Hi there! I'm Daiki Takasao, an Expert Architect.
To celebrate being selected as an AWS Community Builder, I’d like to share why I'm such a big fan of Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service) and how it can make your infrastructure life much easier!
First Things First: Why EKS Is My Favorite AWS Service
EKS is a managed Kubernetes service on AWS that helps reduce the operational burden of containerized workloads.
If you're thinking, "Kubernetes sounds complicated..." — don't worry. With EKS, many of the difficult parts are handled for you. As someone managing a microservices infrastructure for financial institutions, I can assure you it's a game-changer.
What Is Kubernetes? A Quick Refresher
Kubernetes (aka K8s) is a container orchestration platform that automates deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
- Actively maintained OSS project with a new version every 4 months
- Highly extensible via CRDs (Custom Resource Definitions)
- Huge ecosystem backed by the cloud-native community
The architecture separates worker nodes from the control plane, which allows for scalable and modular cluster operations.
What Is EKS?
EKS is AWS’s way of offering Kubernetes as a managed service. It helps users deploy and run K8s clusters without managing the control plane.
Benefits
- No need to manage the control plane — AWS handles it
- Built-in integration with IAM for access control
- Highly available and scalable by default
ECS vs. EKS — Which Should You Use?
AWS also offers ECS (Elastic Container Service), which is their own container orchestration solution. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | ECS | EKS |
|---|---|---|
| Feature Set | Limited to AWS ecosystem | Full Kubernetes + OSS |
| Multi-Cloud Compatibility | ❌ | ✅ |
| Operational Overhead | Low | Requires cluster upgrades |
TL;DR: Choose EKS if you want to leverage Kubernetes’ rich ecosystem or work in multi-cloud environments.
Challenges with EKS (and How Auto Mode Fixes Them)
While EKS handles the control plane, users still have to manage parts of the infrastructure:
- Worker node provisioning and scaling
- Load balancer configuration (e.g., AWS LoadBalancer Controller)
- Persistent storage (e.g., EBS CSI Driver)
But now, there's a better way...
🚀 Enter EKS Auto Mode
EKS Auto Mode takes the convenience of EKS to the next level. With this, even worker nodes are managed by AWS.
Key Benefits
- No need to manage EC2-based nodes
- Built-in auto-scaling
- Seamless integration with load balancers and storage drivers
Why Learn Kubernetes?
🌍 A Career-Expanding Skill
Kubernetes is cloud-agnostic — you can use it on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or even on-prem. It’s the foundation of cloud-native tech.
🧠 Official Certifications Are Available
| Certification | Focus | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| KCNA | Cloud-native basics | ⭐☆☆ |
| KCSA | Security fundamentals | ⭐⭐☆ |
| CKAD | App development | ⭐⭐☆ |
| CKA | Cluster admin | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| CKS | Security specialist | ⭐⭐⭐ |
All these are offered by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
Taking the Exam: Tips from Experience
- Exams are online — make sure you have a clean, quiet space
- A webcam is required for remote proctoring
- I once forgot to book a meeting room and took the test in my bathroom… true story 😅
Learning Resources
Hands-on practice is crucial for passing the certification exams, especially for CKAD/CKA/CKS.
Final Thoughts
AWS is great, but stepping outside to learn about Kubernetes and EKS can really broaden your perspective as a cloud engineer.
EKS isn't just another AWS service — it's your gateway into the cloud-native universe.