VM vs Kubernetes Breaking Down the Use Cases and Benefits
Jun 03rd, 2025 | 6 min read
The VM vs Kubernetes conversation often comes up like it’s either-or, but most real-world systems use a mix of both. Virtual Machines power legacy systems and specialized workloads, while Kubernetes is designed for scalable container management. The key is knowing where each fits and how they can work together effectively.
Making the right choice—or combining both—can help you optimize performance, simplify operations, and scale with confidence.
What Is a Virtual Machine (VM)
A Virtual Machine is a full operating system running in a virtualized environment. Each VM is isolated and functions like a separate server, even if it’s running on shared hardware.
VMs are widely used in enterprises, especially where security, compliance, or compatibility with older systems matters. They’re a proven solution for running multiple workloads in parallel without needing additional physical machines.
Use Cases for Virtual Machines
- Legacy Applications: Apps built before containers existed or that require specific OS versions
- Multi-OS Testing: Running different OS types side-by-side on one machine
- Compliance-Heavy Workloads: Industries like healthcare and finance often require full OS-level separation
- Hybrid Cloud Environments: Many teams still rely on VMs in data centers or private cloud setups
- Custom Kernel Modules: Workloads that need deep OS-level changes or non-standard configurations
Benefits of Virtual Machines
- Full isolation at the OS level, ideal for strict security needs
- Compatibility with older and proprietary systems
- Ability to run any OS (Linux, Windows, etc.)
- Well-established ecosystem (VMware, KVM, Hyper-V)
If you’re managing VM-heavy workloads and need reliable storage performance, Simplyblock supports hybrid infrastructure with low-latency block storage.
What Is Kubernetes
Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform. It doesn’t run operating systems—it manages containers across machines, handles scaling, networking, storage, and makes sure your services stay up even when individual components fail.
Containers are more lightweight than VMs and are built to run a single app or process. They start faster, use fewer resources, and work well in distributed, microservice-driven environments.
Use Cases for Kubernetes
- Microservices Architecture: Managing hundreds of small services across teams and clusters
- CI/CD Pipelines: Automating application updates, testing, and rollbacks
- Multi-Cloud Deployments: Running workloads across cloud platforms while keeping operations consistent
- Modern SaaS Applications: Delivering scalable, resilient software that adapts to demand
- Database as a Service (DBaaS): Running databases inside Kubernetes with persistent storage
Benefits of Kubernetes
- Built-in auto-scaling and self-healing
- Efficient resource usage with low overhead
- Portable across cloud providers and environments
- Smooth rolling updates and quick recovery
- Fast container startup time (seconds vs. minutes for VMs)
To avoid data loss or downtime, teams often use Kubernetes backup solutions and persistent volume storage to support production workloads reliably.
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How VMs and Kubernetes Actually Work
Understanding how Virtual Machines and Kubernetes operate at a technical level helps clarify why they’re often used together, not as replacements.
A Virtual Machine replicates a full computer system. It runs its own operating system and has access to virtualized resources like CPU, memory, and disk. This gives you full isolation and OS-level control, which is ideal for workloads that require a custom environment or need to meet strict security or compliance standards.
Kubernetes, on the other hand, doesn’t emulate hardware or run full operating systems. It manages containers—lightweight units that bundle application code with dependencies, sharing the host OS. Kubernetes automates deployment, scaling, health checks, and resource allocation across containerized workloads, making it a powerful tool for running distributed applications efficiently.
By understanding how each works under the hood, it’s easier to decide where they fit best in your stack.
VM vs Kubernetes Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a quick comparison to summarize the core differences:
| Feature | Virtual Machines | Kubernetes |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Type | OS-level virtualization | Container orchestration |
| Isolation Level | Strong (per OS) | Moderate (per process) |
| Startup Time | Minutes | Seconds |
| Resource Usage | High | Efficient |
| Scalability | Manual or scripted | Automatic |
| Use Case Fit | Legacy, isolated apps | Scalable, modern workloads |
Can You Use Kubernetes and VMs Together
Absolutely—and many do. It’s common to deploy Kubernetes on top of Virtual Machines, especially in enterprise environments using platforms like Amazon EKS or OpenStack.
This hybrid approach allows you to get the best of both: VMs for secure or legacy workloads, and Kubernetes for fast-moving containerized apps.
Why Storage Matters for Both
Regardless of what you choose—VMs, Kubernetes, or both—your application performance will only be as good as your storage. That’s where Simplyblock delivers a clear advantage.
Simplyblock offers high-performance block storage designed for both virtualized environments and cloud-native Kubernetes stacks. It’s built to handle the demands of persistent volumes, disaster recovery, and fast read/write performance.
How Simplyblock Helps
- Accelerates databases inside Kubernetes
- Enables fast backups and disaster recovery
- Supports cost-saving AWS storage tiering
- Reduces I/O bottlenecks with ultra-low-latency storage
- Works across cloud, hybrid, and edge environments
Making the Right Call Between VMs and Kubernetes
No single approach works for every workload. If you’re managing legacy systems, require strong isolation, or need OS-level customization, Virtual Machines are still the right choice. For fast-moving teams deploying scalable, containerized apps, Kubernetes offers the automation and flexibility that modern infrastructure demands.
But it’s not about choosing one and ignoring the other. Many real-world setups combine both—Kubernetes for new, cloud-native apps and VMs for existing, critical systems. Whichever path you’re on, the one constant is that your infrastructure depends on fast, reliable storage.
That’s where Simplyblock makes a real impact—by supporting both technologies with a unified storage layer that’s built for performance, scale, and simplicity.
Questions and Answers
Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform that manages containerized workloads, while virtual machines emulate full operating systems with their own kernel. Kubernetes operates at a higher abstraction level and is optimized for scalability, automation, and micro services. Learn how Kubernetes works with NVMe storage.
Yes, Kubernetes can run on VMs and often does in cloud environments. While VMs provide infrastructure-level isolation, Kubernetes manages containers on top of that infrastructure, making it highly flexible across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid setups.
For cloud-native applications, Kubernetes is more efficient than using standalone VMs. It supports automated scaling, rolling updates, and resource optimization. However, legacy apps may still require VMs due to specific OS or hardware dependencies.
Not necessarily. Kubernetes can run on bare metal for maximum performance and reduced overhead. However, many organizations use Kubernetes on VMs for better security, compatibility, and integration with existing cloud environments. For storage, see how Simplyblock supports Kubernetes stateful apps.
Kubernetes demands dynamic, scalable storage for persistent workloads, unlike static VM-based storage. Using CSI-enabled storage like Simplyblock allows Kubernetes to manage storage as efficiently as it does compute.
