Kubernetes Server Update

We're updating the hosting environment that powers Oncord and your website to Kubernetes. Kubernetes is modern technology for deploying server infrastructure.

What this means:

• Improvements to the performance and security of your website, and the Oncord platform.
• Migrations will occur on 11th and 12th February 2023.
• During the migration process, your website will be temporarily set into a read-only state, transferred to the new servers, and then reactivated. 
• We have structured the migration to involve as little downtime to your website as possible, during non-peak hours.
• There may be maintenance periods of up to one hour.
• No action from you is necessary.

The Details

Our team has been working for over a year on this particular project. It is a major upgrade where all web servers and database servers, are being upgraded to their latest version and migrated to Kubernetes.

Our prior hosting environment was built using third-party software and scripts to initialise and configure servers. This has served us well, however technology has evolved and we're moving with it.

The first step in this technological evolution was the use of 'containers'. Rather than using scripts to install and configure software on servers, containers are image snapshots of the software that have been pre-built by a developer. Each container runs as a separate process and has its own file system, network, and resources. This allows us to package your application and its dependencies into a single unit that can be easily deployed, managed and scaled.

Kubernetes takes this a step further allowing us to deploy clusters of containers. It also provides a platform for automating the deployment, scaling and management of containers. This helps manage containers as a single, unified system, making it easier to deploy and manage complex applications.

Security

Your website is protected by a network firewall, and a website application firewall. Data is scanned and if something suspicious is found, it is blocked and monitored. Every part of the system is akin to a locked room or container that can't be escaped. Your Oncord account is separated and locked away from every other account, and customer data is encrypted using secret keys.

We've always treated user data security as our top priority. With the security tools provided by Kubernetes, we can ensure that user data is protected in the most secure environment possible. Kubernetes allows us to enforce security policies at the cluster level, and provides tools for monitoring and logging to help detect and resolve security incidents.

Configuration Consistency

Oncord presently has data centers in Australia and the USA. Through the use of containers, deployments and configuration updates are applied consistently across both data centers. This helps maintain configuration consistency and minimizes the risk of downtime during updates.

Redundancy and Uptime

Kubernetes automatically manages and monitors containers, ensuring that they are healthy and running smoothly. This results in faster load times and higher reliability for users.

In the event of a failure, Kubernetes can quickly detect and resolve the issue, minimizing downtime and ensuring that the application remains accessible to users. This helps improve the reliability of the application.

We're committed to providing users with the tools and services they need to build a thriving online presence, and we never stop pushing the boundaries and improving our platform and services. By implementing Kubernetes, we are proud to offer our users a faster, more secure and reliable experience.