Michael Levan 👨🏻💻☕️
@mikelevan.bsky.social
Independent Consultant | Implementing Scalable, Secure, & Performant Environments | Microsoft MVP (Azure) | AWS Community Builder | Trainer • Author • Speaker • Podcast Host | Kubernetes v1.28 & v1.31 Release Team
Pinned
Three trends I saw at KubeCon:
✅ WASM
✅ Platform Engineering
✅ Security
A thread 🧵
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
✅ WASM
✅ Platform Engineering
✅ Security
A thread 🧵
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Consolidating 15 years of software engineering, cyber security, DevOps, and cloud into bite-sized bits 👇
Posting daily as I'm working.
Sharing tips and tricks as I go
michaellevan.substack.com
Posting daily as I'm working.
Sharing tips and tricks as I go
michaellevan.substack.com
Michael Levan | Substack
Consolidating 15 years of software engineering, cyber security, DevOps, and cloud into bitesized bits. Click to read Michael Levan, a Substack publication. Launched a day ago.
michaellevan.substack.com
May 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Consolidating 15 years of software engineering, cyber security, DevOps, and cloud into bite-sized bits 👇
Posting daily as I'm working.
Sharing tips and tricks as I go
michaellevan.substack.com
Posting daily as I'm working.
Sharing tips and tricks as I go
michaellevan.substack.com
Security is actually pretty simple:
1. Ensure that the data is secure
2. Ensure that any third-party libraries/packages you're using in your code are secure
Well... since that's 100% of security, I guess security isn't all that simple lol
1. Ensure that the data is secure
2. Ensure that any third-party libraries/packages you're using in your code are secure
Well... since that's 100% of security, I guess security isn't all that simple lol
May 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Security is actually pretty simple:
1. Ensure that the data is secure
2. Ensure that any third-party libraries/packages you're using in your code are secure
Well... since that's 100% of security, I guess security isn't all that simple lol
1. Ensure that the data is secure
2. Ensure that any third-party libraries/packages you're using in your code are secure
Well... since that's 100% of security, I guess security isn't all that simple lol
Cloud Detection Response (CDR) and Network Detection Response (NDR) 👇
Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) focuses purely on cloud environments.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) focuses purely on cloud environments.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
May 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Cloud Detection Response (CDR) and Network Detection Response (NDR) 👇
Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) focuses purely on cloud environments.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) focuses purely on cloud environments.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
An important reminder when using `port-forward` with Kubernetes.
If you run something like `kubectl port-forward svc/service_name portnumber:port:number`
You're bringing the traffic from the Kubernetes to your local computer.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
If you run something like `kubectl port-forward svc/service_name portnumber:port:number`
You're bringing the traffic from the Kubernetes to your local computer.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
May 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM
An important reminder when using `port-forward` with Kubernetes.
If you run something like `kubectl port-forward svc/service_name portnumber:port:number`
You're bringing the traffic from the Kubernetes to your local computer.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
If you run something like `kubectl port-forward svc/service_name portnumber:port:number`
You're bringing the traffic from the Kubernetes to your local computer.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
I updated KoaPerf to include:
1. AWS Support! You can get recommendations for containerized apps running in AWS now.
2. A better UI (more visually appealing)
Check it out at the link below 👇
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
1. AWS Support! You can get recommendations for containerized apps running in AWS now.
2. A better UI (more visually appealing)
Check it out at the link below 👇
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
April 27, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I updated KoaPerf to include:
1. AWS Support! You can get recommendations for containerized apps running in AWS now.
2. A better UI (more visually appealing)
Check it out at the link below 👇
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
1. AWS Support! You can get recommendations for containerized apps running in AWS now.
2. A better UI (more visually appealing)
Check it out at the link below 👇
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
For any organization, big or small.
Enterprise or startup.
Figuring out the workflow of how environments should be deployed, managed, and most importantly, what should be deployed and managed is the make or break.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Enterprise or startup.
Figuring out the workflow of how environments should be deployed, managed, and most importantly, what should be deployed and managed is the make or break.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
April 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
For any organization, big or small.
Enterprise or startup.
Figuring out the workflow of how environments should be deployed, managed, and most importantly, what should be deployed and managed is the make or break.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Enterprise or startup.
Figuring out the workflow of how environments should be deployed, managed, and most importantly, what should be deployed and managed is the make or break.
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
I built a free tool to tell you the best place to deploy containerized workloads.
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
April 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I built a free tool to tell you the best place to deploy containerized workloads.
