Microsoft Azure
Containers — AKS & Container Apps
Run containers via managed Kubernetes (AKS) or serverless containers (Container Apps/ACI).
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is managed Kubernetes: Azure operates the control plane (free) while you run worker node pools (you pay for the VMs). It integrates with Entra ID for auth, Azure CNI for networking, and the broader Kubernetes ecosystem, and is the choice when you want full Kubernetes APIs, portability, and ecosystem tooling.
AKS is leasing a full industrial kitchen with every appliance and the responsibility to run it. Container Apps is a managed food-court stall that expands and contracts staff automatically and closes entirely when no customers are around. ACI is hiring a single chef for one quick job and paying by the minute.
Key Concepts
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For teams that want containers without managing Kubernetes, Azure offers serverless options. Azure Container Apps is a managed, Kubernetes-based platform (built on KEDA, Dapr, Envoy) that runs containers with built-in autoscaling — including scale-to-zero on HTTP or event load — without exposing Kubernetes itself; ideal for microservices and event-driven apps. Azure Container Instances (ACI) runs single containers quickly with per-second billing for short tasks or burst. The decision: AKS for full Kubernetes control, Container Apps for serverless microservices, ACI for simple one-off containers.