There’s a quiet shift happening in how companies think about infrastructure. For a long time, running Kubernetes clusters — patching, monitoring, scaling — was the job. It felt like enough. But now, leading teams are recognizing something deeper: if platform engineering is just operations, it’s not doing its job. Because the real job? It’s enabling velocity, flexibility, and strategic advantage. And that’s where we come in.
From maintenance to momentum
Platform teams are under pressure. Every quarter, there’s more:
- More security requirements
- More compliance checks
- More tools to integrate
- More environments to manage
All while developers expect faster cycles and self-service platforms. It’s a tough balance. And when platform engineering is reduced to cluster maintenance, something’s broken.
Think about Formula 1: both a pit crew and a local mechanic can change your tires. But one is optimizing every millisecond to help win the race. That’s the difference — not in the task, but in the purpose. In the level of coordination, specialization, and continuous refinement.
The same holds true for platform engineering. You don’t win by just keeping the engine running. You win by helping the whole system go faster, safer, and smarter.
What that actually looks like
At Giant Swarm, we deliver a managed Kubernetes platform — but what we really provide is the capability for teams to move faster, with less risk and more autonomy. Here's what that includes:
Infrastructure management
Provisioning, upgrades, CVE mitigation, scaling, networking — across AWS, Azure, and on-prem. Fully automated, GitOps-first, and aligned with open source best practices.
Cloud native add-ons
We don’t just run Prometheus or cert-manager — we contribute to them. Our platform includes hardened, production-grade stacks for observability, security, and deployment — built on OSS, not black boxes.
Security and governance
From RBAC to policy enforcement, we help enforce standards consistently across environments, supporting CIS benchmarks, secret management, and real-time compliance visibility.
Developer enablement
Golden paths, self-service scaffolding, and CI/CD integration give devs the autonomy they need — with built-in guardrails. And because we operate the platform, nothing breaks the flow.
Proactive support and collaboration
We're not just here when something breaks. We actively engage on roadmap discussions, help introduce new technologies, and fix problems before they impact production. Via Slack, not ticket queues.
Why this approach matters
When platform engineering is seen as strategic, the business sees real results:
- 12 months faster time to market
- 16x fewer outages
- 7-digit cost savings
- 1,000x higher deployment frequency
This isn’t theoretical. Our customers — from ecommerce leaders to manufacturers — are seeing these outcomes today.
DIY versus managed platform engineering
If you’re weighing your approach to platform engineering, it’s worth asking what kind of engine you’re trying to build — and who’s in your pit crew.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Aspect |
DIY Platform Engineering |
Managed Platform Engineering |
| Initial Investment |
Lower direct costs, higher hidden costs |
Predictable subscription model |
| Team Focus |
80% maintenance, 20% innovation |
20% oversight, 80% innovation |
| Technical Debt |
Accumulates over time |
Continuously addressed by provider |
| Innovation Pace |
Limited by team bandwidth |
Accelerated by shared knowledge |
| Expertise Depth |
Limited to your team's experience |
Access to specialists across domains |
| Risk Profile |
Higher reliance on key individuals |
Distributed expertise, lower risk |
Making the right choice depends on what you're optimizing for: speed, scale, resilience — or just short-term cost. The companies getting ahead are the ones investing in velocity and capability.
From “Ops” to business enabler
Platform engineering should be like a Formula 1 pit crew: Invisible at its best, but utterly critical when performance matters. Fast. Precise. Embedded in the success of the team.
You don’t just need someone to keep your platform running. You need a team that makes you faster, better, and more resilient — every single week. So next time you hear “it’s just ops,” take a step back. Ask: is your platform team just maintaining infrastructure? Or are they enabling your company’s next leap forward?
Want to explore what that could look like in your organization? Let’s talk.