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
koaperf-apeseqd2cehnhjgh.z03.azurefd.net
(cont)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
After planning and deploying a Kubernetes environment, you're left with:
✅ Performance optimization
✅ Monitoring and observability
✅ Upgrades
and a few other specifics that are necessary to ensure k8s is running as expected.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
✅ Performance optimization
✅ Monitoring and observability
✅ Upgrades
and a few other specifics that are necessary to ensure k8s is running as expected.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
April 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
After planning and deploying a Kubernetes environment, you're left with:
✅ Performance optimization
✅ Monitoring and observability
✅ Upgrades
and a few other specifics that are necessary to ensure k8s is running as expected.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
✅ Performance optimization
✅ Monitoring and observability
✅ Upgrades
and a few other specifics that are necessary to ensure k8s is running as expected.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
The tool needs to be deployed before it can be used.
ArgoCD is a great example of this.
Argo is implemented for workloads in k8s to be deployed automatically based on an interval instead of having to run a bunch of `kubectl apply -f` commands locally or in a pipeline.
(cont)
ArgoCD is a great example of this.
Argo is implemented for workloads in k8s to be deployed automatically based on an interval instead of having to run a bunch of `kubectl apply -f` commands locally or in a pipeline.
(cont)
Keeping The Lights On: Pipeline Differentiations for CICD
buff.ly
April 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The tool needs to be deployed before it can be used.
ArgoCD is a great example of this.
Argo is implemented for workloads in k8s to be deployed automatically based on an interval instead of having to run a bunch of `kubectl apply -f` commands locally or in a pipeline.
(cont)
ArgoCD is a great example of this.
Argo is implemented for workloads in k8s to be deployed automatically based on an interval instead of having to run a bunch of `kubectl apply -f` commands locally or in a pipeline.
(cont)
I was recently on a consulting project and the goal was to optimize AWS EKS.
It came down to a few key aspects including:
1. Workload isolation
2. Multi-az
3. Cluster security around multi-tenancy
4. Performance optimization
(cont)
It came down to a few key aspects including:
1. Workload isolation
2. Multi-az
3. Cluster security around multi-tenancy
4. Performance optimization
(cont)
Optimizing AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS)
As you develop environments, infrastructure, and orchestration platforms (like k8s), you'll begin to notice that there are several directions to go in. There's a joke that goes something like "line up...
buff.ly
April 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I was recently on a consulting project and the goal was to optimize AWS EKS.
It came down to a few key aspects including:
1. Workload isolation
2. Multi-az
3. Cluster security around multi-tenancy
4. Performance optimization
(cont)
It came down to a few key aspects including:
1. Workload isolation
2. Multi-az
3. Cluster security around multi-tenancy
4. Performance optimization
(cont)
I never thought about security as a specialty.
i.e - DevOps Security, Cloud Security, Network Security, etc.
The reason is that security should be embedded in all of our jobs.
(cont)
i.e - DevOps Security, Cloud Security, Network Security, etc.
The reason is that security should be embedded in all of our jobs.
(cont)
April 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I never thought about security as a specialty.
i.e - DevOps Security, Cloud Security, Network Security, etc.
The reason is that security should be embedded in all of our jobs.
(cont)
i.e - DevOps Security, Cloud Security, Network Security, etc.
The reason is that security should be embedded in all of our jobs.
(cont)
I just updated DevOps-The-Hard-Way-AWS for the first time in 4 years.
✅ Removed the creation of a VPC for EKS with CloudFormation
✅ Terraform Modules for EKS and VPC creation
✅ Simplified the steps for the labs
and A LOT more.
Link below 👇
github.com/AdminTurnedD...
✅ Removed the creation of a VPC for EKS with CloudFormation
✅ Terraform Modules for EKS and VPC creation
✅ Simplified the steps for the labs
and A LOT more.
Link below 👇
github.com/AdminTurnedD...
GitHub - AdminTurnedDevOps/DevOps-The-Hard-Way-AWS: This repository contains free labs for setting up an entire workflow and DevOps environment from a real-world perspective in AWS
This repository contains free labs for setting up an entire workflow and DevOps environment from a real-world perspective in AWS - AdminTurnedDevOps/DevOps-The-Hard-Way-AWS
github.com
April 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I just updated DevOps-The-Hard-Way-AWS for the first time in 4 years.
✅ Removed the creation of a VPC for EKS with CloudFormation
✅ Terraform Modules for EKS and VPC creation
✅ Simplified the steps for the labs
and A LOT more.
Link below 👇
github.com/AdminTurnedD...
✅ Removed the creation of a VPC for EKS with CloudFormation
✅ Terraform Modules for EKS and VPC creation
✅ Simplified the steps for the labs
and A LOT more.
Link below 👇
github.com/AdminTurnedD...
You're not late to learning Cloud/DevOps/Platform Engineering, you're right on time.
Open up that new DevOps course.
Learn Kubernetes and why orchestration is important.
Understand networks, systems, and design.
