst-case scenarios.
Storage Classes: Choose cost-effective storage classes (e.g., GP3 over GP2 in AWS).
Retention Policies: Set up backup and retention policies that match your business needs.

Example: Identifying Orphaned Volumes with AWS CLI

aws ec2 describe-volumes --filters Name=status,Values=available

This command lists unattached (available) EBS volumes, which you can safely delete to avoid unnecessary charges.

Quick Win: Atmosly's "Storage Insights" dashboard can detect orphaned or underutilized persistent volumes and suggest instant cleanups, helping teams reclaim budget in seconds. See Storage Insights in action →

4. Monitor and Optimize Network Traffic

Data transfer charges—often overlooked—can become a major cost center, especially as you scale. Kubernetes clusters frequently move data between services, across regions, or between cloud providers.

Best Practices

Keep Traffic In-Cluster: Design workloads so that traffic stays inside the cluster VPC/subnet whenever possible.
Use Internal Load Balancers: Avoid public ingress for internal apps; use internal LBs for service-to-service communication.
Avoid Cross-Zone or Cross-Region Traffic: Architect your services to minimize expensive cross-zone or cross-region data movement.
Monitor Egress: Set up network monitoring and alerting on high egress costs.

Example: Using Internal Load Balancer in AWS

service.beta.kubernetes.io/aws-load-balancer-internal: "true"

This annotation ensures your service is only accessible within the VPC, reducing exposure and avoiding unnecessary data transfer costs.

Take Action: Platforms like Atmosly help you monitor egress costs in real time, alert on anomalies, and recommend cost-saving optimizations for networking across clusters. Explore Atmosly’s network insights →

5. Enable Cost Visibility and Accountability

You can’t optimize what you can’t see. Cloud-native cost monitoring and showback tools can help you understand who’s spending what and why, making it easier to identify optimization opportunities.

Best Practices

Use OpenCost, Kubecost, or Atmosly: These tools provide Kubernetes-specific cost breakdowns by namespace, workload, or team.
Integrate with Cloud Billing: Map Kubernetes spend to cloud invoices for holistic visibility.
Set Budgets and Alerts: Use cloud provider cost alerts and Kubernetes-level quotas.
Report Regularly: Share usage and cost reports with engineering teams.

Example: Deploying Kubecost

kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubecost/cost-analyzer-helm-chart/master/kubecost.yaml

In minutes, you’ll have a dashboard that breaks down your cluster costs by deployment, namespace, or label, helping teams take ownership.

Level Up: Atmosly offers real-time cost dashboards, showback, budgeting, and automated weekly/monthly reporting—so you can spot cost drivers, forecast spend, and hold teams accountable. See Atmosly’s cost visibility features →

Conclusion: Make Kubernetes Cost Efficiency a Startup Culture

Kubernetes can be a cost-efficient powerhouse for US startups—if managed with care. Start with rightsizing, leverage smart autoscaling, clean up storage, monitor networking, and embrace visibility. Cloud cost optimization is a journey, not a one-time event. With these five tips (and help from platforms like Atmosly), your startup can reduce waste, control spend, and extend your runway.

Summary Table: 5 Cost Optimization Tips

TipTools/ActionsImpactRightsize Resourceskubectl top, Goldilocks, AtmoslyLower compute costsSmart AutoscalingCluster Autoscaler, Spot nodes, AtmoslyScalable, cost-effective infraEfficient StorageVolume audits, storage class, AtmoslyReduced storage spendNetwork OptimizationInternal LBs, monitoring, AtmoslyLower data transfer chargesCost VisibilityKubecost, OpenCost, AtmoslyAccountability, transparency