Software container-focused startup Heptio Inc. is teaming up with Microsoft Corp. on an open-source technology that provides disaster recovery capabilities for Kubernetes deployments.

The company, which was founded by two creators of the popular Kubernetes container orchestration tool with the aim of commercializing that project, said it’s collaborating with Microsoft to ensure its Heptio Ark disaster recovery tool runs smoothly on its Azure Container Service.

Heptio Ark, launched in September, is an open-source software project that makes it possible to create copies of a Kubernetes deployment that can be used for disaster recovery or testing purposes. Microsoft’s Azure Container Service, meanwhile, is a managed cloud service that’s designed to simplify the deployment, management and operations of Kubernetes.

By teaming up with Microsoft, Heptio said, users will be able to backup and restore Kubernetes content in the Azure Container Service. In addition, they’ll be able to use Ark to create regular snapshots that persist in Azure and are encrypted when data is at rest.

Heptio added that it’s also working with Microsoft to ensure Ark can be used to move Kubernetes-based applications between on-premises environments and the Azure cloud.

“We’re working with Heptio to ensure that the integration of Ark and Azure is a best-of-breed solution for backing up on-premise Kubernetes clusters into the cloud,” said Brendan Burns, a distinguished engineer at Microsoft and one of the co-founders of Kubernetes.

News of the collaboration comes two months after Heptio secured a $25 million Series B funding round led by Madrona Venture Group., Lightspeed Venture Partners and Accel Partners.

Image: Heptio