Kubernetes Consulting: vendor-independent
Your Kubernetes platform runs. But at what cost?
Certified senior consultants (CKA, CKAD, CKS) make your team self-sufficient. No dependencies, no knowledge silos, no vendor lock-in.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
The most common Kubernetes challenges in enterprises
If any of these sound familiar, you are not alone.
Platform without foundation
The cluster runs, but nobody can explain why. No runbook, no disaster recovery plan, no documented architecture.
Vendor dependency
External providers build dependencies instead of enabling your team. You pay for operations, not outcomes.
Compliance becomes a risk
BSI-Grundschutz, NIS 2, DORA: Regulatory requirements for container infrastructure grow faster than your platform.
Slow releases
Days pass from commit to production instead of minutes. Every release feels like a gamble.
Knowledge monopoly in the team
Kubernetes knowledge sits with one person. If they leave, the platform stops. And specialists with Kubernetes experience are nearly impossible to hire.
Costs without transparency
Cloud costs rise month after month, but nobody can explain why. Without a FinOps strategy, budget flows into unused resources.
WHAT IS AT STAKE
What happens if you change nothing
Kubernetes environments without professional guidance fail measurably more often.
There is a better way.
OUR CONSULTING APPROACH
Kubernetes consulting in four phases
Enablement over dependency: Our goal is to make ourselves redundant. In four phases, we bring your team up to speed.
Analysieren
We analyze your platform, processes, and team structures. Honest, structured, and without sugarcoating.
Entwerfen
We design a target architecture that fits your organization. Not an off-the-shelf blueprint, but tailored to your requirements.
Umsetzen
We implement together with your team. Pair programming, code reviews, and architecture decisions documented as ADRs.
Übergeben
Your team takes full responsibility for the platform. We have made ourselves redundant.
SERVICES
Kubernetes consulting: our services
Every service works toward one goal: your team runs the platform on their own.
Stable platform architecture
No disaster recovery plan, no documented architecture. In a Kubernetes assessment, we analyze your platform and design a cluster architecture your team can operate independently. From initial analysis through GitOps implementation.
Cloud-native migration without outages
Without a clear plan, migrating from legacy to Kubernetes ends in production outages. We develop a migration strategy with concrete milestones and support the implementation: lift-and-shift, re-platforming, or full modernization.
Implement regulatory requirements reliably
BSI-Grundschutz, NIS 2, DORA: Requirements for container infrastructure keep growing. A security audit shows where your clusters stand. From there, we implement compliance requirements technically, including air-gapped environments.
Detect outages before they happen
False alarms, unclear dashboards, no reliable SLOs. With a properly set up monitoring stack, your team spots problems before they hit production. Including SLO design and targeted alerting.
Faster releases, better processes
Days from commit to production instead of minutes? The problem is rarely the code. We build CI/CD pipelines and internal developer platforms that let your team focus on what matters.
Your team becomes self-sufficient
When Kubernetes knowledge depends on one person, that's a risk. Pair programming, workshops, and documented architecture decisions (ADRs) ensure knowledge stays in the team. Your team learns in real projects, not in theory.
Regain vendor independence
Managed services and proprietary add-ons create dependencies that only show during a cloud exit. We plan the path to your own platform: cloud exit strategy, sovereign infrastructure, air-gapped setups.
TRUST & COMPLIANCE
Compliance for your Kubernetes platform
BSI-Grundschutz, NIS 2, KRITIS, ISO 27001: We know the requirements and implement them with you.
MEASURABLE RESULTS
Typical results after 6 months
Measured at existing customers with production Kubernetes platforms.
