# Run workloads in your cloud

Run Northflank workloads on infrastructure that you control. Bring your own cloud (BYOC) creates a cluster through a cloud provider. Bring your own Kubernetes (BYOK) imports an existing cluster.

> [!note] Requirements
>
> You will need the following to get started:
>
> - Access to BYOC or BYOK for your account
> - Provider credentials or access to the Kubernetes cluster
> - The permissions, quotas, network access, and capacity required by the selected hosting path

### 1. Choose the hosting path

Review [BYOC and BYOK requirements](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/byoc-and-byok-requirements) before creating resources.

For BYOC, select a provider from the [cloud provider guides](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/use-other-cloud-providers-with-northflank). For BYOK, use [Import an existing cluster](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/import-an-existing-cluster-byok).

If the application only needs an external cloud resource, use [Connect an app to AWS](connect-an-app-to-aws). That path does not require cluster hosting.

### 2. Prepare the cluster

Complete the provider-specific setup or import procedure. Retain its permission, quota, and network requirements. Saving cluster configuration does not mean that the cluster is ready.

Wait for the readiness conditions in the selected guide. Use [cluster configuration](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/configure-your-cluster) to review the required location and networking choices.

### 3. Prepare capacity and place workloads

For BYOC, [configure and scale node pools](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/deploy-and-scale-node-pools) with capacity for the application. If the application requires GPUs, use the [own-cloud GPU guide](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/gpu-workloads/deploy-gpus-in-your-own-cloud).

For BYOK, provision and scale nodes in your Kubernetes cluster. Then [map the existing nodes to Northflank node pools](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/import-an-existing-cluster-byok#configure-node-pools). Configure GPU settings in those mappings if required. Northflank does not provision or scale nodes on imported clusters.

[Deploy workloads to the cluster](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/deploy-workloads-to-your-cluster). Make sure that the workload runs in the intended location and can access its dependencies.

### 4. Define cluster operations

Review [cluster management](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/bring-your-own-cloud/manage-your-cluster), [infrastructure alerts](https://northflank.com/docs/v1/application/observe/set-infrastructure-alerts), and resource capacity. Identify who maintains the cluster and handles provider-side changes.

Before changing or removing infrastructure, review the effects on its workloads and persistent data in the relevant cluster guide. The setup is complete when the application works on the intended cluster and the team has an operating process.