Kubernetes Distributions: Which Option Is Best for Your Organization?

Kubernetes is a foundation of modern infrastructure, running workloads across industries from SaaS to financial services. According to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), 71% of Fortune 100 companies use it as their primary container orchestration platform. Still, production use is rarely simple. The open-source project delivers only the basics (control plane, worker nodes, and APIs), leaving the job of selecting and integrating components that make a K8s cluster production-ready up to individual teams.

Kubernetes distributions close that gap by bundling defaults, tools, and enterprise support, making clusters easier to deploy and maintain. This guide covers what distributions are, how they differ from upstream Kubernetes, the main types available, and where Mirantis fits.

Key highlights:

• A Kubernetes distribution is a packaged form of the upstream K8s project that adds defaults, tools, and support to simplify deployment and operations.

• Enterprises rely on distributions for security, lifecycle management, and multi-cloud flexibility that vanilla Kubernetes alone doesn’t provide.

• The right K8s distribution for an enterprise is dependent on its team’s skills, workload requirements, and regulatory environment.

• Mirantis delivers a purpose-built Kubernetes platform with k0s for lightweight and edge deployments, and MKE 4k, an enterprise-ready solution built on k0s, for hardened operations.

What Is a Kubernetes Distribution?

A Kubernetes distribution is a fully packaged version of K8s that includes the core software along with the tools, defaults, and integrations needed to run clusters more easily. Instead of assembling every single component by hand, a distribution comes preconfigured with: 

• Container runtime

• Networking

• Storage drivers 

• Security features

Some distributions add extra automation, monitoring, or governance, while others stay lightweight and flexible. The goal is to simplify deployment and management while ensuring compatibility with the upstream CNCF-certified Kubernetes standard.

These are the main components included in most enterprise-ready K8s distros:

• Core Control Plane: API server, scheduler, and controller manager that define and maintain cluster state.

• Worker Nodes: Kubelet, container runtime (such as containerd or CRI-O), and kube-proxy for running workloads and handling networking.

• Networking and Storage: Default CNI and CSI drivers, with options to swap in enterprise networking and storage solutions.

• Lifecycle Management: Tools for provisioning clusters, scaling capacity, and applying upgrades and patches with minimal operational downtime.

• Security and Governance: Built-in transport layer security, as well as access and policy controls that secure communication and access across the cluster.

Types of Kubernetes Distribution

Kubernetes distributions generally fall into four categories. Each type addresses different operational goals and levels of complexity. Knowing the differences helps teams narrow choices before evaluating specific platforms.

The core K8s distro categories include:

• Open Source Distributions: Flexible options that allow maximum customization but require hands-on management. 

• Enterprise Distributions: Hardened, opinionated platforms built for production with integrated security, governance, and support. 

• Cloud-Managed Distributions: Services run by cloud platform providers where the control plane and upgrades are handled for you. 

• Edge Distributions: Lightweight builds designed for Internet of Things (IoT), labs, or resource-constrained environments. 

The most effective platforms are flexible enough to run in various environments, giving teams the freedom to standardize on a single solution. For example, k0s from Mirantis is both an open source project and a lightweight edge solution, capable of scaling from tiny IoT devices to large datacenter clusters.

Distributions vs Vanilla Kubernetes​: Main Differences

Vanilla Kubernetes is the open-source version of K8s. It includes the core control plane and worker components needed to run containerized applications, but operators need to install, configure, and maintain everything themselves. A distribution builds on this base by adding defaults, integrations, and support to make deployment and management simpler.

What Are the Benefits of Enterprise Kubernetes Distributions? 

Enterprises run Kubernetes in complex, high-stakes environments where reliability and compliance are critical. A distribution reduces the operational burden by packaging K8s with the defaults, security, and automation needed to run clusters at scale.

For enterprises, a Kubernetes distro offers:

• Operational Efficiency: A Kubernetes distribution includes lifecycle automation that streamlines upgrades, patching, and scaling, reducing manual work and allowing enterprise teams to focus on higher-value initiatives.

• Security and Compliance: Pre-hardened images, built-in RBAC defaults, and policy enforcement help enterprises reduce risk, accelerate audits, and meet regulatory standards.

• Multi-Cloud Flexibility: Support for hybrid, on-premises, and public cloud environments enables an enterprise team to manage multiple-cluster K8s across locations, facilitating resilient and portable Kubernetes deployments.

• Developer Productivity: Preconfigured networking, storage, and observability shorten environment setup, giving developers immediate access to reliable clusters and accelerating the delivery of new applications and services at scale.

• Comprehensive Support: Distributions backed by enterprise SLAs and 24x7 assistance provide confidence for mission-critical workloads, ensuring clusters remain available, patched, and supported through incidents and ongoing lifecycle operations.

How Kubernetes Distros Work

Distributions take the upstream Kubernetes codebase and wrap it with automation, defaults, and vendor support so teams can run clusters with less manual effort. Instead of assembling components one by one, operators typically use distributions for:

• Provisioning and Deployment: Launch clusters quickly using prepackaged images and configuration defaults for networking, storage, and security, instead of hand-assembling each service.

• Configuration Management: Apply consistent policies, RBAC rules, and resource limits across clusters, reducing drift and ensuring compliance in production environments.

• Lifecycle Operations: Handle upgrades, patches, and scaling with built-in orchestration tools that minimize downtime and reduce the risk of version mismatches.

• Monitoring and Policy Enforcement: Track performance, detect issues, and apply security or compliance rules through bundled monitoring and policy tools.

• Support and Integration: Extend operations with enterprise SLAs, curated updates, and integration into CI/CD pipelines and existing IT systems.

