We manage your VMware Kubernetes Service — the native K8s of VCF — with engineers certified in both vSphere and Kubernetes, and a guaranteed SLA, so your team can focus on developing, not on operating the platform.
The Problem
These are the real scenarios we see in companies running VMware Kubernetes Service without professional specialized management.
Managing VKS isn't just K8s: it's vSphere Supervisor, Namespace VMs, vSAN StorageClass, NSX-T networking and Tanzu CLI in one stack. A K8s engineer without deep vSphere knowledge only gets halfway through the problem. The right certification isn't just CKA — it's also VMware VCP.
Dual expertiseThe VKS version is tightly coupled to the vCenter and ESXi version. Upgrading Kubernetes may require upgrading the entire vSphere platform. Without a coordinated process across both layers, a K8s upgrade can leave the environment inoperable or in an unsupported state by VMware.
Upgrade riskPersistentVolumes in VKS use vSAN Storage Policies instead of standard K8s StorageClass. Apps that work on EKS or GKE fail when deployed on VKS because the storage binding is different. Dev teams spend days debugging why volumes won't mount.
Specialized storageVKS comes with VCF/VVF, but many teams have it disabled or half-configured because nobody assumed operations. The license cost is already paid — the cost of not using it correctly is higher: workloads running as VMs when they should be containers, or clusters with no upgrades.
Lost ROILegacy Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) installations with standalone management clusters need to migrate to vSphere Supervisor + VKS. The process requires reconfiguring networking (from Antrea or Calico to NSX-T), redeploying workloads in the new TKC model, and validating that all applications work in the modernized environment. Without expertise in both architectures — old and new — the migration stalls for months, accumulating technical debt in a product already heading toward end-of-support.
Legacy technical debtThe Solution
A single team that masters both vSphere and Kubernetes operates your VKS platform end-to-end — from Supervisor activation to reactive support at 3AM.
vSphere Supervisor and VKS activation on VCF/VVF. Configuration of namespaces, vSAN storage policies, NSX-T networking and RBAC policies. Monitoring, alerting and logging setup. Legacy TKG migration if applicable. Knowledge base handover from day one.
Coordinated VKS + vSphere upgrades with validation plan and rollback. TKC (Tanzu Kubernetes Cluster) lifecycle management. Supervisor and workload cluster health checks. Manifest and configuration backups. Weekly and monthly management reports.
Incident response on VKS and vSphere Supervisor in 24/7 mode. Guaranteed response in 20 min (business hours) and 30 min (off-hours). Support on pods, storage, NSX-T networking and upgrades through to resolution and client approval.
Specialized Management
Operating VKS requires more than cluster access. It requires simultaneous expertise in vSphere and Kubernetes, available 24/7, with coordinated upgrade processes across both layers.
Your team operates VKS on top of their regular responsibilities. No dual vSphere + K8s expertise, no coordinated upgrade processes, no 24/7 coverage.
VMware Premier Partner + Expert Advantage + KCSP. We operate your entire VKS platform — upgrades, storage, NSX-T networking, TKG migration and 24/7 support.
Triple certification: Premier Partner in the Broadcom Advantage Partner Program (second highest level), Expert Advantage accrediting advanced VCF deployment capabilities, and KCSP recognized by the CNCF. The exact combination required to operate VKS with rigor.
The tightly coupled nature of VKS + vSphere makes every upgrade a multi-layer process. We execute it with a pre-validation plan, environment snapshot as a rollback point, and post-upgrade verification. Your platform always on a VMware-supported version.
We don't stop at the K8s/vSphere boundary. We resolve everything from the vSAN Storage Policy to the Ingress controller in VKS — because operating VKS without understanding vSphere means operating only half the stack. One team, one point of contact for the entire cycle.
Operating VKS in-house without dual expertise is like hiring a commercial airline pilot to also maintain the engines. They can fly the plane — but when the engine needs calibration or a specific part fails, the pilot isn't certified to open it up. In VKS, the "plane" is Kubernetes and the "engine" is vSphere: both must work together, and both require a certified expert. Andes Digital is that team: VMware Premier Partner with KCSP, we operate both layers so you don't have to choose between a vSphere expert and a Kubernetes one.
Technologies
Distributions, tools and technologies from the VMware VKS and VCF ecosystem we operate every day.
Frequently asked questions
VKS (VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service, formerly Tanzu Kubernetes Grid) lets you run enterprise Kubernetes directly on your existing vSphere infrastructure. It is a fit for organizations with a consolidated VMware investment that want to adopt containers without migrating everything to a public cloud or maintaining two separate platforms.
Broadcom's shift to per-core subscriptions changed costs for many customers. We help you assess total cost and decide between optimizing your standard on VKS or migrating workloads to native Kubernetes or OpenShift where it makes sense. The recommendation depends on your investment and timelines.
We scope by clusters, integration with your vSphere, networking, storage and workload migration. An initial production deployment usually takes 6 to 12 weeks. We start with a free initial consultation to review your current environment. Real-world case: IPS — TKGm on Azure.
Yes. We support migration from your vSphere and deliver managed operations: upgrades, security, monitoring and incident response. We also train your team to operate the platform autonomously.
Let's talk about managing your VKS platform and how we can take it on with a guaranteed SLA as VMware Premier Partner, Expert Advantage and KCSP.
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