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# Kubernetes Operator for API and AI Traffic

Unify Kubernetes services and gateway management with the Kong Kubernetes Operator.

[Get Started](https://docs.konghq.com/gateway-operator/latest/install/)Get Started

## Why Kong Konnect

## 01/ Flexibility

## 100% deployment flexibility

  • - Run the Kong Kubernetes Operator where you please. Leverage stand-alone Kong deployments, Kong Ingress, or Konnect hybrid data planes.

  • - Seamlessly manage traffic with the CNCF-backed Gateway API in Hybrid Mode, making it easier to migrate from Ingress without disruption.

## 02/ Security

## Automatic certificate rotation

  • - Mitigate certificate-related downtime with automated expiration monitoring and rotation.
  • - Deep CertManager integration allows you to use any issuer available in your cluster (e.g. ACM, GCM, LetsEncrypt).

## 03/ Scalability

## Advanced autoscaling

  • - Have the option to autoscale your workloads based on response latency, not just CPU usage.

  • - Autoscale Kong Gateways up or down based on CPU and memory consumption, then shut them down automatically when they’re no longer needed.

## 04/ Observability

## Kubernetes native metrics

  • - Filter and aggregate by Kubernetes resources—no translation needed.
  • - Use the Konnect Debugger to capture traces and logs directly from Kubernetes for faster troubleshooting and reduced mean time to resolution.

## 05/ Automation

## Managed Gateways & Service Catalog

  • - Define Gateway API resources, and let the Kong Kubernetes Operator handle deployment and configuration. Let your developers focus on generating business value.
  • - Kubernetes Gateway services are automatically cataloged in Konnect, reducing manual effort and making APIs instantly discoverable for governance and consumption.

## 06/ Developer Experiences

## Integrated Developer Portal

  • - Once cataloged, services can flow directly into the Konnect Developer Portal, where developers can securely discover and consume them.
  • - Enable true self-service access to Kubernetes-hosted APIs across your organization.

## 07/ Artificial Intelligence

## AI Gateway

  • - Deploy and use an AI Gateway in under 60 seconds on Kubernetes.
  • - Leverage no-code AI plugins to enforce data privacy, security, and guardrails for AI-driven workloads.

## A hands-off approach to Kubernetes

Deploy, configure and monitor API ingress and gateways on Kubernetes with the Kong Kubernetes Operator. Work with vendor-neutral Gateway API resources and let the Kubernetes Operator handle the rest.

Customize as much as you need with `PodTemplateSpec` and `HorizontalPodAutoscaler` policy support, or keep the defaults and things will just work.

[Learn More](https://docs.konghq.com/gateway-operator/latest/)Learn More

## Resources

## Get started with the API & AI platform

[Book Demo](/contact-sales)Book Demo