Kubernetes Backup: Complete Data Protection for K8s Environments
A Kubernetes cluster is more than its pods: cluster state, Persistent Volumes, ConfigMaps, Secrets, and databases, everything must be secured, not just the code.
Kubernetes simplifies many aspects of infrastructure operations, but backup is not automatically solved. Those who only have code in Git and assume the cluster can be rebuilt anytime overlook: stateful workloads, accumulated configuration, database contents, and secrets not versioned in Git.
The most common challenges
Persistent Volumes are not included in standard cluster backups
A backup of Kubernetes manifests does not secure database content. PVCs and their data need specific strategies, often the most forgotten element in K8s backup concepts.
Secrets are often not versioned and lost during cluster failure
Kubernetes secrets not managed in tools like Vault or Sealed Secrets are gone if a cluster is lost. All applications relying on these secrets become unrecoverable.
Multi-namespace backups are error-prone without specialized tools
Manual backups via kubectl export regularly miss resources. Without automated tools and defined policies, security gaps are inevitable.
The CCsolutions approach
CCsolutions implements Kubernetes backup with Velero as a foundation: automated daily backups of all namespaces, Persistent Volumes, and Custom Resources. Policies define retention and frequency based on criticality.
Database backups are handled separately: PostgreSQL via Barman with Point-in-Time-Recovery (PITR), MySQL/MongoDB via specialized tools. All database backups are encrypted and stored in S3-compatible storage.
Secrets are decoupled from standard backups and managed in HashiCorp Vault or Sealed Secrets, with their own backup concepts. This prevents secrets from ending up unencrypted in backup media.
Technologies
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Kubernetes cluster recovery take in a worst-case scenario?
With complete backups (Manifests + PVCs + DBs): 30-120 minutes depending on data volume. Cluster-state alone can be restored in 15-30 minutes.
Does Kubernetes backup work cloud-agnostically?
Yes. Velero supports AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, GCP, and S3-compatible providers like MinIO for on-premises storage.
What happens if an entire cloud provider becomes unreachable?
For cross-region or cross-cloud resilience, we set up replication to a second provider/region. This follows the 3-2-1 principle: 3 copies, 2 media, 1 off-site.
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