Moving out from the core containers , you ’ ll have other problems to solve . Container cluster managers , for instance , may include some open source options . When selecting the right container cluster manager for your needs , however , you may find that proprietary technology is a better fit . For most enterprises , the same can be said for security , storage , governance , and other services that you ’ ll need when deploying applications based on clusters
Organizations that look to open standards as a kind of policy , even a culture , may need to make a few compromises when moving to containers . At the end of the day , you need to consider not just the overall cost of the technology , but your ability in the long term to support the technology , and to get updates as needed .
Open source or standards-based offerings may not provide the value that you need to deploy and operate containers . In some cases it would be penny-wise and pound-foolish to follow this path if your standards-based container technology lacks important features , creating additional costs around missing capabilities , support , and performance .
Think About Needs First , Not Standards
Some enterprises are so in love with standards that they allow them to drive most of their technological decisions . While this leads to a smaller software bill , it could also lead to inefficiencies that cost the company millions . So , while you can debate whether or not to use standards-compliant products today , your best bet is to understand your own requirements , and then back the right technology into those .
In other words , your best path is the selfish path . Just as container technology providers are looking out for their own bottom lines first , you need to look out for yours . Standards are good things to have around , and some do work . But too much reliance on container standards is a risky proposition .
Standards provide businesses with the ability to get on the same page , in terms of doing things in the same way . We ’ ve figured out common electrical outlets , network connections , even information interchange for financial data . In the nascent world of containers , however , some things are still just a bridge too far .
14 | THE DOPPLER | WINTER 2017