Main Challenges with K8s Distributions​ 

Kubernetes distributions streamline setup and provide support, but they don’t eliminate the operational burdens of running your clusters at scale. Enterprises still need to address the following key challenges:

Operational Complexity

Running a distribution makes initial K8s setup easier, but your enterprise still needs skilled operators to keep your clusters healthy. Day-to-day monitoring, resource scaling, patching, and troubleshooting don’t go away just because a distribution adds defaults. You still need to manage:

• Disruptive Upgrades and Scaling: Adding nodes or upgrading Kubernetes versions can break APIs, trigger downtime, or require workload migrations if not planned carefully.

• Specialized Expertise Gaps: Operators need hands-on knowledge of Kubernetes internals (networking, storage classes, security policies) that many IT teams don’t have.

• Onboarding New Staff: New team members must learn how components like etcd, controllers, and schedulers interact, and mistakes during ramp-up can lead to misconfigured clusters.

Security and Patching

Security is a significant concern for enterprises because attackers regularly target Kubernetes clusters. Case in point: a CNCF survey found that over 44% of organizations have experienced security issues connected to their K8s deployments. Hardened defaults help, but teams still need to patch fast, prove compliance, and monitor configurations continuously. 

The most common security hurdles include:

• Frequent Vulnerabilities: Common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) emerge regularly and require a fast response to avoid exposure.

• Compliance Audit Pressure: Industries with compliance requirements demand detailed proof of secure Kubernetes configurations.

• Ongoing Configuration Checks: Automated scanning and monitoring are necessary to identify misconfigurations before they escalate into incidents.

Multi-Cluster Governance

Most enterprises run more than one cluster, often spread across regions or cloud providers. Trying to maintain consistent policies, access controls, and governance across cluster distros can lead to:

• Inconsistent Policies: Security rules and configuration baselines often diverge between clusters, creating compliance gaps.

• Identity Complexity: RBAC needs to be recreated per cluster, which multiplies accounts and increases the risk of possible mismanagement.

• Fragmented Operations: Hybrid and multi-cloud clusters rely on different tooling, making monitoring, upgrades, and troubleshooting inconsistent.

Resource and Cost Management

Kubernetes can drive up your compute, storage, and networking expenses if not carefully managed. In fact, a Sysdig report found that only 50% of environments have CPU and memory limits set, which increases the risk of misuse and cost inefficiencies in production K8s clusters.

Distributions improve deployment, but they don’t prevent overspending. You still need visibility, quotas, and cost controls to keep usage in check. The main cost pressures are:

• Overprovisioning: Teams often allocate more CPU, memory, or storage than workloads actually require, leaving idle capacity that still incurs cost.

• Networking Overhead: Misconfigured services, such as unnecessary load balancers or excessive pod-to-pod traffic, increase data transfer and cloud networking charges.

• Lack of Visibility: Without cost monitoring tied to namespaces, teams, or applications, it’s often difficult to attribute real-time usage, spot waste, or enforce quotas effectively.

Integration Overhead

Enterprise environments often require custom configurations and standards that go beyond a K8s distribution’s defaults. Adapting your platform to fit these needs creates extra integration work and ongoing maintenance, including:

• Custom Networking: Many enterprises swap the default CNI for advanced options or integrate firewalls to meet security and performance needs.

• Storage Integrations: Clusters often need to integrate with existing storage systems without compromising existing compatibility.

• CI/CD Pipelines: Kubernetes needs to fit smoothly into established build and deployment workflows to avoid slowing down your development.

11 Most Popular Kubernetes Distributions 

There are more than 120 CNCF-certified K8s distributions, but only a handful see broad adoption in production. These 11 options stand out because they balance usability, security, and ecosystem support. 

Selecting the Best Kubernetes Distribution

The best Kubernetes distribution for your enterprise is dependent on team skills, workload needs, and deployment environment. Five factors matter most when making the choice:

1. Operational Model: Decide whether you want a managed service with less overhead or a self-managed distribution that offers more control.

2. Security and Compliance Needs: Consider whether you need hardened images, CIS benchmark validation, or features like FIPS encryption and air-gapped deployments. For 

3. Scalability and Performance: Match the distribution to your expected workload size, multi-cluster needs, and ability to handle growth.

4. Integration with Existing Systems: Ensure the platform works with your CI/CD pipelines, monitoring stack, networking, and storage systems.

5. Support and Ecosystem: Look at available enterprise support, active communities, and ecosystem integrations to reduce risk and accelerate adoption.

Simplify Enterprise Kubernetes Distribution with Mirantis

Choosing between dozens of Kubernetes distributions isn’t easy, with so many considerations to make, but Mirantis narrows the field with two options designed to address the most common enterprise needs, from simplified cluster management to large-scale, compliance-driven operations.

Both Mirantis solutions are backed by enterprise-grade support, giving organizations confidence to run Kubernetes securely and reliably: 

• k0s: A lightweight, CNCF-certified distribution packaged as a single binary. Best suited for edge, hybrid, and embedded deployments, with modular networking and storage options plus simple declarative management.

• Mirantis Kubernetes Engine: A hardened enterprise platform built for scale and compliance. Features include DISA STIG hardening, FIPS 140-2 encryption, air-gapped deployments, integrated registry, and zero-downtime upgrades.

For enterprises running K8s at scale, Mirantis also offers k0rdent, a multi-cluster management solution that works with any distribution (using k0s by default). Starting with MKE 4.1.1, k0rdent is built in, providing end-to-end lifecycle and operational management, along with integrated security, compliance, observability, and FinOps capabilities.

Book a demo today to see which Mirantis Kubernetes distribution solution fits your workloads.