Skip to content
Close
SEARCH
Get Started
Contact Us
Get Started
Contact Us
Securely manage Docker, Swarm, Kubernetes and Podman clusters in the cloud, on-premise, and in the data center.
Features
Kubernetes
Docker / Swarm
Secure app deployment and device management for your Industrial IoT, IoT and Edge devices.
Edge-Specific Features
Let Portainer's Managed Platform Services accelerate your containerization journey.
Manage all your Docker, Swarm, Kubernetes and Podman clusters from a single secure interface.
Portainer empowers Platform Engineering teams to deliver efficient, user-centric services.
Empower your business by adopting containerization the easy way with Portainer.
Deploy to and manage your fleet of remote devices centrally and securely.
Onboard, manage and deploy workloads across hundreds of devices securely with Portainer.
Deployment scenarios
Smart Buildings and Cities
Smart Manufacturing
Network Edge
Partner Solutions
WAGO + Portainer
inray + Portainer
40Factory + Portainer
Innocens + Portainer
Softing + Portainer
Common Use Cases
Deploy Containers
Triage & Remediate
Lifecycle Management
Platform Management
Security and Compliance
GitOps Automation
Developer Self-Service
Learn
Academy
Blog
Documentation
Knowledge Base
Get a Demo
Videos
Reference Architecture
Connect
Contact Us
Get Support
Install
Renew
Portainer CE
Events
Company
About Us
Become a Partner
Meet Our Ambassadors
Careers
Get Pricing For
Business / Enterprise IT
IIoT / Edge
Home & Student
Contact Sales
Buyer Guides
Building a Business Case for Portainer
Containerization Operational Maturity Framework
Portainer vs Rancher vs OpenShift
Proof of Concept Test Plan
Crop test-02

Portainer: The Platform for Platform Engineering Teams

With Portainer, Platform Engineering teams can provide their developers, IT, and non-technical staff a safe and secure way to deploy, test, and manage applications.  

Get A Demo

Understanding Platform Engineering

In the rapidly evolving landscape of IT and software development, Platform Engineering tools are emerging as the natural successor to DevOps, bringing numerous benefits of platform engineering, such as enhanced scalability, faster deployment cycles, improved developer productivity, and seamless integration across the software lifecycle.

If you're asking what is platform engineering, it is the practice of building and maintaining centralized platforms that manage shared services for application teams, including compute, storage, networking, and container orchestration.

While DevOps emphasized developers taking responsibility for their applications and where they run, Platform Engineering adopts a more centralized approach, akin to a "center of excellence."

This shift is transforming the management and operation of shared platforms running container-based applications, with a strong focus on navigating the complexities of Kubernetes and multi-cluster management.

Platform Engineering teams are dedicated to the day-to-day provision and management of shared platform services, including compute, storage, networking, virtual machines (VMs), and containers.

Unlike the traditional DevOps model where developers are responsible for both development and operations, Platform Engineering teams act as internal service providers, supplying what their users need. These users could be developers, quality assurance teams (QAs), or operations teams managing commercial off-the-shelf software.

Think of Platform Engineering like a vending machine. The vending machine owner doesn’t just stock random items; they carefully select products that are in demand and ensure the machine is always well-stocked.

Similarly, Platform Engineering teams must focus on supplying what their internal users want, not just building features and hoping someone will use them. User interaction with the platform should be as simple as using a vending machine too.

This user-centric approach ensures that the platform remains relevant and valuable to the organization.

Vending machine-4

Delivering Shared Services: The Role of Platform Engineering

So, how do Platform Engineering teams deliver these shared services, and what exactly makes up a platform?

Containers have become the cornerstone of software delivery today, but a robust platform must support more than just simple containerized applications. It should enable the seamless integration of network connections and support the storage of persistent data.

This comprehensive support allows internal users to self-service their application deployment and lifecycle management needs, including troubleshooting, remediating, securing, and monitoring the performance of their applications.

Given the diversity of skills among platform users, it's essential to provide multiple interfaces:

  • Command Line Interface (CLI),
  • Application Programming Interface (API), and
  • User Interface (UI).

These interfaces should include safeguards or "guard rails" to ensure safe practices are followed and to empower users to address their needs independently. For developers, the platform should also facilitate Continuous Delivery (CD) and GitOps capabilities, allowing them to manage their deployment pipelines efficiently.

Platform Usability: Empowering both Users and Engineers

A well-designed platform not only serves the end-users but also needs to be practical and usable by the platform engineering team itself. This is where self-service rules are defined, including setting quotas, implementing policies, enforcing security measures, and managing authentication.

The platform engineering team is also responsible for provisioning and managing the lifecycle of the underlying container runtime environments - tasks like cluster creation, scaling, and upgrades. To accommodate various skill levels, these processes should be also be accessible via CLI, API, and UI interfaces.

 

Portainer Modern Platform resized

 

How Portainer enhances Platform Engineering

Portainer plays a pivotal role in empowering Platform Engineering teams to deliver efficient, user-centric services. Here's how.

Simplified Container Management

Portainer provides a user-friendly interface that abstracts the complexity of container management platforms, making it accessible to users with varying levels of expertise.

Self-Service Capabilities

Portainer's intuitive platform allows users to deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot applications autonomously. With built-in guardrails, users can operate within defined security and operational parameters, minimizing the risk of errors and ensuring compliance with organizational policies.

Integrated Network and Storage Solutions

Portainer facilitates the seamless integration of networking and storage, crucial for the deployment of container-based applications. This capability ensures that applications can communicate effectively and maintain data persistence, critical for the smooth operation of enterprise-grade software.

Continuous Delivery and GitOps Support

Recognizing the importance of efficient deployment pipelines, Portainer offers native support for Continuous Delivery and GitOps workflows. This feature empowers developers to manage their deployment processes directly, promoting faster, more reliable application delivery.

Scalability and Lifecycle Management

Portainer provides robust tools for managing the lifecycle of container environments, from initial setup and scaling to ongoing maintenance and upgrades. These tools help Platform Engineering teams address platform scalability challenges, ensuring that the platform evolves seamlessly alongside organisational needs. Whether you're scaling across multiple Kubernetes clusters or managing resource allocation, Portainer simplifies the process, enabling consistent and efficient platform operations.

Portainer is the Platform for Platform Engineering Teams

Platform Engineering represents a significant evolution in the way organizations manage their IT infrastructure, focusing on a centralized, user-driven approach. By leveraging tools like Portainer, a Platform Engineering team can efficiently provide shared services that meet the needs of their internal users, ensuring the platform remains agile, scalable, and secure.

This user-first mindset not only enhances the efficiency of development and operations teams but also drives innovation and growth across the organization. Portainer offers everything you need for your platform engineering journey. 

Portainer offers everything you need for your platform engineering journey, making it a key part of your toolkit. Review a full list of our Portainer features here, and explore how its powerful capabilities can transform your platform management.

And one last point: if your current team is overloaded, or your team is lacking the right skills, then our managed platform services might be exactly what you're looking for.

Find out more

We would be happy to provide you with a demo of how Portainer can serve as a valuable platform for your Platform Engineering team.

Get A Demo