You'll never reach a point where you "know it all".
Open up that new DevOps course.
Learn Kubernetes and why orchestration is important.
Understand networks, systems, and design.
You'll never reach a point where you "know it all".
April 12, 2025 at 1:37 PM
You're not late to learning Cloud/DevOps/Platform Engineering, you're right on time.
Open up that new DevOps course.
Learn Kubernetes and why orchestration is important.
Understand networks, systems, and design.
You'll never reach a point where you "know it all".
Open up that new DevOps course.
Learn Kubernetes and why orchestration is important.
Understand networks, systems, and design.
You'll never reach a point where you "know it all".
In the world of AI programming with things like Cursor...
If you don't spend the time now getting really good at programming, you're going to fail drastically.
If you let "the AI thing" do it all for you without you understanding what's happening underneath the hood...
(cont)
If you don't spend the time now getting really good at programming, you're going to fail drastically.
If you let "the AI thing" do it all for you without you understanding what's happening underneath the hood...
(cont)
April 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In the world of AI programming with things like Cursor...
If you don't spend the time now getting really good at programming, you're going to fail drastically.
If you let "the AI thing" do it all for you without you understanding what's happening underneath the hood...
(cont)
If you don't spend the time now getting really good at programming, you're going to fail drastically.
If you let "the AI thing" do it all for you without you understanding what's happening underneath the hood...
(cont)
All Kubernetes implementations start with:
✅ Proper planning and architecture
✅ Security
✅ Teamwork
Ensure you know exactly what's being deployed, managed, and by whom.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
✅ Proper planning and architecture
✅ Security
✅ Teamwork
Ensure you know exactly what's being deployed, managed, and by whom.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
April 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
All Kubernetes implementations start with:
✅ Proper planning and architecture
✅ Security
✅ Teamwork
Ensure you know exactly what's being deployed, managed, and by whom.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
✅ Proper planning and architecture
✅ Security
✅ Teamwork
Ensure you know exactly what's being deployed, managed, and by whom.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
In the last week or so, I started trying Cursor out to build some cloud-native tooling.
The result?
Pretty good actually! I created a tool in Python to do a `diff` on a bunch of cloud security policies across Azure CIS and MCSB.
buff.ly/R7zDF8j
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
The result?
Pretty good actually! I created a tool in Python to do a `diff` on a bunch of cloud security policies across Azure CIS and MCSB.
buff.ly/R7zDF8j
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Keeping The Lights On: Planning Cloud Security With Prompt Engineering
In this episode, Michael Levan dives into a few key tips on creating programs for "diffs". The idea is that you have two things and you need to ensure that you aren't re-doing work that already exists...
buff.ly
April 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
In the last week or so, I started trying Cursor out to build some cloud-native tooling.
The result?
Pretty good actually! I created a tool in Python to do a `diff` on a bunch of cloud security policies across Azure CIS and MCSB.
buff.ly/R7zDF8j
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
The result?
Pretty good actually! I created a tool in Python to do a `diff` on a bunch of cloud security policies across Azure CIS and MCSB.
buff.ly/R7zDF8j
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Do I know anyone who works at AWS?
April 9, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Do I know anyone who works at AWS?
Terraform is always funny.
I need an S3 bucket to store my state!
Ah, that S3 bucket needs to be created before I create my other resources that need to store state.
I'll put it in my module!
Wait, the module needs to access the S3 bucket and it's not created yet...
I need an S3 bucket to store my state!
Ah, that S3 bucket needs to be created before I create my other resources that need to store state.
I'll put it in my module!
Wait, the module needs to access the S3 bucket and it's not created yet...
April 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Terraform is always funny.
I need an S3 bucket to store my state!
Ah, that S3 bucket needs to be created before I create my other resources that need to store state.
I'll put it in my module!
Wait, the module needs to access the S3 bucket and it's not created yet...
I need an S3 bucket to store my state!
Ah, that S3 bucket needs to be created before I create my other resources that need to store state.
I'll put it in my module!
Wait, the module needs to access the S3 bucket and it's not created yet...
I built a new open-source cloud and Kubernetes based tool that:
buff.ly/ZT8IyHs
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
buff.ly/ZT8IyHs
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
GitHub - AdminTurnedDevOps/cloudigest
Contribute to AdminTurnedDevOps/cloudigest development by creating an account on GitHub.
buff.ly
April 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I built a new open-source cloud and Kubernetes based tool that:
buff.ly/ZT8IyHs
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
buff.ly/ZT8IyHs
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Scaling k8s workloads in an event-driven fashion == ensure proper performance, cost, and resource optimization for various situations that occur.
