Announcing Public Preview of Argo CD extension in AKS Azure Portal Experience

We’re thrilled to share the public preview of Argo CD now available in the Azure Portal for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

As GitOps becomes the go-to method for deploying and managing applications on a larger scale, our customers want an easier way to embrace GitOps, featuring straightforward onboarding, secure default settings, and streamlined workflows. With Argo CD directly embedded in the Azure Portal, teams can initiate and oversee GitOps without the hassle of manual setup.

While Argo CD is popular in Kubernetes environments, configuring it can often be a bit tedious due to the need for manual adjustments in identity, networking, and registry integrations.

With the Azure Portal’s integrated experience, you can:

• Activate Argo CD directly from your AKS cluster.
• Follow a guided flow to set up identity, access, ingress, and registry integrations.
• Oversee and manage GitOps workflows through the Argo CD interface.

This simplifies the onboarding process, enabling you to achieve your first successful GitOps deployment more swiftly.

GitOps Blade showcasing the new Argo CD extension

The Argo CD experience is seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Entra ID, providing a robust and secure foundation:

• Secure authentication using Workload Identity Federation with Azure Container Registry (ACR) and Azure DevOps, eliminating the necessity for long-lived credentials and hard-coded secrets.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) is available using your existing Azure identities.

This preview also introduces several built-in enhancements aimed at reinforcing your security stance:

• Images built on Azure Linux to minimise CVEs and boost baseline security.
• Optional automatic patch updates to stay up-to-date while keeping control over change management.

With Argo CD in AKS, you can ensure it stays aligned with the upstream open-source project, supporting features like:

• High Availability (HA) configurations for production-grade workloads.
• Hub-and-Spoke architectures for managing multi-cluster GitOps.
• Applications and ApplicationSets for scalable deployments across multiple fleets.

We encourage you to dive into the Argo CD experience within the Azure Portal and provide your feedback.

To get started, simply navigate to your AKS cluster in the Azure Portal, go to the GitOps experience, and click on Enable Argo CD. Follow the guided process to configure identity, access, ingress, and registry integrations with secure defaults.

Once you’ve enabled it, you can keep track of your deployment and check the health and sync status of your applications via the Argo CD UI linked within the GitOps blade.

Argo CD Management Blade

Argo CD UI showing Synced status

If you prefer an automated approach, the Argo CD extension is also available in public preview via the Azure CLI.

NOTE: You can choose between Flux and Argo CD as your preferred GitOps solution, depending on what suits your needs best. The Argo CD option will be offered when you initiate the GitOps setup, while existing Flux users will retain their current configuration.

FAQs about Argo CD in Azure Kubernetes Service

1. How do I set up Argo CD in Azure Portal?

To set up Argo CD, go to your AKS cluster in the Azure Portal, navigate to the GitOps experience, and click on Enable Argo CD. Follow the guided steps for configuration.

2. What are the benefits of using Argo CD?

Argo CD simplifies GitOps workflows, allowing for easier deployment and management of applications, plus it provides enhanced security features integrated with Microsoft Entra ID.

3. Can I use Flux instead of Argo CD?

Yes, you can choose either Flux or Argo CD based on your project’s requirements during the initial GitOps setup.

4. How do automatic updates work with Argo CD?

You can enable optional automatic patch updates to ensure your system stays current while having control over how changes are managed.