Fewer Incidents
Saves ~200 engineering hours per year
Time-to-Production
New services live in less than a day
Team Autonomy
Your team works independently after 6 months
CASE STUDY
Kubernetes platform for regulated mid-market
Insurance group · ~2,000 employees · BSI-compliant
Every release used to give us a headache. Today we deploy multiple times a week without anyone being woken up at night. The platform is stable, audits have become predictable, and our team operates independently.
more deployments
2x/month → 8x/week
fewer incidents
P1/P2 production incidents
Audit preparation
before: 6 weeks
to team autonomy
Platform operated independently
Consulting · Workshops · Training
WHO IS SHOGUN FOR?
Is Shogun right for your organization?
Enterprise and mid-market
You run Kubernetes in production, but compliance audits, upgrades, and platform stability consume internal capacity. With Shogun you get an auditable Kubernetes platform and a team that can evolve it independently.
Software companies
You build SaaS products and need a container platform that scales with your product. Shogun shortens your release cycles, improves developer experience, and gives you a platform that does not slow you down in production.
Public sector
You need sovereign infrastructure with BSI conformity and data sovereignty. Shogun delivers Kubernetes environments that are BSI-compliant, air-gap capable, and fully under your control.
Your Contact
Vincent Sturm
Key Account Manager
Want to stabilize your Kubernetes platform and enable your team to work independently? Vincent advises you personally on our Shogun program. From initial analysis to complete knowledge transfer. Contact him directly.
Frequently asked questions
Traditional IT consultants get booked, stay as long as possible, and leave dependencies behind. Shogun works differently:
- Knowledge transfer from day one: We work from the start toward your team operating the platform on their own.
- Senior consultants only: All our consultants hold at least one CKA, CKAD, or CKS certification.
- Clear recommendations: Instead of endless option lists, we give concrete, well-reasoned recommendations for your Kubernetes architecture.
Our goal is to make ourselves redundant.
That depends on the complexity of your platform and your team. Typical engagements last 3 to 6 months and follow our four phases:
- Analyze (1 to 2 weeks): We assess your existing Kubernetes platform, processes, and team structures.
- Design: Together we develop a target architecture that fits your organization.
- Implement: Your team works actively alongside us, through pair programming and documented architecture decisions (ADRs).
- Hand over: The engagement ends when your team can operate the platform independently.
Yes. We primarily work remotely but are happy to come on-site for:
- Workshops and team onboardings
- Architecture reviews and joint planning days
- Project kickoff: A personal introduction and joint workshop day at the start significantly accelerates collaboration.
Travel costs are billed transparently.
We work on a daily rate basis. This means for you:
- No fixed price, no retainer, no hidden costs
- Full flexibility: You book exactly the days you need
- No minimum term: You can pause or stop at any time
We discuss the specific daily rate after the initial meeting, once we understand the scope. You can book a free initial consultation directly through this page.
Absolutely. Many clients start with a Kubernetes assessment (1 to 2 weeks). We analyze your existing platform, identify risks, and deliver a concrete action plan.
After that you decide if and how to continue. There is no minimum term and no long-term commitment. Many clients appreciate precisely this low-risk entry point.
All our consultants hold at least one of the three official CNCF certifications:
- CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator)
- CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer)
- CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist)
Most hold all three. Additionally, they have hands-on experience with BSI IT-Grundschutz, NIS 2, and DORA requirements in regulated environments.
Knowledge transfer is not a byproduct but the core goal of every engagement. In practice, this means:
- Pair programming, not PowerPoint: Your team works actively from day one and learns in real projects.
- Documented architecture decisions: All decisions are recorded as Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), so the knowledge stays in your organization.
- Gradual handover: Your team takes on more responsibility step by step.
- Measurable autonomy: At the end of each phase we measure team autonomy and adjust the plan.
Yes. We have experience with air-gapped Kubernetes environments, sovereign infrastructure, and systems that run entirely on-premises. Specifically, we support:
- Cluster architecture without internet access
- CI/CD pipelines with local artifact repositories
- Container registries in closed networks
- Monitoring stacks that operate autonomously
All solutions can be implemented in compliance with BSI-Grundschutz and NIS 2.