---
title: Advanced Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) concepts
description: Learn the advanced features of Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) so you can optimize your containerized applications.
author: davidsmatlak
ms.author: davidsmatlak
ms.service: azure-kubernetes-service
ms.custom: aks-getting-started
ms.topic: get-started
ms.date: 01/21/2026
# Customer intent: As an experienced user, I want to get started with advanced Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) concepts so that I can optimize my containerized applications.
---

# Advanced Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) concepts

This guide provides resources to help you learn the advanced features of [Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)](./what-is-aks.md).

## Learn advanced AKS

The resources in the following sections provide an introduction to advanced AKS.

### Security

* [Security concepts](./concepts-security.md)
* [Container image signing lab](https://azure-samples.github.io/aks-labs/docs/security/secure-supply-chain/)
* [Continuous patching lab](https://azure-samples.github.io/aks-labs/docs/security/acr-patching/)

### Observability and monitoring

* [Monitoring on AKS](./monitor-aks.md)
* [Advanced observability concepts lab](https://azure-samples.github.io/aks-labs/docs/operations/observability-and-monitoring/)

### Scaling

* [Scaling concepts](./concepts-scale.md)
* [Scale AKS clusters](./scale-cluster.md)

### Cost optimization

* [AKS cost optimization best practices](best-practices-cost.md)
* [AKS cost optimization video series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc3Ep462vVYtm0wFnMm2ejALNVsDrzxCz)

### Reliability

* [Availability zones overview](availability-zones-overview.md)
* [Deployment reliability best practices](https://azure.microsoft.com/solutions/kubernetes-on-azure/deployment-strategy/)

### AI & ML

* [Deploy AI models with the AI toolchain operator (KAITO)](ai-toolchain-operator.md)
* [Deploy data pipelines with Flyte](use-flyte.md)

### Deployment strategies

* [Deployment tooling and strategies reference guide](https://azure.microsoft.com/solutions/kubernetes-on-azure/deployment-strategy/)

### Upgrades

* [Upgrade options and recommendations for AKS clusters](./upgrade-cluster.md)
* [Perform manual AKS upgrades](./upgrade-cluster.md#perform-manual-upgrades)
* [Configure automatic AKS upgrades](./upgrade-cluster.md#configure-automatic-upgrades)

### Troubleshooting

* [AKS troubleshooting documentation](/troubleshoot/azure/azure-kubernetes/welcome-azure-kubernetes)

## Next step

To continue your AKS learning journey, explore the [AKS documentation](/azure/aks).
