Does WZ-IT take over every existing Kubernetes cluster?

A takeover always starts with discovery and an audit. Severely outdated, undocumented or unstable environments need a stabilization phase first. We then decide which operating scope can be responsibly assumed.

What is included in managed Kubernetes operations?

Typical capabilities include monitoring, updates, CVE assessment, backup control, restore tests, incident response and capacity reviews. The concrete scope and responsibility for workloads and databases are defined contractually.

Does WZ-IT offer 24/7 support?

Continuous monitoring and support or response times are separate services. Available service levels and support windows are agreed according to criticality; 24/7 on-call support is not automatically promised with every operations package.

Does WZ-IT operate EKS, AKS or GKE as well?

Yes, existing managed Kubernetes platforms can be taken over. The cloud provider remains responsible for its service components while WZ-IT handles the agreed cluster, add-on and workload scope.

Who is responsible for the application?

That depends on the agreed model. Platform and application operations are described separately. Because WZ-IT also provides software development, we can assume additional application responsibility if desired, but it is never implied.

How quickly can a takeover start?

That depends on access, documentation, versions, criticality and known problems. Initial scoping is followed by an audit that defines effort, stabilization work and a realistic transition plan.

Managed Kubernetes: take over and operate existing clusters

WZ-IT audits, stabilizes and operates Kubernetes platforms with a clearly defined scope. Monitoring, updates, CVEs, backup and incident response become one coherent lifecycle.

Configure Kubernetes operations See the operating model

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Baseline assessment

Responsibility starts with a known current state

A running cluster can contain unknown dependencies, outdated components and untested recovery paths. Before assuming operations, we create visibility and prioritize the required stabilization work.

Inventory & architecture
Capture distribution, versions, nodes, add-ons, workloads, access, dependencies and provider responsibility.
Make operating state visible
Review monitoring, logging, alerting and capacity before defining response commitments.
Verify recovery
Assess etcd, persistent data, configuration and application backups, including the restore path.
Agree boundaries
Control plane, nodes, platform add-ons, workloads, databases and application receive clear owners.

Day-2 operations

What managed Kubernetes covers day to day

The exact scope is agreed for each platform. These capabilities provide the framework for reliable operations.

Building blocks

Monitoring & alerting
Monitor control plane, nodes, core components, capacity and agreed workloads with actionable alerts.
Updates & lifecycle
Test and update Kubernetes versions, operating systems and platform add-ons in a planned way.
CVE & hardening
Classify vulnerabilities, assess exposure and coordinate measures based on risk.
Backup & restore
Monitor backup jobs, handle failures and test recovery at agreed intervals.
Incident response
Qualify alerts, isolate causes, apply runbooks and manage escalations transparently.
Capacity & improvement
Review resources, costs, technical debt and recurring problems regularly.

Operational requirements

In addition to the cluster, applications need defined processes for delivery, access, observability, recovery and technical ownership.

Delivery
GitOps, CI/CD, separate environments, approvals and reproducible rollbacks.
Network
CNI, network policies, ingress or gateway, DNS, TLS and private access.
Security
OIDC, RBAC, secrets, image validation, policies and traceable changes.
Observability
Metrics, logs, traces, alerting and SLOs for platform and applications.
Backup & restore
Cluster state, persistent data, restore tests and a documented recovery path.
Lifecycle
Updates, CVE assessment, capacity, costs and an agreed operating model.

Takeover process

Move from audit to regular operations with control

The transition follows a documented process with an accepted state and agreed scope.

Discovery

Capture access, inventory, architecture, providers and existing processes.

Risk baseline

Prioritize critical versions, single points, security and recovery gaps.

Stabilization

Bring monitoring, backups, updates, access and documentation to a minimum standard.

Service definition

Agree scope, maintenance windows, response, escalation and responsibilities.

Regular operations

Monitor, maintain, respond, report and evolve the platform with control.

Starting pointOngoing operations

Responsibility model

Three ways to work together

The agreed scope can range from cluster support to operating selected applications. Infrastructure, Kubernetes platform, add-ons, data and workloads are listed as separate responsibility layers.

Build & handover

WZ-IT builds or stabilizes the platform, documents it and hands it over to your operations team.

For teams with their own Kubernetes responsibility

Co-managed platform

Responsibility is divided by layer, for example WZ-IT for cluster and platform while your team owns applications.

For teams building responsibility incrementally

Fully operated platform

WZ-IT continuously owns the agreed platform scope; applications and business approvals remain clearly separated.

For companies without their own platform team

Kubernetes in the overall system

Clusters, applications and operating locations are planned as one production platform

Kubernetes can run on Proxmox, bare metal, European cloud or existing managed services. What matters is how workloads, data, networking, delivery and ongoing ownership work together.

Configure Kubernetes operations View hybrid operations

Clusters and workloads

The control plane, nodes, add-ons and applications are separated through explicit ownership.

Data and locations

Cloud networks, Proxmox, local systems and external services connect in a controlled way.

Platform operations

Upgrades, monitoring, backup, restore and incident response are agreed as an ongoing scope.

Agree operating services separately

Service commitments are agreed explicitly

Monitoring, alert handling, response times, support windows, on-call service and recovery objectives are separate service components. The agreed scope is recorded in the operating model and service level.

Configure Kubernetes operations Discuss a cluster takeover

Shared-responsibility matrix for infrastructure, cluster, add-ons and workloads · Maintenance, response and escalation processes aligned with the selected service level · Backups become reliable only through monitored jobs and tested restore paths

For professional secrecy holders

Operate Kubernetes in the Section 203 Managed Cloud

If Kubernetes processes client, patient or other professional secrets, WZ-IT plans the application, infrastructure, access, backups and ongoing operations within a purpose-built operating model.

View the Section 203 Managed Cloud →

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers on architecture, delivery, responsibilities and ongoing operations.

Knowledge base

In-depth guides for this building block

Knowledge base

One platform. Six entry points.

Select infrastructure and operating model deliberately

Reviews & projects

Operations that visibly relieve customers

Customer feedback on monitoring, updates, maintenance, support and stable production systems.

WZ-IT moved our studio infrastructure from decentralised individual devices to a central platform: every site is securely connected via VPN, new devices are onboarded automatically and an entire site is provisioned from a template, without manual steps on location. What impressed me most is the breadth and depth of their knowledge: Timo and Robin are not a typical IT provider who sets up a server and leaves. The two of them think their way into highly complex infrastructure and software topics, work through every requirement we put in front of them, and build networking, provisioning and operations so that everything fits together in the end. WZ-IT is an excellent partner for complex software, network and architecture projects.

Steve KirchnerManaging Director, nextGYM GmbH

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International

Built in Germany's Ruhr Valley. Running worldwide.

WZ-IT designs, develops and operates infrastructure and software for clients in Germany and internationally. We deliver projects remotely and continue supporting them in ongoing operations after go-live.