In this video, I break down one method of scaling Kubernetes workloads with KEDA.
buff.ly/5WgJidU
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
In this video, I break down one method of scaling Kubernetes workloads with KEDA.
buff.ly/5WgJidU
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
(2025) Using KEDA On AKS To Trigger Based Off Of Resource Optimization
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
buff.ly
April 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Scaling k8s workloads in an event-driven fashion == ensure proper performance, cost, and resource optimization for various situations that occur.
In this video, I break down one method of scaling Kubernetes workloads with KEDA.
buff.ly/5WgJidU
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
In this video, I break down one method of scaling Kubernetes workloads with KEDA.
buff.ly/5WgJidU
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Does anyone have the key takeaways for KubeCon EU? So far I'm seeing:
1. VMs on Kubernetes.
2. Kubernetes could be a solid place to run Agents and ML workloads
Anything else?
#kubernetes #kubecon
1. VMs on Kubernetes.
2. Kubernetes could be a solid place to run Agents and ML workloads
Anything else?
#kubernetes #kubecon
April 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Does anyone have the key takeaways for KubeCon EU? So far I'm seeing:
1. VMs on Kubernetes.
2. Kubernetes could be a solid place to run Agents and ML workloads
Anything else?
#kubernetes #kubecon
1. VMs on Kubernetes.
2. Kubernetes could be a solid place to run Agents and ML workloads
Anything else?
#kubernetes #kubecon
Managed k8s services were meant to be... well, managed.
EKS Auto Mode and AKS Automatic got us there.
In this blog post, I break down how to get started from a hands-on perspective with both.
buff.ly/fhJweo8
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
EKS Auto Mode and AKS Automatic got us there.
In this blog post, I break down how to get started from a hands-on perspective with both.
buff.ly/fhJweo8
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
AKS Automatic and AWS EKS Auto Mode: Setup and Deployment
Discover the benefits of AKS Automatic and EKS Auto Mode in Kubernetes management. Learn how these features streamline container orchestration, enhance scalability, and optimize cloud performance. Div...
buff.ly
April 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Managed k8s services were meant to be... well, managed.
EKS Auto Mode and AKS Automatic got us there.
In this blog post, I break down how to get started from a hands-on perspective with both.
buff.ly/fhJweo8
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
EKS Auto Mode and AKS Automatic got us there.
In this blog post, I break down how to get started from a hands-on perspective with both.
buff.ly/fhJweo8
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Wasm gives DevOps and Platform Engineers true Distributed Systems.
You have the ability to not care where your app is running.
1. Build your application
2. Build a Component (made up of a WIT)
3. Compile it down to Wasm
A thread 🧵
#kubernetes #devops #wasm
You have the ability to not care where your app is running.
1. Build your application
2. Build a Component (made up of a WIT)
3. Compile it down to Wasm
A thread 🧵
#kubernetes #devops #wasm
March 29, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Wasm gives DevOps and Platform Engineers true Distributed Systems.
You have the ability to not care where your app is running.
1. Build your application
2. Build a Component (made up of a WIT)
3. Compile it down to Wasm
A thread 🧵
#kubernetes #devops #wasm
You have the ability to not care where your app is running.
1. Build your application
2. Build a Component (made up of a WIT)
3. Compile it down to Wasm
A thread 🧵
#kubernetes #devops #wasm
Alright, so this is rather interesting and why fine-tuning or creating a RAG is necessary.
This agent has a clear, defined job: Tell me the best region to deploy k8s workloads to based on cost and performance.
A few things:
(in the next comment)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
This agent has a clear, defined job: Tell me the best region to deploy k8s workloads to based on cost and performance.
A few things:
(in the next comment)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
January 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Alright, so this is rather interesting and why fine-tuning or creating a RAG is necessary.
This agent has a clear, defined job: Tell me the best region to deploy k8s workloads to based on cost and performance.
A few things:
(in the next comment)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
This agent has a clear, defined job: Tell me the best region to deploy k8s workloads to based on cost and performance.
A few things:
(in the next comment)
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
Just a reminder that those AI Agents that everyone thinks will "take jobs" have to run somewhere.
That "somewhere" is most likely going to be:
1. k8s
2. Containers
3. Event-driven services
This stuff isn't magic. It needs to run somewhere.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
That "somewhere" is most likely going to be:
1. k8s
2. Containers
3. Event-driven services
This stuff isn't magic. It needs to run somewhere.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
January 19, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Just a reminder that those AI Agents that everyone thinks will "take jobs" have to run somewhere.
That "somewhere" is most likely going to be:
1. k8s
2. Containers
3. Event-driven services
This stuff isn't magic. It needs to run somewhere.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering
That "somewhere" is most likely going to be:
1. k8s
2. Containers
3. Event-driven services
This stuff isn't magic. It needs to run somewhere.
#kubernetes #devops #platformengineering