Platform build with Kubernetes, Crossplane, and GitOps

Summary

Design and implementation of a platform foundation that enables teams to request infrastructure through Kubernetes APIs while keeping policy, security, and delivery workflows consistent across environments.

Context and constraints

• Multiple teams with inconsistent delivery workflows and ad hoc infrastructure tooling.
• Need for repeatable environments without exposing cloud complexity to application teams.
• Security and audit requirements driving strict governance and change visibility.

Architecture overview

Established a platform control plane with Kubernetes as the API, Crossplane for infrastructure abstractions, and GitOps for delivery orchestration. Platform components were standardized as reusable modules with policy enforcement in the pipeline.

Key decisions

• Adopt Crossplane compositions for consistent infrastructure building blocks.
• Use GitOps workflows for environment promotion, auditability, and rollback readiness.
• Separate platform APIs from provider implementations to keep teams focused on intent.

Delivery approach

• Discovery workshops to map current delivery flows and constraints.
• Iterative platform increments with a thin vertical slice across environments.
• Documentation, runbooks, and enablement sessions for platform ownership.

Outcomes and impact

• Self-service workflows with consistent governance across teams.
• Reduced friction for infrastructure requests and environment provisioning.
• Clearer operational ownership and improved reliability posture.

Lessons learned

• Adoption accelerates when platform APIs map to team mental models.
• Early observability and ownership mapping prevent later rework.
• Small delivery loops build trust and keep architecture aligned to real needs.